Sam Hunt has backed out of his upcoming performance at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards in Nashville following his arrest last week for DUI. Hunt's rep has confirmed that the singer will no longer be performing at the show.
Earlier this month NASCAR announced that Hunt would be one of the performers at the upcoming awards set for December 5th. The country star was most likely planning to perform his recent single, "Kinfolks," released in October.
Hunt was pulled over by police last Thursday (November 21) after receiving multiple reports of a driver going the wrong way on Ellington Parkway in East Nashville and speeding. When officers found Hunt he was swerving in and out of his lane. According to police reports, the singer had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and had two empty beers in the car next to him.
Additionally, when asked for his drivers license, he instead handed over his credit card and his passport to the police. The arrest warrant indicates that Hunt's blood alcohol level .173. The legal limit in Tennessee is .08. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and possessing an open container.
On Friday (November 22), Hunt issued an apologetic statement following the incident. It read, "Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend's show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won't happen again."
The NASCAR Awards honor the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch, along with other top drivers of the year. This year marks the first time the event has been held in Nashville. Hunt will be replaced by fellow country star, Chris Janson. Cassadee Pope will co-host the event alongside NASCAR analyst Rutledge Wood.
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