South Louisiana country singer Sammy Kershaw says he and his wife, Mendy, had already booked their flights and hotel and rearranged his touring schedule when he learned his request to walk the red carpet at this year’s CMA Awards had been denied.
In a social media post, Kershaw said the news came about two weeks before the show, after months of expecting they would be able to take part. The two rarely get to attend events like this because of his touring schedule, he said, and Mendy had been looking forward to spending the evening together celebrating country music.
Kershaw said the decision felt especially personal after more than 50 years in the business. He pointed to his Billboard hits, his CMA Horizon Award nomination and the lifetime membership he said the Country Music Association presented to him in 1992.
“I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success,” Kershaw wrote.
Born in Abbeville and raised in Kaplan, Kershaw was playing South Louisiana honky-tonks and opening shows for George Jones before he became a fixture on country radio. “Cadillac Style,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer” and his No. 1 hit “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” helped define the sound of ’90s country. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and still tours.
Kershaw said he still feels fortunate to make a living doing what he loves. What hurt, he said, was missing the chance to spend a few minutes on the red carpet with his wife and celebrate the music he’s spent his life performing.
The 60th annual CMA Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
