CMA insists coronavirus protocols were followed after country music icon Charley Pride died of COVID-19 complications one month after CMA Awards

Entertainment Weekly

Last month, the CMA Awards -- which had Pride perform while he was being honored with a lifetime achievement award -- was criticized for appearing to recklessly ignore the pandemic by hosting an indoor in-person ceremony. Now that Pride has died a month later of COVID complications at age 86, country music artists including Maren Morris have slammed the CMAs for even having the ceremony take place indoors. "I don’t want to jump to conclusions because no family statement has been made, but if this was a result of the CMAs being indoors, we should all be outraged. Rest in power, Charley," Morris wrote Saturday in a tweet she later deleted. Pride had been hospitalized since late November. In a statement, the CMAs said it took all necessary precautions. "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions. Charley was tested prior to traveling to Nashville," said the statement. "He was tested upon landing in Nashville, and again on show day, with all tests coming back negative. After returning to Texas following the CMA Awards, Charley again tested negative multiple times. All of us in the Country Music community are heartbroken by Charley's passing. Out of respect for his family during their grieving period, we will not be commenting on this further."