Country singer Charley Crockett has canceled his nine-date Canadian tour after being turned away twice at the Canadian border. The “Welcome to Hard Times” artist shared the news with fans on Instagram on February 23, posting a photo of a letter from The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, which denied him entry to the country “on grounds of serious criminality.”
“Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me,” Crockett wrote in the post. The issue stems from a 2016 felony conviction related to the possession of over five pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute. Crockett was arrested after a traffic stop in 2014 when state troopers found 6.6 pounds of marijuana in his car.
In his Instagram post, Crockett explained that he attempted to cross the Canadian border twice within 24 hours, first in Vancouver and later in Kelowna, but was rejected both times. “I’ve been advised that it would jeopardize my freedom to try and enter again,” Crockett wrote. “I’m deeply sorry to announce the cancellation of my entire Canadian tour.”
Crockett’s Canadian shows, originally scheduled for February 23 through March 6, included stops in cities like Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Fans who had purchased tickets will be issued full refunds at the point of purchase.
“I know this doesn’t begin to make up for y’alls time and hard-earned money,” he continued. “I apologize to everyone affected. I know I let y’all down. I ain’t one to quit and I aim to be back one of these days real soon.”
The letter from the Canadian government described Crockett as a “foreign national who has not been authorized to enter Canada” because of his felony conviction, noting that if the crime had occurred in Canada, it would be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years.
In addition to his music career, Crockett, a Texas-born singer-songwriter, has had a colorful past. He worked on a cannabis farm in California before turning to music. The 41-year-old has released 15 studio albums, including “Jamestown Ferry,” “The Man From Waco,” and “I Am Not Afraid.”
Crockett’s case isn’t unique; other country artists, like Jelly Roll, have also faced challenges in touring Canada due to criminal convictions.
His canceled shows include:
- Feb. 23 — Edmonton, Alberta
- Feb. 26 — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Feb. 28 — Winnipeg, Manitoba
- March 1 — Windsor, Ontario
- March 2 — Toronto, Ontario
- March 3 — Ottawa, Ontario
- March 5 — Montreal, Quebec City
- March 6 — Niagra Falls, Ontario
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