Charley Crockett cancels Canadian tour after denied entry to Canada over past felony

Charley Crockett canceled his Canadian tour after being denied entry twice over a 2014 felony conviction

Charley Crockett has canceled his upcoming Canadian tour after being denied entry into the country twice over a past felony conviction.

The Texas-born singer-songwriter shared the news in a statement posted to Instagram, explaining that he was turned away at the border on two separate occasions over the weekend. The issue stems from a 2014 felony conviction for marijuana possession in Virginia.

“Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me,” Crockett wrote. According to his account, he first attempted to enter Canada through Vancouver, where he was detained by border officials. He later tried again through Kelowna but was denied entry a second time. “I’ve been advised that it would jeopardize my freedom to try and enter again,” he added, confirming that he would not make further attempts to cross the border.

A report issued to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reportedly stated that if Crockett had faced the same charges within Canada, the offense “would be punishable by a term of life imprisonment.” In March 2016, Crockett received a suspended sentence, was fined and placed on probation in connection with the case.

The canceled tour was set to kick off Feb. 23 in Edmonton, with additional stops planned in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Niagara Falls through March 6. Crockett has performed in many of those cities in recent years, including as recently as 2024. Canadian ticket holders will receive refunds at their original point of purchase.

Despite the setback, Crockett expressed hope that he will be able to return in the future. “I apologize to everyone affected. I know I let y’all down,” he wrote. “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.”

Crockett has long been open about his past and outspoken about his views on the music industry and politics. In recent weeks, he has continued to engage in debates about the direction of country music, contrasting what he calls “outlaw” values with mainstream pop-country trends. For now, however, his focus turns back to the U.S., where he is scheduled to resume touring on March 7.