CMT News

The singer-songwriter formerly known as Cat Stevens was en route to a recording session in Nashville when authorities removed him from a flight from London to Washington for what the Homeland Security Department has termed as "national security grounds." The planned Nashville visit was confirmed to CMT.com by a reliable source within the music industry. A convert to Islam, Stevens changed his name to Yusuf Islam more than two decades ago. He was taken from a United Airlines flight after it was diverted to Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday (Sept. 21). He was denied entry into the U.S. after officials received information regarding his connections to potential terrorists. On the home page of his official Web site, the Web master posted a message stating, "He has vehemently and consistently criticized terrorist acts and has always advocated peace through his songs and his extensive humanitarian relief work. He has traveled many times to the U.S., most recently two months ago on a visit with his record company. Any suggestion therefore that he poses a security risk due to alleged connections with terrorist activities is totally denied as it is simply wrong."