CMT Awards UPDATE: Naomi Judd Lashes Out at Network Over 'Disservice' to George Jones Death

The CMT Awards have been over for nearly a week but musician Naomi Judd is just now bringing forth her ire on the network for its handling of country icon George Jones recent death during the broadcast. 

Judd addresses her complaints in a letter to the Tennessean newspaper. She opined that Jones was one of the greatest influence in the genre's history and amount of attention dedicated to him at the CMT's was shameful.

"George Jones is to country music what The Beatles are to pop, the Rolling Stones to rock, Elvis to rockabilly, Mozart to classical and Aretha to soul," Judd wrote. 

Not only was not enough attention paid to Jones, who passed away in April of respiratory complications, Judd argued that the tribute didn't make sense. There was a brief oration by musician and cohost Jason Aldean, followed by the Mavericks performing Jones's "The Race is On." Judd referred to the group as "alternative." The band played through the entire song at the ceremony, but the broadcast was cut halfway through the track for a commercial break. 

It seems bands like the Mavericks and other genre-jumping artists is another thing bothering Judd. Although many in the media praised the CMT's for its inclusion of non-country guests, including rocker Lenny Kravitz performing with Aldean, and rapper Nelly joining Florida Georgia Line, Judd saw it as a bad thing. 

"Every year, CMT includes artists of unrelated genres, many of whom some country music fans don't even know," she wrote. "I suggest the CMT Awards show change its name. Perhaps to 'the Multi-Genre Awards Show, Featuring Artists under 30.'"

CMT was one of several stations to broadcast the entirety of Jones's funeral, which was carried out at the Grand Ole Opry.