“Disappointing to Say the Least”: Riley Green Slams the CMA Awards for Sammy Kershaw Snub

Riley Green has shown his support for Sammy Kershaw, after Kershaw took to social media to pen a heartfelt message explaining that the CMA would not allow him to walk the 2026 CMA Awards Red Carpet with his wife, Mendy, later this month.

Kershaw has shared a lengthy statement expressing how upset he felt when he received the news, calling the decision, “extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing”.

Green has taken to the comments to criticise the CMA's decision, replying, “If you haven’t earned the right to be there then nobody has… disappointing to say the least”. Jake Owen has echoed these sentiments, sharing simply, “I’m team Sammy”.

Green has never been afraid to speak his mind and pay tribute to the older generations in country music that came before him. But this very public complaint against the CMA a matter of weeks before the ceremony could be interpreted as somewhat pointed, especially given the fact that many fans feel Green was snubbed by the governing body when they didn't nominate him for Male Artist of the Year.

In Kershaw's statement, the ‘She Don't Know She's Beautiful’ hitmaker shares, “Well, I just found out some disappointing news and it really hurts me. 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”.

He explains how he and his wife had built their calendars around the CMA Awards, and implies they were initially given an indication that they would be able to attend.

The country legend frustratedly explains, “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. 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 continues, “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 muses, “I’m blessed to still be out on tour every year, performing for the greatest fans in the world and doing what I love. I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success”.

He concludes, “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. 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”.

While you have to sympathise with the CMA in that they cannot allow everyone to walk the Red Carpet, it does feel somewhat strange for a CMA member and CMA Horizon Award nominee to be forbidden from getting to walk the carpet with his wife.

While Kershaw's statement in itself might have been something the CMA could just ignore, with the Louisiana native not possessing the biggest social media following, the fact that high-profile figures like Green and Owen have waded into the debate means the Nashville-based association may have to extend an olive branch to Kershaw. It'll be interesting to see whether Green himself attends, given his only nomination is as a feature on Carly Pearce's ‘If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay’.

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