Rodney Atkins says he and Rose Falcon were denied CMA Awards red-carpet clearance, will skip show

Rodney Atkins says he and his wife, singer-songwriter Rose Falcon, will skip the 2026 CMA Awards after being denied clearance to walk the red carpet. In a November 7 Instagram post containing a video and written statement, Atkins said he learned of his own exclusion after hearing Sammy Kershaw’s complaint. “Rose and I were denied red-carpet clearance, just like Sammy Kershaw. So we’ve decided not to attend this year’s CMA Awards,” he wrote. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

According to The Boot’s report of the video, Atkins called Kershaw a “sweetheart of a dude” who had spent his life representing country music. He also described himself as an “outsider” and joked that he was “maybe a shrub in the landscape of country music.” “I also believe the artists who helped build the foundation of country music, like Sammy Kershaw, deserve a place in its celebrations,” Atkins wrote in the statement accompanying his video.

Atkins described this as the best touring year of his career. According to The Boot’s report of his video, he said his single “The Years Are Short” was making its way onto the charts. He also pointed to Country Aircheck’s Top 100 country-radio songs for 2006–2026. The publication’s Mediabase-based list places “Watching You” at No. 11, “If You’re Going Through Hell” at No. 26 and “Take a Back Road” at No. 40. Atkins’ previous CMA nominations were for the Horizon Award in 2007 and New Artist of the Year in 2008.

In his written statement, Atkins thanked the fans who had made his career possible. “You’ve always made me feel welcome in country music, and that’s what matters most,” he wrote.

In a statement posted November 9 and reported by Country Now, the Country Music Association said its red-carpet criteria help manage limited space and security needs for artists and media. The association said it was “deeply sorry anyone felt excluded” and confirmed it was in contact with Sammy Kershaw’s team. The statement did not announce restored carpet access or a change to Atkins’ attendance plans.

Sources: Rodney Atkins: original statement | The Boot: Atkins’s video remarks | Country Aircheck: Top 100 2006–2026, page 29 | CMA: November 9 response | Country Now: CMA statement | CMA: official awards date