CMA Awards: Country artists condemn ceremony over John Prine in memoriam snub
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The Country Music Association has faced criticism after failing to mention John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver or Jerry Jeff Walker during last night’s (12 November) CMA awards ceremony.
Prine died of coronavirus-related causes in April, while Shaver and Walker passed away last month. All three artists are considered hugely significant musicians by many country music fans.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriters Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires announced that they were returning their lifetime membership cards to the Country Music Association in protest.
“Due to @CountryMusic’s failure to mention John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Billy Joe Shaver at the CMA’s last night, @amandashires and I have decided to return our membership cards,” wrote Isbell on Twitter.
“I doubt anybody will care, but we cared a lot about our heroes.”
Sturgill Simpson, the Grammy-winning artist who also played with Prine, posted a video to Instagram condemning the apparent snub.
“Two seconds. That’s all it would have took. Two seconds, literally two syllables. John Prine. That’s it. Nope,” says Simpson in the clip.
Due to @CountryMusic’s failure to mention John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Billy Joe Shaver at the CMA’s last night, @amandashires and I have decided to return our membership cards. I doubt anybody will care, but we cared a lot about our heroes. pic.twitter.com/UmplzD0Z7p
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) November 13, 2020
No mention of Prine, Billy Joe or Jerry Jeff on the CMA’s last night. What an absolute disgrace to country music. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but damn.
— Caleb Caudle (@caleb_caudle) November 12, 2020
We’ll be tuning in tonight for the great performances and to root on our favs, but we just wanted to share this too #countrymusic pic.twitter.com/eUjSjetC5i
— Oh Boy Records (@ohboyrecords) November 12, 2020
Prine’s label, Oh Boy Records, shared a statement which reads: “Country music was both the inspiration and foundation for his songwriting and performing.
“While there may be a number of artists who have had more commercial success than John, there are very few who achieved more artistically.”
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