Rodney Atkins skips 2026 CMA Awards after red carpet denial
The 'Honestly' singer joins Sammy Kershaw in citing membership status and past unpaid performances as reasons for the exclusion.
By Marta Gray ·
Rodney Atkins will not attend the 2026 Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. The decision follows the artist's announcement on Saturday that he and his wife, Rose Falcon, were denied red carpet access despite their long-standing relationship with the organization. This news arrives days after fellow country musician Sammy Kershaw reported a similar exclusion from the event.
Atkins, known for hits such as 'Honestly (Write Me a List)' and 'Watching You,' stated that the couple has been CMA members for more than 20 years. He noted that they have performed at CMA Fest multiple times without receiving payment for those appearances. In a social media post, Atkins wrote that they were denied red-carpet clearance in the same manner as Kershaw.
The country star explained that he initially felt sympathy for Kershaw when the earlier news broke. He later discovered that his own team had also received a denial for the upcoming ceremony. The announcement included a video message to fans detailing the timeline of the rejection and the couple's decision to sit out the night.
Sammy Kershaw first publicized the issue in a social media post on Thursday. He described being removed from the red carpet list, which prompted widespread support from fans and other musicians in the industry. Kershaw’s disclosure set the stage for the broader discussion regarding access protocols for veteran artists.
The Country Music Association has not issued a public response to the comments made by either Atkins or Kershaw. The 2026 CMA Awards are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with both artists confirming their absence from the proceedings.
