‘It really hurts me’: Louisiana native, country music star Sammy Kershaw says CMA denied red carpet request two weeks before show

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (KALB) - Fellow musicians are rallying around Louisiana native Sammy Kershaw, who said the Country Music Association won’t let him walk the red carpet.

In a candid post shared Thursday to his official Facebook page, the 68-year-old Kaplan native told his more than 840,000 followers that the organization rejected his credential request just two weeks ahead of the ceremony.

“Well, I just found out some disappointing news, and it really hurts me,” Kershaw wrote. “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.”

Kershaw explained that he rearranged tour dates and made travel arrangements specifically to attend the celebration with his wife.

“My wife, Mendy, and I don’t get to attend these events very often, due to touring and schedule conflicts. After adjusting my touring schedule, booking our flights and hotels, she was really looking forward to us sharing a special evening together celebrating country music,” Kershaw wrote. “Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months...”

The veteran artist pointed to his five-decade career and longstanding ties with the association, noting his lifetime membership and past participation in CMA events.

“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 added.

Fans quickly rallied behind the singer, flooding the post with thousands of likes, shares, and supportive comments criticizing the decision and praising his legacy.

Mark Chesnutt responded in his own social media post. “So Sammy Kershaw won’t be allowed to walk the red carpet at the big CMA Awards. Well, that’s about right. The CMA doesn’t care about us old 90s guys any more,” Chestnutt said. “It’s a shame they don’t respect the stars that dominated the charts in the past thirty years or before…”

In a comment on Kershaw’s post, current country music hitmaker Carly Pearce wrote, “Many of us wouldn’t be here without artists like you.”

And Cledus T. Judd, known for his parodies of country songs, honored Kershaw with this: “If anyone should walk it, you should!!!!! Really sorry.”

KALB reached out to Kershaw’s management team at The Holland Group in Nashville. We asked the group’s president, Billy Holland, what the CMA told Kershaw. Holland responded:

“Can’t comment right now...there are a lot of things happening with this story. Thank you!”

The 60th Annual CMA Awards are scheduled to broadcast live from Nashville on Nov. 18. Fellow Louisiana native and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, a Baskin native, is set to co-host the ceremony.

Kershaw, who was once married to country music singer Lorrie Morgan, rose to national fame in the early 1990s, charting dozens of top country hits, including classics such as his No. 1 “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” and top 10’s like “Cadillac Style,” “Third Rate Romance” and “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer.”

Kershaw twice ran for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, finishing third in both 2007 and 2010.

The Country Music Association has not yet publicly responded to Kershaw’s comments.

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