Kane Brown, who is set to perform at the CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on November 8, 2017. Credit: Phil DeSimone

Last month, CL pointed out that several country acts were distancing themselves from the National Rifle Association in the wake of the terror attack on Las Vegas' Route 91 Harvest Festival. Some of our readers were not impressed with our smart-ass comments.

Well it looks like some of country music — or at least the Country Music Association — is pushing back. As our sister publication Nashville Scene points out, media guidelines for covering the awards — which take place on November 8 at at Bridgestone Arena — include some notes about what you can and cannot talk about.

UPDATE: After a stern Twitter post from CMA Awards host Brad Paisley, the awards ceremony has apologized for it's misguided media policy. "CMA apologizes for the recently distributed restrictions in the CMA Awards media guidelines, which have since been lifted," it said in a statement. "The sentiment was not to infringe and was created with the best of intentions to honor and celebrate Country Music." Damn, Brad, damn.

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You'd be a lot less douchey if you did, too: Florida Georgia Line is one of a handful of country acts distancing itself from the NRA

"In light of recent events, and out of respect for the artists directly or indirectly involved, please refrain from focusing your coverage of the CMA Awards Red Carpet and Backstage Media Center on the Las Vegas tragedy, gun rights, political affiliations or topics of the like," is what the guidelines purportedly say.

The Scene's copy of the guidelines goes on to mention that the CMA's should be a celebration of country music and that the evening is meant to honor the outstanding achievements in the genre.

"We want everyone to feel comfortable talking to press about this exciting time," the guidelines add. But what if you don't play nice?

"If you are reported as straying from these guidelines, your credential will be reviewed and potentially revoked via security escort. We appreciate your cooperation in advance."

We're reaching out to the CMA awards to see what they have to say about all of this. Read more via the Nashville Scene.

This article appears in Nov 2-9, 2017.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...