Rodney Atkins skips CMA Awards after red carpet denial

Rodney Atkins announced on Saturday that he will not attend the 2026 Country Music Association Awards. The decision comes after the Country Music Association denied him and his wife, country artist Rose Falcon, clearance to enter through the red carpet.

Atkins made the announcement on social media, noting that he has been a member of the CMA for more than 20 years. He also stated that he has played numerous CMA Fests without compensation. The couple had requested red carpet access for the upcoming ceremony but were told no.

The news follows a similar report from Sammy Kershaw. Kershaw posted on social media on Thursday that he was removed from the red carpet list for the 2026 event. His post received strong support from fans and other musicians in the industry.

In a video message to his fans, Atkins explained that he felt a connection to Kershaw when the initial news broke. He later discovered that he and Falcon faced the same restriction for this year's event.

Atkins is well known for 1990s and 2000s hits, including "Honestly (Write Me a List)," "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)," and "Watching You." He expressed frustration with the organization's decision in his written statement.

As of Saturday, the Country Music Association had not issued a public response to the comments made by either Kershaw or Atkins.