Country music star Jake Owen is calling out the Country Music Awards (CMAs). The committee issued a statement in response to the recent criticism they received. After they restricted certain artists' red carpet access for the upcoming award ceremony.
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Jake Owen Blasts CMA's Over Response to Recent Backlash
Owen scoffed at the CMA's response to the criticism and appeared to question the sincerity of the statement.
"This is a lot of words saying nothing... 'our mission is to preserve the history and celebrate the excellence of country music?' How about, 'sorry Sammy... we messed up... our words don't match our actions.' Instead, you waited 4 days to craft this?!?," the Barefoot Blue Dream Night artist said in a statement obtained by WhiskeyRiff.
Country music artist Sammy Kershaw was the apparent catalyst of the uprising against the CMAs over the past few days. After he shared that the awards committee had denied his request to walk the CMA red carpet with his wife. Kershaw called the decision "extremely hurtful."
"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," he said in a statement obtained by WhiskeyRiff. "It's extremely hurtful, embarrassing, and very disappointing. I guess the next time I attend the CMA's, it will be in tribute after I'm gone, if I'm lucky."
CMA Issues Response After Backlash
Kershaw's statement had a domino effect. One that revealed that he was far from the only notable artist to be denied red carpet access. Other artists such as Rodney Atkins also spoke out. About how he had been snubbed from the red carpet as well. In response, the CMA said that they were "deeply sorry." To anyone who was offended by the red carpet guidelines at this year's CMAs
"In recent days, several artists and their fans have spoken out about this year's CMA Awards red carpet guidelines. Like any major televised event, the red carpet has criteria that exist to help manage limited space and the security needs for both the artists and the media," they wrote in a statement via WhiskeyRiff. "We are deeply sorry anyone felt excluded by those decisions."
