Jake Owen Slams The CMA For Its Response To Sammy Kershaw Controversy
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Jake Owen isn’t satisfied with the CMA’s response to the recent controversy involving Sammy Kershaw.
Last week, the Country Music Association found itself in hot water with fans after country icon Sammy Kershaw revealed that he had been denied the chance to walk the red carpet at the upcoming CMA Awards.
This year’s ceremony is focused on celebrating the country artists who helped shape the 1990s. So, after Kershaw shared a statement saying he had already booked plane tickets and rearranged his schedule so he could attend, thousands of people were outraged that the CMA wouldn’t make arrangements for him to be there, but did make room for newer, younger artists.
The situation quickly turned into a major uproar. Many of Kershaw’s fellow country stars spoke out in his support, including Riley Green, Carly Pearce, Mark Chesnutt, and Pam Tillis.
The CMA finally broke its silence on Monday, November 9, by sharing a statement on social media. A portion of it included an apology for making anyone feel left out.
“In recent days, several artists and their fans have spoken out about this year’s CMA Awards red carpet guidelines,” the post began. “Like any major televised event, the red carpet has criteria that exists to help manage limited space and the security needs for both the artists and the media. We are deeply sorry anyone felt excluded by those decisions.”
The CMA also added that they’ve reached out to Sammy Kershaw and his team, and stated that they “look forward to continuing that conversation.”
Read CMA’s full statement below.
Jake Owen & More Still Aren’t Happy After CMA’s Statement
Fans were quick to say that they didn’t feel the CMA’s statement made up for what happened. Many were still disappointed in the association and how the situation was handled. A few unsatisfied people left comments such as:
“I don’t think this landed the way your PR team was hoping it would”
“Poor excuse CMA 😢 you lost me on this one”
“It’s giving “I’m sorry you feel that way.””
“This is not enough CMA!”
Someone else who spoke up was country singer Jake Owen. Owen took to his Instagram story to clap back at CMA’s apology, calling it “a lot of words saying nothing.”
“This is a lot of words saying nothing… “our mission is to preserve the history and celebrate the excellence of country music,” Owen wrote.
“How about, sorry Sammy.. we messed up,..our words don’t match our actions. Instead, you waited 4 days to craft this?!?”
As of now, it’s unclear where Sammy Kershaw and the CMA stand. He hasn’t said whether he will attend the ceremony after all.
The 2026 CMA Awards are still planned to celebrate the show’s 60-year history, with a special spotlight on the ’90s. Some artists who are confirmed to make an appearance include Tim McGraw, Vince Gill, Cody Johnson, and more.
Brooks & Dunn will also be there to accept the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The duo will be honored with a special tribute performance as well.
There will also be a tribute to Dolly Parton, but the artists involved haven’t been announced yet.
