Country music star Mark Chesnutt is coming to the defense of his fellow ’90s hitmaker Sammy Kershaw, and he’s not holding back in his criticism of the Country Music Association.
After Kershaw revealed that his request to walk the red carpet at the upcoming CMA Awards had been denied, Chesnutt took to Instagram with a blistering message accusing the organization of disrespecting the artists who helped make country music successful.
“So Sammy Kershaw won’t be allowed to walk the red carpet at the the big CMA Awards. Well that’s about right,” Chesnutt began. “The CMA doesn’t care about us old 90s guys any more.”
Kershaw, 68, had previously shared that he and his wife, Mendy, rearranged his touring schedule and booked flights and hotels to attend the Nov. 18 ceremony in Nashville. However, after months of communication with the organization, he said he learned that his request to walk the red carpet had been denied.
The decision has prompted an outpouring of support from fellow country performers, with Chesnutt now adding his voice to the growing controversy.
Mark Chesnutt Accuses CMA Awards of Ignoring Country Music Legends
Chesnutt, whose own string of ’90s hits includes “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” “Brother Jukebox” and “It’s a Little Too Late,” argued that the CMA Awards have become more interested in showcasing celebrities from outside country music than honoring the artists who helped build the genre.
“It’s a shame they don’t respect the stars that dominated the charts in the past thirty years or before that but they sure roll out the welcome mat for pop stars and Hollywood movie stars and even hip hop artists,” he wrote.
“Anything but country music gets the performance spots on the show.”
The 63-year-old singer went on to compare the country music industry’s treatment of its veteran performers with that of rock music.
“Rock n Roll honors its history and respects its legends while country music industry executives seem to ignore its rich history and its legends,” Chesnutt continued.
Despite his frustration, Chesnutt emphasized that traditional country music continues to have a loyal audience, regardless of whether industry executives recognize its performers.
“Thank God there’s still a lot of people that love traditional country music,” he wrote. “They keep coming to our shows and showing their love and respect for the music we’ve made for nearly forty years now and we’ll keep working for them and not for those who don’t matter to US!”
Terri Clark, Jake Owen and Cole Swindell React to Mark Chesnutt’s Message
Chesnutt’s Instagram post quickly attracted supportive comments from other country music stars, including several performers from different generations of the genre.
Terri Clark, who rose to fame in the mid-1990s with hits including “Better Things to Do” and “Girls Lie Too,” enthusiastically backed her fellow country star.
“Amen Brother Jukebox!!!” she wrote, referencing Chesnutt’s 1990 No. 1 hit.
Jake Owen, who had already expressed support for Kershaw on his original Instagram post, also weighed in.
“Love you @officialmarkchesnutt, well said,” Owen commented.
Cole Swindell added his appreciation for Chesnutt and his music, writing, “Big fan here! Appreciate you, MC!”
The comments add to the support Kershaw has received since publicly discussing the CMA Awards decision. In his original post, Kershaw described the situation as “extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing.”
He also pointed to his more than 50 years in the music business, his history of Billboard chart success and his past contributions to the CMA, including performing at CMA Fest.
Kershaw was nominated for the organization’s Horizon Award in 1993.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards Are Just Days Away
The controversy comes as the Country Music Association prepares to celebrate a major milestone with the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the ceremony will feature performances from Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Ella Langley, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves and others, along with a special tribute to Dolly Parton.
The CMA Awards have long featured artists from outside country music, but Chesnutt’s criticism highlights a broader frustration among some veteran performers about the recognition given to the genre’s history.
The organization has not publicly explained its decision regarding Kershaw’s red carpet request.
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will air live Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
Related: Mark Chesnutt Remembers Late Country Legend and Friend: ‘In a League of His Own’
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