Charley Crockett cancels Canadian tour after being denied entry to Canada

When your past comes knocking

We’ve all made mistakes, but for nominated singer Charley Crockett, a decision from years ago just cost him an entire tour. The Texas country star was all set to play for his Canadian fans when he got stopped at the border.

Crockett tried crossing into Canada twice in just 24 hours, first near Vancouver and then again near Kelowna. Both times, border officials turned him away because of a felony conviction back in 2016

Charley Crockett’s honest confession

Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me, Charley Crockett wrote on Instagram, and you could feel the heartbreak in his words. The 41-year-old singer didn’t make excuses or hide from the truth.

He simply explained that he had to cancel his entire Canadian tour after being denied entry due to that old conviction. Crockett apologized to fans and promised that everyone would get their money back.

The 2016 case that changed everything

Back in March 2016, Charley Crockett was convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute more than five pounds of marijuana in Virginia. He received a 10-year suspended sentence and a $10,000 fine for the charge.

Crockett spent about a month in jail after his arrest, when troopers pulled him over and found 6.6 pounds of weed in his trunk. He told Texas Monthly that he was terrified and could only think to play a Willie Nelson song for the officers.

Two strikes at the border

Imagine driving all the way to the border, excited for your shows, and being told you can’t come in. That’s what happened to Crockett when he first tried entering through Vancouver.

Not ready to give up, he and his band drove to Kelowna and tried again. For the second time in one day, officials said no, and this time they warned that trying again could put his freedom at risk.

The official letter that explained why

Crockett shared the government letter with his followers so they’d understand this wasn’t a simple paperwork mix-up. The document stated he was denied under section 44(1) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act due to serious criminality.

Canadian officials said the conviction met IRPA’s ‘serious criminality’ threshold, which can make a foreign national inadmissible — different drug offences in Canada carry different maximum penalties depending on the conduct. That’s a tough reminder that different countries have different rules.

Seven Canadian shows down the drain

Fans from Saskatoon to Niagara Falls were counting down the days until February 25, when the tour was supposed to kick off. Crockett had seven shows planned across the country, including Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.

Instead of packed venues and singing crowds, those cities now have empty stages. The tour was set to run through March 6, but now those dates are just blank spaces on the calendar.

Fun fact: Under Canadian immigration law, even though cannabis is legal in Canada today, a foreign conviction for marijuana possession with intent to sell is treated as a hybrid offense, which is always considered indictable for immigration purposes.

He’s played Canada before without issues

Here’s what confuses fans, Charley Crockett has toured Canada successfully in the past. He played Toronto just last summer at the RBC Amphitheatre and hit Saskatchewan in 2023 for Country Thunder.

So why the sudden problem? Border rules can be tricky, and past convictions that were overlooked before can suddenly become an issue. It’s a frustrating situation for everyone involved

Getting your money back

If you bought tickets, don’t worry about losing your cash. Ticketmaster confirmed that refunds will be processed automatically to the original payment method.

It might take 14 to 21 days for the money to show up in your account, but it’s coming. Crockett made sure to tell fans he knows this doesn’t make up for their disappointment or their hard-earned money.

The local band that lost a big break

Jake Vaadeland and The Sturgeon River Boys were supposed to open for Crockett on several dates, and this was going to be huge for them. The Saskatchewan group won Traditional Roots Album of the Year at the Junos just last year.

They took to social media to share their own disappointment, telling fans they were sorry they didn’t get to play. When one artist loses out, it creates a ripple effect.

What it means for the venues

Kirby Wirchenko from Saskatoon’s TCU Place explained that cancellations hurt more than people realize. It’s not just about the music, local staff lose a night’s work, and the community misses out on the economic boost.

He had planned a whole Americana roots week around Crockett’s show. When a cancellation happens, Wirchenko says everybody loses, especially the fans who were most excited.

Other stars who got turned away

Charley Crockett is in good company, believe it or not. Irish hip-hop group Kneecap recently got banned from Canada, and rapper Playboi Carti had to drop off The Weeknd’s tour dates last year due to border issues.

Even the Zac Brown Band canceled a 2022 Vancouver show when some crew members with outstanding charges couldn’t get in. Country star Jelly Roll was also unable to perform in Canada due to felony convictions before receiving a pardon.

A Grammy winner on the rise

The cancellation is especially disappointing coming on the heels of Crockett’s recent awards attention, as he’s earned Grammy nominations and has risen quickly in the roots and country scenes. He’s been on fire ever since, releasing 15 albums since 2015 and building a dedicated fan base.

His new album, Age of the Ram, is still scheduled for release in April as part of his Sagebrush Trilogy. The guy clearly loves making music, and this border trouble won’t stop him for long.

Want more on what he’s been saying lately? Don’t miss the moment Charley Crockett’s Beyoncé defense took an unexpected turn.

He’s not giving up on Canada

Despite all the frustration, Charley Crockett ended his announcement on a hopeful note. I ain’t one to quit, and I aim to be back one of these days real soon, he promised his Canadian fans.

He called Canada a beautiful country with some of the best fans in the world. For now, his tour picks back up March 7 in Pennsylvania, but don’t be surprised if he finds a way to cross that border in the future.

Need something to hold you over until he’s back on the road? Dive into our guide to Charley Crockett’s best albums and standout tracks.

Were you supposed to be at one of Charley Crockett’s Canadian shows? Drop a comment and tell us which city you’re from, we’d love to hear from you.`

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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