Sammy Kershaw says he is feeling hurt after being denied the opportunity to walk the red carpet at this year's CMA Awards.

He and his wife, Mendy, rearranged their schedule and made travel plans so they could attend the ceremony together. But after months of waiting, Sammy was told that his request had been denied just weeks before the show.

In a social media post, he shared his disappointment with the Country Music Association, saying that he's been a member of the organization for decades and has spent more than 50 years in the music business. After more than two dozen Billboard-charting hits and millions of records and singles sold and streamed, Sammy hoped he had earned the right to walk the carpet with his wife.

“I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success,” he said.

He called the experience “extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing.”

Meanwhile, Sammy's post caught the attention of several country artists who offered their support.

“If you haven’t earned the right to be there then nobody has… disappointing to say the least,” Riley Green wrote in the comment section.

Jake Owen and Carly Pearce also came to his defense.

Meghan Patrick and Greylan James questioned why social media influencers have been granted red carpet access in previous years while a longtime country music star like Sammy Kershaw was turned away.

Drew Baldridge took to Instagram Stories to share his frustration, writing, “I’ll give my spot up for you, Sammy Kershaw…If you don’t deserve to be there then I definitely don’t.”