Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year

Summary

The Country Music Association Awards is a major awards show in country music, with the highest honor being the award for Entertainer of the Year. It is the final award presented at the ceremony and recognizes the artist "displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field", with consideration to not only recorded performance but also "in-person performance, public acceptance, leadership, and overall contribution to country music" they have exhibited throughout the eligibility period.[1] It is generally considered the highest competitive honor presented at the CMA Awards.

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

The inaugural recipient of the award was Eddy Arnold in 1967, with Loretta Lynn becoming the first female winner in 1972, and Alabama being the first group awarded in 1982. Garth Brooks holds the record for most wins in the category, with seven, while three-time recipient George Strait has a leading nineteen nominations. To date, Barbara Mandrell and Taylor Swift are the only women to have won twice. Chris Stapleton holds the record for most nominations without a win, with seven. The current holder of the award is Lainey Wilson, who won in 2023.

Recipients edit

In the following tables, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony. Artists are eligible based on their work of the previous calendar year. Entries with a blue ribbon next to the artist's name have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.

 
Eric Church won the award in 2020
 
Garth Brooks has the most wins in this category with seven
 
George Strait received the award in 1989, 1990 and 2013
 
Taylor Swift is the youngest artist and second woman to win twice
 
Brad Paisley received the honor in 2010
 
Four-time recipient Kenny Chesney
 
Back-to-back winner Alan Jackson
 
1986 winner Reba McEntire, and most nominated Female Artist.
 
Dixie Chicks are the only female group to be crowned
 
Shania Twain was the first non-American winner
 
Two-time recipient Vince Gill is also a five-time male vocalist
 
Alabama have received the honor three times
 
Barbara Mandrell is the first person to win twice
 
1979 recipient Willie Nelson
 
1978 entertainer of the year Dolly Parton is also a two-time female vocalist
 
Loretta Lynn is the first woman to win entertainer of the year
 
1971 recipient Charley Pride was the only person of colour to win a CMA award until 2009
 
1968 recipient Glen Campbell


Year Winner Nominees
2023   Lainey Wilson
2022   Luke Combs
2021   Luke Combs
2020   Eric Church
2019   Garth Brooks
2018[2]   Keith Urban
2017[3]   Garth Brooks
2016[4]   Garth Brooks
2015[5]   Luke Bryan
2014[6]   Luke Bryan
2013[7]   George Strait
2012[8]   Blake Shelton
2011[9]   Taylor Swift
2010[10]   Brad Paisley
2009   Taylor Swift
2008   Kenny Chesney
2007   Kenny Chesney
2006   Kenny Chesney
2005   Keith Urban
2004   Kenny Chesney
2003   Alan Jackson
2002   Alan Jackson
2001   Tim McGraw
2000   Dixie Chicks
1999   Shania Twain
1998   Garth Brooks
1997   Garth Brooks
1996   Brooks & Dunn
1995   Alan Jackson
1994   Vince Gill
1993   Vince Gill
1992   Garth Brooks
1991   Garth Brooks
1990   George Strait
1989   George Strait
1988   Hank Williams, Jr.
1987   Hank Williams, Jr.
1986   Reba McEntire
1985   Ricky Skaggs
1984   Alabama
1983   Alabama
1982   Alabama
1981   Barbara Mandrell
1980   Barbara Mandrell
1979   Willie Nelson
1978   Dolly Parton
1977   Ronnie Milsap
1976   Mel Tillis
1975   John Denver
1974   Charlie Rich
1973   Roy Clark
1972   Loretta Lynn
1971   Charley Pride
1970   Merle Haggard
1969   Johnny Cash
1968   Glen Campbell
1967   Eddy Arnold

Artists with multiple wins edit

Artists that received multiple awards
Awards Artist
7 Garth Brooks
4 Kenny Chesney
3 Alabama
Alan Jackson
George Strait
2 Barbara Mandrell
Hank Williams Jr.
Keith Urban
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
Taylor Swift
Vince Gill

Artists with multiple nominations edit

19 nominations
13 nominations
12 nominations
11 nominations
10 nominations
9 nominations
8 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

Won on First nomination edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "About".
  2. ^ McCarthy, Kelly (August 28, 2018). "2018 CMA Awards nominations: See the full list". ABC News. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Snubs and Surprises of 2017 CMA Awards Nominees: Taylor Swift Returns, Blake Shelton Nowhere to be Found". Billboard.
  4. ^ "2016 cma winners - Google Search". www.google.co.uk.
  5. ^ "CMA Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. 5 November 2015.
  6. ^ "CMA Awards 2014: And the Winners Are ..." Billboard.
  7. ^ "CMA Awards 2013: Full Winners List". Billboard.
  8. ^ "2012 CMA Awards Winners – Full List". Taste of Country. 2 November 2012.
  9. ^ "2011 CMA Awards Winners". The Boot. 10 November 2011.
  10. ^ "CMA Awards 2010: List of Winners". CBS News. 11 November 2010.