Country Singer’s Past Drug Arrest Leads to Entire Tour Being Canceled

Canadian authorities thwarted a revered country music artist’s attempt to head north of the border.

Charley Crockett, a Grammy-winning singer, failed to enter Canada twice towards the end of February, only to be stopped each time. The “Welcome to the Hard Times” and “Jamestown Ferry” singer had a slate of tour dates lined up in the northern nation, but they will no longer be happening.

Border patrol rejected Crockett’s entry due to “serious criminality” in his background — specifically his 2016 arrest for marijuana possession in West Virginia. The artist, who is a Grammy winner for his work on the Clifton Chenier celebration A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, showed off his rejection notice while breaking the cancellation news to his fans.

“Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me,” Crockett wrote on Monday. “I tried to cross the Canadian border twice in 24 hours. After they denied me entry in Vancouver, I tried again in Kelowna and was rejected a 2nd time. I’ve been advised that it would jeopardize my freedom to try and enter again. I’m deeply sorry to announce the cancellation of my entire Canadian Tour.

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“Full refunds will be issued at the point of purchase. I know this doesn’t begin to make up for y’all’s time and hard earned money. I apologize to everyone affected. I know I let y’all down. Canada’s such a beautiful country full of some of the best fans in the world, and I’ve had the time of my life playing shows for y’all. I ain’t one to quit and I aim to be back one of these days real soon. Yours truly, Charley.”