The drama surrounding the upcoming CMA Awards is already heating up, and this time, a country music legend is speaking out!
Sammy Kershaw, the iconic singer behind massive ’90s hits like “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” is publicly calling out the Country Music Association. In a heartbreaking social media post, the 68-year-old star revealed that he was completely denied access to walk the red carpet at this year’s ceremony.
What makes the rejection even more painful is that the 2026 CMA Awards are specifically planning a major tribute to ’90s country music—an era that Sammy helped define!
“Well, I just found out some disappointing news, and it really hurts me,” Sammy shared with his fans. He explained that he and his wife, Mendy, had rearranged their entire touring schedule, booked flights, and reserved hotels just to attend the special night together.
“Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months and expecting we would be attending, WTF?” he wrote, calling the experience “extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing.”
Fellow country star Riley Green quickly jumped into the comments to defend Sammy, writing, “If you haven’t earned the right to be there, then nobody has… disappointing to say the least.”
The CMA Awards are already facing some backlash this year. While fans are excited to see rising stars perform, many are still talking about recent controversies. Just a few days ago, country singer Ella Langley made headlines for her epic Toy Story Halloween costume, proving that the new generation of stars knows how to steal the spotlight.
However, Sammy believes there should always be room to recognize the artists who spent their lives building the country music industry. He even hinted that he might never attend another CMA event until he is being honored in a tribute after his death.
Do you think the CMA Awards made a huge mistake by denying Sammy Kershaw red carpet access? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!