Riley Green and Carly Pearce are just a few of the many artists coming to the defense of Sammy Kershaw, ahead of the 2026 CMA Awards. Kershaw shared a lengthy post on social media, claiming he was denied the ability to walk the red carpet at the 60th CMA Awards happening later this month.
“Well, I just found out some disappointing news and it really hurts me,” Kershaw begins his lengthy post. “I have to share my disappointment with the CMA as they have denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards, and I have to say I’m pretty sad about it.”
Kershaw goes on to add that he cleared his busy touring schedule, made travel arrangements, and booked a hotel, only to find out that he will not actually be able to walk this year’s red carpet.
“After more than 50 years in this business, many millions of records and singles streamed and sold, more than two dozen Billboard charted hits, a CMA Horizon Award nomination, being a lifetime CMA member, that they presented to me in 1992, and being asked to donate my time to play CMA Fest, I would hope I’ve earned the opportunity to walk the red carpet alongside my wife, as we’ve done before,” Kershaw maintains.
The 68-year-old ends his post by saying how deeply hurt he was to not be given access to the red carpet this year.
“I love country music, but never in a million years would I think that a successful country music entertainer (and I’m not the only one) would not be able to walk the red carpet,” he concludes. “It’s extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing. I guess the next time I attend the CMA’s, it will be in tribute after I’m gone, if I’m lucky.”
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Riley Green, Carly Pearce, and More Speak Out in Defense of Sammy Kershaw
Numerous country artists, including Green, Pearce, and more spoke out in defense of Kershaw, commenting on Kershaw’s post.
“If you haven’t earned the right to be there then nobody has… disappointing to say the least,” Green says.
“Many of us wouldn’t be here without artists like you,” Pearce says.
Drew Baldridge, who is walking this year’s carpet, offered Kershaw his spot on the red carpet.
“This is wild!” Baldridge says. “I’ll give you my spot! You paved the way for all of us on that carpet.”
“Ridiculous,” says Terri Clark.
“I’m team Sammy,” Jake Owen says.
Meghan Patrick says, “They’ll let zero talent influencers walk the red carpet but not Sammy Kershaw? I hate it here.”
Fellow 90s Artist Mark Chesnutt Defends Sammy Kershaw
Mark Chesnutt and Kershaw were both active in the 1990s. Chesnutt wrote a heartfelt post alleging that the artists of that decade are being forgotten.
“So Sammy Kershaw won’t be allowed to walk the red carpet at the the big CMA Awards,” Chesnutt says. “Well that’s about right. The CMA doesn’t care about us old 90s guys any more. It’s a shame they don’t respect the stars that dominated the charts in the past thirty years or before that but they sure roll out the welcome mat for pop stars and Hollywood movie stars and even hip hop artists. Anything but country music gets the performance spots on the show. Rock n Roll honors its history and respects its legends while country music industry executives seem to ignore its rich history and its legends.
“Thank God there’s still a lot of people that love traditional country music,” he adds. “They keep coming to our shows and showing their love and respect for the music we’ve made for nearly forty years now and we’ll keep working for them and not for those who don’t matter to US!”