Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year

Summary

The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year.

Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year
Current winner of the award Lainey Wilson
CountryUnited States
Presented byCountry Music Association
First awarded1967
Currently held byBell Bottom Country by Lainey Wilson (2023)

The inaugural recipient of the award was There Goes My Everything by Jack Greene in 1967, with Jessi Colter becoming the first female winner in 1976, and Alabama being the first group awarded in 1983. George Strait holds the record for most wins in the category, with five, and also leads in nominations, with eighteen. To date, Miranda Lambert is the only woman to have won twice and she is tied with Reba McEntire as the most nominated women in the category, with six nominations each. Brooks & Dunn hold the record for most nominations without a win, with eight. The current holder of the award is Luke Combs, who won in both 2022 for his third studio album Growin' Up.[1]

Eligibility edit

According to the Country Music Association, this award is given to the artist, producer and mix engineer. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist’s performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. At least 75% of the recordings on the album must have achieved peak national prominence during the eligibility period. Greatest hits albums or compilation albums consisting of previously released recordings are not eligible for this award.

The album must have charted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for the first time during the eligibility period. However, if the album charted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart prior to the eligibility period, but achieved its highest chart position for the first time during the eligibility period, it is eligible unless it has previously appeared on a Final Ballot in this category.[2]

Recipients edit

 
Three-time winner Chris Stapleton
 
2012 and 2016 winner Eric Church
 
Two-time recipient Miranda Lambert
 
2009 honoree Taylor Swift has also won Entertainer of the Year twice.
 
2006 winner Brad Paisley.
 
Dixie Chicks are the only female group to win Album of the Year
 
Five-time Album of the Year honoree George Strait
 
1984 winner Anne Murray is the inaugural solo female and only non—American recipient.
 
1976 and 1982 recipient Willie Nelson
 
Eleven—time nominee and two—time winner Merle Haggard.
 
Inaugural recipient Jack Greene also won Male Vocalist Single of the Year awards at the 1967 ceremony.
Year Winners Artist Nominees
2023   Bell Bottom Country Lainey Wilson
2022   Growin' Up Luke Combs
2021   Starting Over Chris Stapleton
2020   What You See Is What You Get Luke Combs
2019   Girl Maren Morris
2018[3]   Golden Hour Kacey Musgraves
2017   From A Room: Volume 1 Chris Stapleton
2016   Mr. Misunderstood Eric Church
2015   Traveller Chris Stapleton
2014   Platinum Miranda Lambert
2013   Based on a True Story... Blake Shelton
2012   Chief Eric Church
2011   My Kinda Party Jason Aldean
2010   Revolution Miranda Lambert
2009   Fearless Taylor Swift
2008   Troubadour George Strait
2007   It Just Comes Natural George Strait
2006   Time Well Wasted Brad Paisley
2005   There's More Where That Came From Lee Ann Womack
2004   When the Sun Goes Down Kenny Chesney
2003   American IV: The Man Comes Around Johnny Cash
2002   Drive Alan Jackson
2001   O Brother, Where Art Thou? Various Artists[A]
2000   Fly Dixie Chicks
1999   A Place in the Sun Tim McGraw
1998   Everywhere Tim McGraw
1997   Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait
1996   Blue Clear Sky George Strait
1995   When Fallen Angels Fly Patty Loveless
1994   Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles Various Artists[B]
1993   I Still Believe in You Vince Gill
1992   Ropin' the Wind Garth Brooks
1991   No Fences Garth Brooks
1990   Pickin' on Nashville Kentucky Headhunters
1989   Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1988   Born to Boogie Hank Williams Jr.
1987   Always And Forever Randy Travis
1986   Lost in the Fifties Tonight Ronnie Milsap
1985   Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind George Strait
1984   A Little Good News Anne Murray
1983   The Closer You Get Alabama
1982   Always on My Mind Willie Nelson
1981   I Believe in You Don Williams
1980   Coal Miner's Daughter Sissy Spacek
Beverly D'Angelo
Levon Helm
1979   The Gambler Kenny Rogers
1978   It Was Almost Like a Song Ronnie Milsap
1977   Ronnie Milsap Live Ronnie Milsap
1976   Wanted! The Outlaws Jessi Colter
Tompall Glaser
Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson
1975   A Legend in My Time Ronnie Milsap
1974   Very Special Love Songs Charlie Rich
1973   Behind Closed Doors Charlie Rich
1972   Let Me Tell You About a Song Merle Haggard
1971   I Won't Mention It Again Ray Price
1970   Okie from Muskogee Merle Haggard
1969   Johnny Cash At San Quentin Johnny Cash
1968   Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison Johnny Cash
1967   There Goes My Everything Jack Greene

Notes
^ A. Award presented to: Norman Blake, The Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, James Carter and the Prisoners, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Harry McClintock, Sarah Peasall, Hannah Peasall, Leah Peasall, Soggy Bottom Boys, Stanley Brothers, Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch and The Whites
^ B. Award presented to: John Anderson, Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Dean, Diamond Rio, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Little Texas, Lorrie Morgan, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood
^ C. Nominees were: Chet Atkins, Clint Black, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, Al Green, George Jones, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Sam Moore, Aaron Neville, The Pointer Sisters, The Staple Singers, Marty Stuart, Allen Toussaint, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Trisha Yearwood

Artists with multiple wins edit

Artists that received multiple awards
Awards Artist
5 George Strait
4 Ronnie Milsap
3 Chris Stapleton
Johnny Cash
2 Alan Jackson
Charlie Rich
Eric Church
Merle Haggard
Miranda Lambert
Luke Combs
Tim McGraw
Vince Gill
Willie Nelson

Artists with multiple nominations edit

18 nominations
12 nominations
11 nominations
8 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations


Notes

  1. ^ Including two as a member of The Judds.

References edit

  1. ^ "Past CMA Awards Winners and Nominees". CMA World. Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  2. ^ "About". CMA Awards 2022 | Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8/7c on ABC.
  3. ^ "2018 CMA Awards Winners List". The Boot. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.