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CMA apologizes for and lifts media guidelines for awards ceremony interviews

By Karen Butler
The Country Music Association rescinded its controversial media guidelines for the CMA Awards after Brad Paisley called the restrictions "ridiculous" on Twitter. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
The Country Music Association rescinded its controversial media guidelines for the CMA Awards after Brad Paisley called the restrictions "ridiculous" on Twitter. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Country Music Association is backtracking on the media guidelines it issued earlier this week pertaining to the upcoming CMA Awards ceremony.

"CMA apologizes for the recently distributed restrictions in the CMA Awards media guidelines, which have since been lifted," the organization said in a statement. "The sentiment was not to infringe and was created with the best of intentions to honor and celebrate country music."

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The CMA reversed its decision after the gala's co-host Brad Paisley criticized it on Twitter.

"I'm sure the CMA will do the right thing and rescind these ridiculous and unfair press guidelines. In 3...2....1...." Paisley tweeted.

"Bravo CMA awards for doing the right thing & apologizing for this mistake. All are welcome, let's have a great show," the singer followed up after CMA took back its edict.

Variety said the CMA threatened to revoke the press credentials of reporters who asked celebrities about "the Las Vegas tragedy, gun rights, political affiliations or topics of the like."

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