Loretta Lynn is speaking out about Garth Brooks’ decision to pull himself out of the CMA Entertainer of the Year category and she’s holding nothing back.
The legendary artist, who took home the title of CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1972, took to Instagram to share what she calls the “hard truth” and explained why she thinks Brooks should still be in the running for the CMA’s top title.
“I’ve thought a lot about @garthbrooks stepping down from being considered for CMA Entertainer of the Year. That’s classic, humble Garth but I think he’s wrong on this one,” Lynn, 88, wrote. “He’s won it 7 times because he earned it! In my book, he’s earned it 20 times over and deserves to win it anytime they count the votes up and he’s on top. He’s worked his heart out and you can mark it down that I’m his biggest fan. I hope CMA ignores his request!”
Lynn closed her post with a message directly to Brooks: “Love you, honey,” she said.
Loretta Lynn’s post comes just days after Brooks held a virtual press conference to announce plans to remove himself from the CMA Entertainer of the Year category after taking home his seventh win in 2019. During the virtual event, he told members of the press, “it’s time for somebody else to hold that award.”
He went on to share that the backlash he received following his big win prompted him to make the request to the Country Music Association.
“You pretty much saw what happened after the CMAs, all the way through the new year. It got a little — it wasn’t fun, let’s put it that way,” Brooks acknowledged. “But there was one tweet that really stuck in my head,” he added, revealing that the Tweet suggested that he step aside and let someone else win.
He revealed that he “100-percent agreed” with the thought and shared that he does not want to “seem ungrateful.”
Lynn isn’t the first country star to speak out about the topic. Blake Shelton also took to social media to share his thoughts on Brooks’ announcement, calling Garth Brooks the “entertainer of the century.”
Despite Brooks’ request, the Country Music Association cannot permanently remove him from the category. The award is voted on my CMA members and if he receives a nomination, his name will in fact be on the ballot.
