The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967. (The Entertainer of the Year award that night went to Eddy Arnold.) The second annual CMA awards were presented in October 1968; NBC broadcast the presentation a few weeks later). Beginning in 1969, the awards were televised live, usually during October or November of each year. They continued to be broadcast on NBC until switching to CBS in 1972, where they remained until 2005. Starting in November 2006, the Annual CMA Awards are televised on ABC. The CMA Awards ceremonies have almost always taken place at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry (initially at the Ryman Auditorium, and from 1974 on, at the Opry's new location in Opryland), with four exceptions: The 1967 awards were presented at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, the 2005 ceremonies took place in New York at Madison Square Garden and the 2007 and 2008 awards were presented at the Sommet Center in downtown Nashville.
Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, New Artist (previously known as the Horizon Award until 2008), Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, Music Event, Music Video, and Musician.
The show featured performances from top country music stars as well as up-and-coming new artists who perform snippets of their hit songs before going to a commercial (the new artist bumpers were discontinued in 2002).
Major awards
| Year |
Entertainer of the Year |
Male Vocalist of the Year |
Female Vocalist of the Year |
Song of the Year |
| 2008 |
Kenny Chesney |
Brad Paisley |
Carrie Underwood |
Jennifer Nettles - "Stay" |
| 2007 |
Kenny Chesney |
Brad Paisley |
Carrie Underwood |
Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson - "Give It Away" |
| 2006 |
Kenny Chesney |
Keith Urban |
Carrie Underwood |
Craig Wiseman, Ronnie Dunn - "Believe" |
| 2005 |
Keith Urban |
Keith Urban |
Gretchen Wilson |
Bill Anderson, Jon Randall - "Whiskey Lullaby" |
| 2004 |
Kenny Chesney |
Keith Urban |
Martina McBride |
Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols - "Live Like You Were Dying" |
| 2003 |
Alan Jackson |
Alan Jackson |
Martina McBride |
Doug Johnson, Kim Williams - "Three Wooden Crosses" |
| 2002 |
Alan Jackson |
Alan Jackson |
Martina McBride |
Alan Jackson - "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" |
| 2001 |
Tim McGraw |
Toby Keith |
Lee Ann Womack |
Larry Cordell, Larry Shell - "Murder on Music Row" |
| 2000 |
Dixie Chicks |
Tim McGraw |
Faith Hill |
Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers - "I Hope You Dance" |
| 1999 |
Shania Twain |
Tim McGraw |
Martina McBride |
Beth Neilsen Chapman, Annie Roboff, Rob Lerner - "This Kiss" |
| 1998 |
Garth Brooks |
George Strait |
Trisha Yearwood |
Steve Wariner, Billy Kirsh - "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" |
| 1997 |
Garth Brooks |
George Strait |
Trisha Yearwood |
Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison - "Strawberry Wine" |
| 1996 |
Brooks & Dunn |
George Strait |
Patty Loveless |
Vince Gill - "Go Rest High on That Mountain" |
| 1995 |
Alan Jackson |
Vince Gill |
Alison Krauss |
Gretchen Peters - "Independence Day" |
| 1994 |
Vince Gill |
Vince Gill |
Pam Tillis |
Alan Jackson, Jim McBride - "Chatahoochee" |
| 1993 |
Vince Gill |
Vince Gill |
Mary Chapin Carpenter |
John Barlow Jarvis, Vince Gill - "I Still Believe in You" |
| 1992 |
Garth Brooks |
Vince Gill |
Mary Chapin Carpenter |
Max D. Barnes, Vince Gill - "Look at Us" |
| 1991 |
Garth Brooks |
Vince Gill |
Tanya Tucker |
Tim Dubois, Vince Gill - "When I Call Your Name" |
| 1990 |
George Strait |
Clint Black |
Kathy Mattea |
Don Henry, Jon Vezner - "Where've You Been" |
| 1989 |
George Strait |
Ricky Van Shelton |
Kathy Mattea |
Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin - "Chiseled in Stone" |
| 1988 |
Hank Williams, Jr. |
Randy Travis |
K.T. Oslin |
K.T. Oslin - "80s Ladies" |
| 1987 |
Hank Williams, Jr. |
Randy Travis |
Reba McEntire |
Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz - "Forever and Ever, Amen" |
| 1986 |
Reba McEntire |
George Strait |
Reba McEntire |
Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz - "On the Other Hand" |
| 1985 |
Ricky Skaggs |
George Strait |
Reba McEntire |
Lee Greenwood - "God Bless the USA" |
| 1984 |
Alabama |
Lee Greenwood |
Reba McEntire |
Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar - "Wind Beneath My Wings" |
| 1983 |
Alabama |
Lee Greenwood |
Janie Fricke |
Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James - "Always on My Mind" |
| 1982 |
Alabama |
Ricky Skaggs |
Janie Fricke |
Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James - "Always on My Mind" |
| 1981 |
Barbara Mandrell |
George Jones |
Barbara Mandrell |
Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman - "He Stopped Loving Her Today" |
| 1980 |
Barbara Mandrell |
George Jones |
Emmylou Harris |
Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman - "He Stopped Loving Her Today" |
| 1979 |
Willie Nelson |
Kenny Rogers |
Barbara Mandrell |
Don Schlitz - "The Gambler" |
| 1978 |
Dolly Parton |
Don Williams |
Crystal Gayle |
Richard Leigh - "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" |
| 1977 |
Ronnie Milsap |
Ronnie Milsap |
Crystal Gayle |
Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum - "Lucille" |
| 1976 |
Mel Tillis |
Ronnie Milsap |
Dolly Parton |
Larry Weiss - "Rhinestone Cowboy" |
| 1975 |
John Denver |
Waylon Jennings |
Dolly Parton |
John Denver - "Back Home Again" |
| 1974 |
Charlie Rich |
Ronnie Milsap |
Olivia Newton-John |
Don Wayne - "Country Bumpkin" |
| 1973 |
Roy Clark |
Charlie Rich |
Loretta Lynn |
Kenny O'Dell - "Behind Closed Doors" |
| 1972 |
Loretta Lynn |
Charley Pride |
Loretta Lynn |
Freddie Hart - "Easy Lovin'" |
| 1971 |
Charley Pride |
Charley Pride |
Lynn Anderson |
Freddie Hart - "Easy Lovin'" |
| 1970 |
Merle Haggard |
Merle Haggard |
Tammy Wynette |
Kris Kristofferson - "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" |
| 1969 |
Johnny Cash |
Johnny Cash |
Tammy Wynette |
Bob Ferguson - "Carroll County Accident" |
| 1968 |
Glen Campbell |
Glen Campbell |
Tammy Wynette |
Bobby Russell - "Honey" |
| 1967 |
Eddy Arnold |
Jack Greene |
Loretta Lynn |
Dallas Frazier - "There Goes My Everything" |
Awards by year
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Alan Jackson |
| Song Of The Year: |
"Three Wooden Crosses" - Doug Johnson / Kim Williams |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Hurt " - Johnny Cash |
| Album Of The Year: |
American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Alan Jackson |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Martina McBride |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
Brooks & Dunn |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Rascal Flatts |
| Musician Of The Year: |
Randy Scruggs |
| Horizon Award: |
Joe Nichols |
| Vocal Event Of The Year: |
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett - "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" |
| Music Video Of The Year: |
"Hurt" - Johnny Cash |
2002
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Alan Jackson |
| Song Of The Year: |
"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson |
| Album Of The Year: |
Drive - Alan Jackson |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Alan Jackson |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Martina McBride |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
Brooks & Dunn |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Dixie Chicks |
| Musician Of The Year: |
Jerry Douglas |
| Horizon Award: |
Rascal Flatts |
| Vocal Event Of The Year: |
Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack - "Mendocino County Line" |
| Music Video Of The Year: |
"I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" - Brad Paisley |
2001
2000
1999
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Shania Twain |
| Song Of The Year: |
"This Kiss" - B.Chapman / A.Roboff / R.Lerner |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Wide Open Spaces" - Dixie Chicks |
| Album Of The Year: |
A Place In The Sun - Tim McGraw |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Tim McGraw |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Martina McBride |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
Brooks & Dunn |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Dixie Chicks |
| Musician Of The Year: |
Randy Scruggs |
| Horizon Award: |
Jo Dee Messina |
| Vocal Event Of The Year: |
Vince Gill and Patty Loveless - "My Kind Of Woman, My Kind Of Man" |
| Music Video Of The Year: |
"Wide Open Spaces" - Dixie Chicks |
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Vince Gill |
| Song Of The Year: |
"I Still Believe In You" - Vince Gill / J.Jarvis |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson |
| Album Of The Year: |
I Still Believe In You - Vince Gill |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Vince Gill |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Mary Chapin Carpenter |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
Brooks & Dunn |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Diamond Rio |
| Musician Of The Year: |
Mark O'Connor |
| Horizon Award: |
Mark Chesnutt |
| Vocal Event Of The Year: |
"I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" - Various Artists |
| Music Video Of The Year: |
"Chattahoochee" - Alan Jackson |
1992
1991
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Garth Brooks |
| Song Of The Year: |
"When I Call Your Name" - Vince Gill / Tim DuBois |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Friends In Low Places" - Garth Brooks |
| Album Of The Year: |
No Fences - Garth Brooks |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Vince Gill |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Tanya Tucker |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
The Judds |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Kentucky HeadHunters |
| Musician Of The Year: |
Mark O'Connor |
| Horizon Award: |
Travis Tritt |
| Vocal Event Of The Year: |
Mark O'Connor & The New Nashville Cats |
| Music Video Of The Year: |
"The Thunder Rolls" - Garth Brooks |
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Alabama |
| Song Of The Year: |
"Always On My Mind" - J.Christopher / W.Carson / M.James |
| Single Of The Year: |
"Always On My Mind" - Willie Nelson |
| Album Of The Year: |
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Ricky Skaggs |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Janie Fricke |
| Vocal Duo Of The Year: |
David Frizzell / Shelly West |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Alabama |
| Instrumentalist Of The Year: |
Chet Atkins |
| Horizon Award: |
Ricky Skaggs |
| Instrumental Group Of The Year: |
Alabama |
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
| Entertainer of the Year: |
Johnny Cash |
| Song Of The Year: |
"Carroll County Accident" - Bob Ferguson |
| Single Of The Year: |
"A Boy Named Sue" - Johnny Cash |
| Album Of The Year: |
Johnny Cash At San Quentin Prison - Johnny Cash |
| Male Vocalist Of The Year: |
Johnny Cash |
| Female Vocalist Of The Year: |
Tammy Wynette |
| Vocal Group Of The Year: |
Johnny Cash / June Carter |
| Instrumentalist Of The Year: |
Chet Atkins |
| Instrumental Group Of The Year: |
Danny Davis & Nashville Brass |
| Comedian Of The Year: |
Archie Campbell |
1968
1967
External links
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American music award shows |
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| Major ceremonies |
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| Other ceremonies |
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