Rodney Atkins Reveals He Will Attend the 2026 CMA Awards Following Red Carpet Snub
Rodney Atkins Reveals He Will Attend the 2026 CMA Awards Following Red Carpet Snub
Ilana KaplanFri, November 13, 2026 at 6:28 PM UTC
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Rodney Atkins in May 2026 in Las VegasCredit: Kevin Mazur/Getty -
Rodney Atkins revealed he will attend the 2026 CMA Awards following a previous red carpet snub
“Now I’ve just gotta find a red-carpet-worthy ball cap,” he shared in an Instagram statement on Thursday, Nov. 12
Atkins shared an Instagram video and statement on Saturday, Nov. 7 claiming he, along with Sammy Kershaw, was not invited to attend the CMA Awards red carpet
Rodney Atkins confirmed he will be attending the 2026 CMA Awards after he was snubbed from the red carpet.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the country singer shared an update with fans on Instagram after he called out the awards show nearly one week prior on the platform.
“After some good conversations between our team and the CMA, Rose and I have decided we’ll be walking the red carpet and attending this year’s awards,” Atkins, 57, began the statement, referring to his wife Rose Falcon. “I’m grateful to the CMA for hearing us out, and I can’t thank y’all enough for all the love and support. Once again, you reminded me just how powerful country music fans can be when they speak up.”
Rodney Atkins in June 2025 in NashvilleCredit: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
He added that he didn’t want to stay “stuck” on the situation.
“Life’s too short, and the days are long, but the years are short,” said Atkins. “Looking forward to a great night celebrating country music with old friends and new ones.”
He then quipped, “Now I’ve just gotta find a red-carpet-worthy ball cap.”
Atkins also posted an upbeat caption with the post: “Looks like the red carpet just got redneck’er. Appreciate all the love, y’all. Looking forward to a great night celebrating country music! #countrymusic #rodneyatkins #cma2026.”
Atkins’ latest statement comes after he shared a video and statement on Instagram Saturday, Nov. 7 claiming he and Sammy Kershaw were not invited to the CMA Awards red carpet.
“Neither one of us got approved to walk the CMA Awards red carpet,” the “Farmer’s Daughter” artist said in the clip, referring to himself and the “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” musician.
Atkins added, “When I heard about Sammy, I thought, ‘What a shame. He’s a great guy—sweetheart of a dude. Singing dude, spent his life representing country music ... then I found out same thing happened to me. And in a way, I get it. I’ve always been kind of an outsider—maybe a shrub in the landscape of country music.”
In his statement, he shared how “incredibly grateful” he is to the fans who have made his career possible.
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“You’ve always made me feel welcome in country music, and that’s what matters most,” he wrote, adding: “I also believe the artists who helped build the foundation of country music, like Sammy Kershaw, deserve a place in its celebrations. Country music should never get above its raisin.’”
Meanwhile, on Nov. 12, Kershaw, 68, confirmed he’d also be attending the CMA Awards after his previous grievances with the awards show’s organizers.
“It’s been a week since so many of you began making your voices heard, and the outpouring of love and support has meant more to me than you’ll ever know,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “After a lot of thought and prayer, [my wife] Mendy [Kershaw] and I have decided to accept the CMA’s invitation to walk the red carpet and attend the awards.”
On Nov. 5, he shared a Facebook post expressing his “disappointment” that the awards show had “denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards.”
“I have to say I’m pretty sad about it,” he wrote on the platform. “My wife, Mendy, and I don’t get to attend these events very often, due to touring and schedule conflicts.”
Sammy Kershaw in April 2023 in Indio, Calif.Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty
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On Monday, Nov. 9, the CMAs shared a lengthy statement addressing the “red carpet guidelines” on Instagram.
“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 statement began.
It continued, “Our organization’s mission is to honor the history and celebrate the excellence of Country Music. With this 60th anniversary year, we are working extra hard to simultaneously spotlight the last six decades, while also celebrating what has been a tremendous year in 2026. It’s not easy to do all of that in just one night, but we are up for the challenge.”“We also know this is about more than a red carpet, and we are committed to keep listening and keep finding ways to make sure all artists feel welcome and at home here. To that point, we are in touch with Sammy Kershaw’s team and look forward to continuing that conversation,” the statement concluded.
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for the CMA Awards for further comment.
The 60th annual CMAs, hosted by Lainey Wilson, will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
