Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony features performances and award presentations by popular country music artists, with occasional appearances from pop and rock artists. The CMA Awards were first presented in 1967, and televised for the first time the following year.
History
The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on October 20, 1967; the Entertainer of the Year award went to Eddy Arnold that night. The second annual CMA awards were presented in October 1968; NBC taped the ceremony and televised it a few weeks later. Since then, the awards have been televised live, usually in October or November, by NBC from 1969 through 1971, by CBS from 1972 through 2005, and by ABC beginning in 2006. Starting in 1968 they were held at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.In 2005, the awards show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since 2006, they have been held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 54th CMA Awards were held at Nashville's Music City Center.
Since 2024, the ceremony has been held on the third Wednesday of November. From 2017-2023, it was held on the second Wednesday of November. Prior to 2017, the awards were generally held on the first Wednesday of November. However, since then the awards have been rescheduled for later in the month to avoid conflict with a possible game seven of Major League Baseball's World Series, since the 2016 ceremony aired the same night as Fox's eventual telecast of game seven of the 2016 Series, which beat the CMA Awards in the ratings.In June 2021, the Country Music Association announced that they would extend its broadcast contract with ABC through 2026.
Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Country Music Association announced that the 55th CMA Awards on November 10, 2021, would require ticketed audience members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to wear appropriate face coverings.
Eligibility and voting
Albums and songs released between July 1 of the previous calendar year and June 30 of the award show's year are eligible for consideration. More than 7,300 individuals from the Country Music Association trade group vote for the nominees and winners through three rounds of balloting.Awards
Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, New Artist, Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, Musical Event, Music Video, and Musician. The distinction between the Duo and Event awards is that the former is presented to two artists who normally perform together, while the latter was specifically created to honor one-off collaborations. Nine awards are also given to radio broadcasters for Station of the Year and Personality of the Year, as well as National Personality of the Year to the host of a nationally syndicated show. Since 2012, the ceremony features a Lifetime Achievement Award. Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson are the only individuals to win Entertainer of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year or Group/Duo of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year all in the same year.Categories
- Entertainer of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Vocal Group of the Year
- Vocal Duo of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Musician of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Musical Event of the Year
- Video of the Year
- International Achievement Award
- Comedian of the Year
- Instrumental Group of the Year
- Award of Excellence
- Humanitarian Award
- J. William Denny Award
- Joe Talbot Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Media Achievement Award
- Pinnacle Award
- President's Award
- Songwriter Advocate Award
- National Personality of the Year
- Major Market Personality of the Year
- Large Market Personality of the Year
- Medium Market Personality of the Year
- Small Market Personality of the Year
- Major Market Station of the Year
- Large Market Station of the Year
- Medium Market Station of the Year
- Small Market Station of the Year
Major awards
| Year | Entertainer of the Year | Male Vocalist of the Year | Female Vocalist of the Year | Album of the Year | Song of the Year | New Artist of the Year |
| 2025 | Lainey Wilson | Cody Johnson | Lainey Wilson | Whirlwind | Aaron Raitiere, Ella Langley, Riley Green — "You Look Like You Love Me" | Zach Top |
| 2024 | Morgan Wallen | Chris Stapleton | Lainey Wilson | Leather | Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson — "White Horse" | Megan Moroney |
| 2023 | Lainey Wilson | Chris Stapleton | Lainey Wilson | Bell Bottom Country | Tracy Chapman — "Fast Car" | Jelly Roll |
| 2022 | Luke Combs | Chris Stapleton | Lainey Wilson | Growin' Up | Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins — "Buy Dirt" | Lainey Wilson |
| 2021 | Luke Combs | Chris Stapleton | Carly Pearce | Starting Over | Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton — "Starting Over" | Jimmie Allen |
| 2020 | Eric Church | Luke Combs | Maren Morris | What You See Is What You Get | Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz — "The Bones" | Morgan Wallen |
| 2019 | Garth Brooks | Luke Combs | Kacey Musgraves | Girl | Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford - "Beautiful Crazy" | Ashley McBryde |
| 2018 | Keith Urban | Chris Stapleton | Carrie Underwood | Golden Hour | Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson – "Broken Halos" | Luke Combs |
| 2017 | Garth Brooks | Chris Stapleton | Miranda Lambert | From A Room: Volume 1 | Taylor Swift – "Better Man" | Jon Pardi |
| 2016 | Garth Brooks | Chris Stapleton | Carrie Underwood | Mr. Misunderstood | Lori McKenna – "Humble and Kind" | Maren Morris |
| 2015 | Luke Bryan | Chris Stapleton | Miranda Lambert | Traveller | Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey – "Girl Crush" | Chris Stapleton |
| 2014 | Luke Bryan | Blake Shelton | Miranda Lambert | Platinum | Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark – "Follow Your Arrow" | Brett Eldredge |
| 2013 | George Strait | Blake Shelton | Miranda Lambert | Based on a True Story... | Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary – "I Drive Your Truck" | Kacey Musgraves |
| 2012 | Blake Shelton | Blake Shelton | Miranda Lambert | Chief | Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton – "Over You" | Hunter Hayes |
| 2011 | Taylor Swift | Blake Shelton | Miranda Lambert | My Kinda Party | Kimberly Perry – "If I Die Young" | The Band Perry |
| 2010 | Brad Paisley | Blake Shelton | Miranda Lambert | Revolution | Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin – "The House That Built Me" | Zac Brown Band |
| 2009 | Taylor Swift | Brad Paisley | Taylor Swift | Fearless | Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto – "In Color" | Darius Rucker |
| 2008 | Kenny Chesney | Brad Paisley | Carrie Underwood | Troubadour | Jennifer Nettles – "Stay" | Lady Antebellum |
| 2007 | Kenny Chesney | Brad Paisley | Carrie Underwood | It Just Comes Natural | Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Buddy Cannon – "Give It Away" | Taylor Swift |
| 2006 | Kenny Chesney | Keith Urban | Carrie Underwood | Time Well Wasted | Craig Wiseman, Ronnie Dunn – "Believe" | Carrie Underwood |
| 2005 | Keith Urban | Keith Urban | Gretchen Wilson | There's More Where That Came From | Bill Anderson, Jon Randall – "Whiskey Lullaby" | Dierks Bentley |
| 2004 | Kenny Chesney | Keith Urban | Martina McBride | When the Sun Goes Down | Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols – "Live Like You Were Dying" | Gretchen Wilson |
| 2003 | Alan Jackson | Alan Jackson | Martina McBride | The Man Comes Around | Doug Johnson, Kim Williams – "Three Wooden Crosses" | Joe Nichols |
| 2002 | Alan Jackson | Alan Jackson | Martina McBride | Drive | Alan Jackson – "Where Were You " | Rascal Flatts |
| 2001 | Tim McGraw | Toby Keith | Lee Ann Womack | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Larry Cordle, Larry Shell – "Murder on Music Row" | Keith Urban |
| 2000 | Dixie Chicks | Tim McGraw | Faith Hill | Fly | Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers – "I Hope You Dance" | Brad Paisley |
| 1999 | Shania Twain | Tim McGraw | Martina McBride | A Place in the Sun | Beth Neilsen Chapman, Annie Roboff, Rob Lerner – "This Kiss" | Jo Dee Messina |
| 1998 | Garth Brooks | George Strait | Trisha Yearwood | Everywhere | Steve Wariner, Billy Kirsch – "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" | Dixie Chicks |
| 1997 | Garth Brooks | George Strait | Trisha Yearwood | Carrying Your Love with Me | Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison – "Strawberry Wine" | LeAnn Rimes |
| 1996 | Brooks & Dunn | George Strait | Patty Loveless | Blue Clear Sky | Vince Gill – "Go Rest High on That Mountain" | Bryan White |
| 1995 | Alan Jackson | Vince Gill | Alison Krauss | When Fallen Angels Fly | Gretchen Peters – "Independence Day" | Alison Krauss |
| 1994 | Vince Gill | Vince Gill | Pam Tillis | Common Thread | Alan Jackson, Jim McBride – "Chattahoochee" | John Michael Montgomery |
| 1993 | Vince Gill | Vince Gill | Mary Chapin Carpenter | I Still Believe in You | John Barlow Jarvis, Vince Gill – "I Still Believe in You" | Mark Chesnutt |
| 1992 | Garth Brooks | Vince Gill | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Ropin' the Wind | Max D. Barnes, Vince Gill – "Look at Us" | Suzy Bogguss |
| 1991 | Garth Brooks | Vince Gill | Tanya Tucker | No Fences | Tim DuBois, Vince Gill – "When I Call Your Name" | Travis Tritt |
| 1990 | George Strait | Clint Black | Kathy Mattea | Pickin' on Nashville | Don Henry, Jon Vezner – "Where've You Been" | Garth Brooks |
| 1989 | George Strait | Ricky Van Shelton | Kathy Mattea | Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume II | Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin – "Chiseled in Stone" | Clint Black |
| 1988 | Hank Williams, Jr. | Randy Travis | K. T. Oslin | Born to Boogie | K. T. Oslin – "80's Ladies" | Ricky Van Shelton |
| 1987 | Hank Williams, Jr. | Randy Travis | Reba McEntire | Always & Forever | Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – "Forever and Ever, Amen" | Holly Dunn |
| 1986 | Reba McEntire | George Strait | Reba McEntire | Lost in the Fifties Tonight | Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz – "On the Other Hand" | Randy Travis |
| 1985 | Ricky Skaggs | George Strait | Reba McEntire | Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind | Lee Greenwood – "God Bless the USA" | Sawyer Brown |
| 1984 | Alabama | Lee Greenwood | Reba McEntire | A Little Good News | Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar – "Wind Beneath My Wings" | The Judds |
| 1983 | Alabama | Lee Greenwood | Janie Fricke | The Closer You Get... | Wayne Carson Thompson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James – "Always on My Mind" | John Anderson |
| 1982 | Alabama | Ricky Skaggs | Janie Fricke | Always on My Mind | Wayne Carson Thompson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James – "Always on My Mind" | Ricky Skaggs |
| 1981 | Barbara Mandrell | George Jones | Barbara Mandrell | I Believe in You | Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman – "He Stopped Loving Her Today" | Terri Gibbs |
| 1980 | Barbara Mandrell | George Jones | Emmylou Harris | Coal Miner's Daughter Soundtrack | Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman – "He Stopped Loving Her Today" | No award presented |
| 1979 | Willie Nelson | Kenny Rogers | Barbara Mandrell | The Gambler | Don Schlitz – "The Gambler" | No award presented |
| 1978 | Dolly Parton | Don Williams | Crystal Gayle | It Was Almost Like a Song | Richard Leigh – "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" | No award presented |
| 1977 | Ronnie Milsap | Ronnie Milsap | Crystal Gayle | Ronnie Milsap: Live | Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum – "Lucille" | No award presented |
| 1976 | Mel Tillis | Ronnie Milsap | Dolly Parton | Wanted! The Outlaws | Larry Weiss – "Rhinestone Cowboy" | No award presented |
| 1975 | John Denver | Waylon Jennings | Dolly Parton | A Legend in My Time | John Denver – "Back Home Again" | No award presented |
| 1974 | Charlie Rich | Ronnie Milsap | Olivia Newton-John | A Very Special Love Song | Don Wayne – "Country Bumpkin" | No award presented |
| 1973 | Roy Clark | Charlie Rich | Loretta Lynn | Behind Closed Doors | Kenny O'Dell – "Behind Closed Doors" | No award presented |
| 1972 | Loretta Lynn | Charley Pride | Loretta Lynn | Let Me Tell You About a Song | Freddie Hart – "Easy Loving" | No award presented |
| 1971 | Charley Pride | Charley Pride | Lynn Anderson | I Won't Mention It Again | Freddie Hart – "Easy Loving" | No award presented |
| 1970 | Merle Haggard | Merle Haggard | Tammy Wynette | Okie from Muskogee | Kris Kristofferson – "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | No award presented |
| 1969 | Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Tammy Wynette | Johnny Cash at San Quentin | Bob Ferguson – "The Carroll County Accident" | No award presented |
| 1968 | Glen Campbell | Glen Campbell | Tammy Wynette | Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison | Bobby Russell – "Honey" | No award presented |
| 1967 | Eddy Arnold | Jack Greene | Loretta Lynn | There Goes My Everything | Dallas Frazier – "There Goes My Everything" | No award presented |