Rodney Atkins skips 2026 CMA Awards after red carpet denial
The singer joins Sammy Kershaw in protesting access rules, citing over two decades of membership and unpaid festival performances.
By Samir Doyle ·
Rodney Atkins announced on Saturday that he will not attend the upcoming Country Music Association Awards.
The decision follows a denial of red carpet clearance for Atkins and his wife, Rose Falcon, despite their long tenure with the organization.
Atkins, who performed hits such as “Honestly (Write Me a List)” and “Watching You,” detailed the situation in a social media post.
He noted that he and Falcon are members of the CMA with more than 20 years of service.
The singer also referenced countless CMA Fest appearances where he played without pay.
“Rose and I were denied red-carpet clearance just like Sammy Kershaw,” Atkins wrote.
“So we’ve decided not to attend this year’s CMA Awards,” he added.
Atkins explained in a video message that he first sympathized with Kershaw after the news broke earlier in the week.
He later learned that his own access had also been revoked.
Sammy Kershaw shared his own exclusion in a Thursday post, which generated widespread support from the fanbase and other artists.
Both musicians are now citing the same administrative hurdle regarding entry to the event.
The Country Music Association has not issued a public response to either complaint as of this week.
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