Riley Green Makes His Support For Sammy Kershaw Clear After CMA Awards Red Carpet Controversy

Country star Riley Green has found a simple but powerful way to stand behind Sammy Kershaw after the veteran singer revealed he had been denied the chance to walk the red carpet at this year’s CMA Awards. Rather than issue a lengthy statement, Green picked up his guitar and revisited one of Kershaw’s most recognizable hits.

The gesture comes as the controversy continues to draw attention from fellow country artists and fans, raising questions about how the CMA Awards is treating some of the genre’s most established names.

CMA Awards Plans A Celebration Of The 1990s — But Not Everyone Feels Welcome

The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place on November 18, 2026, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. This year’s ceremony is set to celebrate the achievements of country music while honoring the artists who helped shape its history.

A major theme will be the music of the 1990s. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern previously confirmed that the decade would feature prominently through nostalgic set designs and performances inspired by the era.

But the celebrations have already been overshadowed by an unexpected controversy involving one of the decade’s familiar voices: Sammy Kershaw.

On Thursday, November 6, the country singer took to social media to reveal that his request to attend the ceremony and walk the red carpet alongside his wife had been rejected.

Kershaw explained that he had been looking forward to attending, particularly because his schedule rarely gives him the opportunity to participate in industry events. He had even rearranged his commitments and purchased plane tickets and hotel accommodations in anticipation of the occasion.

After waiting months for an answer, however, he said he was ultimately informed that he would not be allowed to walk the red carpet.

His disappointment was unmistakable.

“I love country music, but never in a million years would I think that a successful country music entertainer (and I’m not the only one) would not be able to walk the red carpet. It’s extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing,” Kershaw wrote.

His remarks quickly prompted an outpouring of support, with fellow country artists and fans questioning the decision to exclude him from the red-carpet festivities.

Riley Green Lets His Guitar Do The Talking

Among those showing support was Riley Green, who had already left a comment on Kershaw’s original social media post.

Green later took things a step further, sharing a musical tribute through his Instagram Stories.

While spending the evening on his balcony in Maui, Hawaii, the singer performed an acoustic version of Kershaw’s 1991 hit, “Yard Sale.”

The song also carries a connection between the two artists. Green and Kershaw previously performed it together during Green’s 2022 We Out Here Tour.

Alongside the performance, Green offered a brief caption:

“felt like pickin a little @sammykershaw this evening,”

It was a low-key gesture, but its timing made the message clear: Green was thinking of Kershaw as the controversy unfolded.

Country Music Stars Rally Behind Kershaw

Green is far from the only person standing with the veteran singer. Other country artists have spoken up, while fans have also voiced their support following Kershaw’s account of what happened.

The response highlights the respect Kershaw continues to command within the country music community and the lasting place he holds in the genre’s history.

For now, the controversy remains unresolved. The Country Music Association has not publicly responded to Kershaw’s remarks.

With the 60th CMA Awards approaching, attention will remain on whether the organization addresses the situation surrounding an artist whose music helped define the very decade this year’s ceremony intends to celebrate.