After a handful of artists questioned if country legend Charley Pride, who died Saturday of COVID-19, could have been exposed at Nov.
11's CMA Awards, where he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashville ceremony, the Country Music Association and representatives for Pride released a joint statement explaining the show and Pride's testing procedures. "Everyone affiliated with the CMA Awards followed strict testing protocols outlined by the city health department and unions," the CMA wrote in a statement posted to its website late Saturday afternoon. "Charley was tested prior to traveling to Nashville.