An aspiring country singer, Austin Tanner, has found himself in legal trouble after attending the 2024 CMA Awards in Nashville without permission from the court. An Alabama judge issued a warrant for his arrest on November 26 after prosecutors learned he violated his bond conditions.
Tanner, who is facing fraud and theft charges, traveled with his wife, Skyla, to Nashville without asking the court for approval. This trip caught the attention of the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, which filed a motion to revoke his bond.
The situation began on November 21 when Tanner posted photos on social media showing him and his wife on the red carpet near the Bridgestone Arena, although he was not invited to the awards show itself. He described the experience as a “dream come true” in his post.
The following day, the district attorney’s office requested that Tanner’s bond be revoked since he was prohibited from leaving Alabama without the court’s permission. The judge granted this request, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
Tanner, 38, had been indicted in April on multiple charges, including first-degree insurance fraud. He had previously been released on a $20,000 bond and was originally scheduled to appear for a deposition hearing on the same day he walked the red carpet, though that hearing was rescheduled.
In the motion to revoke his bond, Assistant District Attorney Clay Rossi pointed out that Tanner was aware of his travel restrictions, having previously requested and received permission to travel for a business trip to Florida. Rossi argued that Tanner’s disregard for these conditions warranted immediate action against him.
Tanner’s attorney, Frederick Helmsing, stated that Tanner had travelled without his knowledge and cited the complexity of the case as the reason for the rescheduling of the hearing. Tanner released a single titled “All We Need” in March and is described on his website as being on the brink of achieving fame in country music. A court hearing regarding the bond issue is set for December 4.
