Loretta Lynn is not happy with Garth Brooks. The 88-year-old is criticizing her good friend for withdrawing his name from consideration for the Entertainer of the Year category, and hopes the Country Music Association ignores his request.
“I’ve thought a lot about Garth Brooks stepping down from being considered for CMA Entertainer of the Year,” Loretta shared in a social media post. “That’s classic, humble Garth but I think he’s wrong on this one! 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! Love you, honey.”
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Garth announced last month during a virtual press conference that he was removing his name from the category, a decision he made after he beat out Carrie Underwood in 2019, who was expected to take home the coveted trophy.
“There’s one tweet in there that really stuck in my head,” Garth said at the time. “It said, ‘Hey, man. This guy, why doesn’t he just step down and leave the entertainer for the next generation?’ 100% agree … With all the love in the world, we are officially pulling ourselves out of Entertainer of the Year.’”
Garh asked the CMA to remove his name, but when they said they were unable to do so, he took matters into his own hands.
“The CMA came back and said, ‘It’s not our call. We cannot pull you out of our awards,’” Garth shared. “So today we sit here and humbly ask with all the gratefulness and love in the world, we are going to do it ourselves. We’re going to pull ourselves out of Entertainer of the Year.”
If the “Friends in Low Places” singer will listen to anyone, it will be Loretta. Garth has enjoyed a lengthy friendship with the octogenarian, who was part of the all-star tribute to her last year, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
“Everybody knows Loretta, and everybody loves Loretta,” Garth said (via The Country Daily). “She’s a pistol and [I] just love being around her. I wish I was Loretta Lynn. I mean, everybody that comes to this town wants to be somebody like her . . . Everybody’s lining up to pay tribute to her.”