1986 Country Music Association Awards


The 1986 Country Music Association Awards, 20th Ceremony, was held on October 13, 1986, at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by CMA Award winners Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.

Winners and nominees

Winner are in Bold.
Entertainer of the YearAlbum of the Year
Reba McEntire
  • Lost in the Fifties Tonight — Ronnie Milsap
  • * #7 — George Strait
  • * Rockin' with the Rhythm — The Judds
  • * Storms of Life — Randy Travis
  • * Whoever's in New England — Reba McEntire
    • Male Vocalist of the YearFemale Vocalist of the Year
    George Strait
  • * George Jones
  • * Gary Morris
  • * Randy Travis
  • * Hank Williams, Jr.
    		• Reba McEntire
  • * Rosanne Cash
  • * Janie Fricke
  • * Emmylou Harris
  • * Anne Murray
    • Vocal Group of the YearVocal Duo of the Year
    The Judds
  • * Exile
  • * Forester Sisters
  • * Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • * Oak Ridge Boys
    		• Dan Seals and Marie Osmond
  • * Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
  • * Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle
  • * Steve Wariner and Nicolette Larson
  • * Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
    • Single of the YearSong of the Year
  • "Bop" — Dan Seals
  • * "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)" — The Judds
  • * "Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her" — George Strait
  • * "On The Other Hand" — Randy Travis
  • * "Whoever's In New England" — Reba McEntire
  • "On The Other Hand" — Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet
  • * "1982" — Buddy Blackmon and Vip Vipperman
  • * "Bop" — Jennifer Kimball and Paul Davis
  • * "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)" — Jamie O'Hara
  • * "Lost In The Fifties Tonight" — Mike Reid, Fred Parris, and Troy Seals
    • Horizon AwardInstrumentalist of the Year
    Randy Travis
  • * Forester Sisters
  • * Kathy Mattea
  • * Dan Seals
  • * Dwight Yoakam
    		• Johnny Gimble
  • * Jerry Douglas
  • * Doyle Grisham
  • * Mark O'Connor
    • Instrumental Group of the YearMusic Video of the Year
    Oak Ridge Boys Band
  • * Grand Ole Opry Staff Band
  • * Hee Haw Band
  • * Nashville Now Band
  • * Strangers
  • Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes — George Jones
  • * 100% Chance of Rain — Gary Morris
  • * Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days) — The Judds
  • * Honky Tonk Man — Dwight Yoakam
  • * Whoever's In New England — Reba McEntire