Sammy Kershaw confirms he and wife Mendy will attend CMA Awards after accepting invitation

Sammy Kershaw has confirmed that he and his wife, Mendy, plan to walk the red carpet and attend the 60th CMA Awards, resolving the attendance question that remained after he accepted the Country Music Association’s apology. In a November 12 statement on his official Facebook page, Kershaw wrote, “After a lot of thought and prayer, Mendy and I have decided to accept the CMA’s invitation to walk the red carpet and attend the awards.”

Kershaw connected his decision to honoring earlier generations of country performers. He named Dolly, Loretta, George Jones and Charley Pride among the artists he had been thinking about, saying he would like to believe they would want him there to honor their legacy. He thanked the fans and fellow artists who supported him during the dispute and credited them with helping secure the outcome. iHeartCountry reported his attendance confirmation on November 13.

The decision follows Kershaw’s November 10 announcement that CMA leadership had apologized during a private conversation and invited the couple to the ceremony. In that earlier statement, he accepted the apology and expressed gratitude for the invitation without committing to attend. Reporter Nick Beres subsequently added a clarification to his coverage, saying Kershaw’s publicist had told him the singer had not decided whether to go. Kershaw’s new statement gives his answer.

Kershaw raised the dispute on November 5, saying the association had denied his request to walk the red carpet with Mendy. The CMA responded on November 9 that its red-carpet criteria address limited space and security needs for artists and media. It apologized to anyone who felt excluded and confirmed contact with his team. Kershaw then described the private discussion with leadership as “sincere and meaningful” when announcing the apology and invitation.

The November 18 ceremony is scheduled for Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Lainey Wilson will host, and the CMA lists an 8 p.m. Eastern broadcast on ABC and Disney+, with next-day availability on Hulu. Kershaw’s attendance statement does not announce a performance or presenting role.

Sources: Sammy Kershaw: attendance decision; iHeartCountry; Sammy Kershaw: earlier statement; Nick Beres: earlier clarification; CMA statement; CMA Awards details.