CMA Board Limits Morgan Wallen’s Award Eligibility

Morgan Wallen

Country singer Morgan Wallen will be eligible for multiple awards at this year’s CMA Awards but not the show’s top prize, a sign of the continuing fallout after he was caught on camera using a racial slur.

The Associated Press reports the Country Music Association’s Board of Directors voted that Wallen will not be eligible for individual artist categories, such as entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year, according to Catharine McNelly, a CMA spokeswoman.

The board decided that Wallen could still be nominated for awards that recognize an artistic work, such as album of the year, song of the year, single of the year, musical event and music video, “so as to not limit the opportunity for other credited collaborators.”

The voting schedule was released Friday, with the first nomination ballot going out to CMA voters on July 6.

Meanwhile, The Tennessean reports Morgan Wallen surprised a crowd at Kid Rock's honky tonk with a performance Wednesday night — his first since being embroiled in controversy after using a racial slur. 

Videos across social media showed a crowd at the Nashville honky tonk cheering and singing along with Wallen as he performed "Wasted on You." Kid Rock also made an appearance.

At kid rocks bar in Nashville and guess who shows up..

KID FREAKING ROCK and MORGAN WALLEN! pic.twitter.com/Fhmi1dWb4Y

— Mike 🎤 (@DynastyMikeDrop) May 20, 2021

Last month, Wallen said he would not be performing this summer in the wake of using a racial slur in a video that surfaced in February. The singer was dropped from his recording contract and from country radio airwaves after the incident. 

A video shows Wallen, then 27, being dropped off at a house and telling a friend to "take care of this...(slur)," apparently referring to another person in the group.