Jimmie Allen apologizes to wife for 'affair' amid sexual assault lawsuit

Following allegations of sexual assault by his former manager, country music artist Jimmie Allen posted on Instagram on Thursday to apologize to his wife and children.

Allen's social media post, published one week after a sexual assault lawsuit was filed against him, explained that he wanted to publicly apologize to his wife for humiliating her with "my affair."

In the lawsuit, an unnamed plaintiff, who previously served as his day-to-day manager, said Allen utilized his power over her to sexually abuse and harass her from 2020-22.

Jimmie Allen performs as the supporting act during Carrie Underwood’s Denim and Rhinestones Tour concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Jimmie Allen performs as the supporting act during Carrie Underwood’s Denim and Rhinestones Tour concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

The plaintiff also claimed, according to the lawsuit, Allen made it clear that her job depended on her silence.

On Instagram, Allen said he is working to become a better person.

"I also want to apologize to my children for being a poor example of a man and a father," he wrote.

Following the sexual abuse lawsuit, Allen was removed as a performer at the CMA Fest in Nashville. His record label, BBR Music Group, suspended all activity with Allen, while United Talent Agency suspended its representation of the singer.

Allen said his goal is to be better than the generation before him.

"This business takes so much from you," he continued in his apology on Instagram. "It's full of temptations that can cripple you and ruin everything you've built."

Allen had a meteoric rise after moving to Music City in 2007. By 2021, he won both New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year. He opened for Carrie Underwood's Denim and Rhinestones arena tour and topped Billboard and Mediabase's charts for the fourth time with his single  "down home" and has recorded songs with Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, and Brad Paisley.

Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Country music star Jimmie Allen apologizes on Instagram to wife, kids