The Grammy Award for Best Country Song (sometimes known as the Country Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the songwriter(s) of the song, not to the artist, unless the artist is also the songwriter.
There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:
From 1965 to 1968, it was known as "Best Country & Western Song" From 1969 to 1983, it was awarded as "Best Country Song" In 1984, it was awarded as "Best New Country Song " From 1985 to the present, it has again been awarded as "Best Country Song"
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year. Lori McKenna, Josh Kear, Chris Stapleton, and current winner Kacey Musgraves hold the record of most wins in the category with three wins each.
Recipients
1960s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 1965 "Dang Me" Roger Miller Roger Miller "Here Comes My Baby" Dottie West and Bill West Dottie West "Once a Day" Bill Anderson Connie Smith "Wine, Women and Song" Betty Sue Perry Loretta Lynn "You're the Only World I Know" Sonny James and Bob Tubert Sonny James 1966 "King of the Road" Roger Miller Roger Miller "Crystal Chandelier" Ted Harris Charley Pride "Flowers on the Wall" Lew DeWitt The Statler Brothers "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" Neal Merritt Little Jimmy Dickens "What's He Doing in My World" Carl Belew, B. J. Moore and Eddie Busch Eddy Arnold 1967 "Almost Persuaded" Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton David Houston "Don't Touch Me" Hank Cochran Jeannie Seely "Husband and Wives" Roger Miller Roger Miller "Streets of Baltimore" Tompall Glaser and Harlan Howard Bobby Bare "There Goes My Everything" Dallas Frazier Jack Greene 1968 "Gentle on My Mind" John Hartford Glen Campbell "Break My Mind" John D. Loudermilk George Hamilton IV "The Cold Hard Facts of Life" Bill Anderson Porter Wagoner "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" Don Robertson, John Crutchfield and Doris Clement Charley Pride "It's Such a Pretty World Today" Dale Noe Wynn Stewart 1969 "Little Green Apples" Bobby Russell Roger Miller "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock Tammy Wynette "Harper Valley PTA" Tom T. Hall Jeannie C. Riley "Honey" Bobby Russell Bobby Goldsboro "Skip a Rope" Glenn Douglas Tubb and Jack Moran Henson Cargill
1970s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 1970 "A Boy Named Sue" Shel Silverstein Johnny Cash "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" Dallas Frazier and A. L. Owens Charley Pride "Stand by Your Man" Billy Sherrill and Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette "The Things That Matter" Don Sumner Van Trevor "You Gave Me a Mountain" Marty Robbins Frankie Laine 1971 "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" Marty Robbins Marty Robbins "The Fightin' Side of Me" Merle Haggard Merle Haggard "Hello Darlin'" Conway Twitty Conway Twitty "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" Glenn Martin and Dave Kirby Charley Pride "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" Bill Rice 1972 "Help Me Make It Through the Night" Kris Kristofferson Sammi Smith "Easy Loving" Freddie Hart Freddie Hart "For the Good Times" Kris Kristofferson Ray Price "Me and Bobby McGee" Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster Gordon Lightfoot "Rose Garden" Joe South Lynn Anderson 1973 "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" Ben Peters Charley Pride "Delta Dawn" Alex Harvey and Larry Collins Tanya Tucker "Funny Face" Donna Fargo Donna Fargo "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA" "Woman (Sensuous Woman)" Gary S. Paxton Don Gibson 1974 "Behind Closed Doors" Kenny O'Dell Charlie Rich "Country Sunshine" Billy Davis and Dottie West Dottie West "The Most Beautiful Girl" Rory Bourke, Billy Sherrill and Norro Wilson Charlie Rich "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine" Tom T. Hall Tom T. Hall "Why Me" Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson 1975 "A Very Special Love Song" Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill Charlie Rich "Fairytale" Anita Pointer and Bonnie Pointer The Pointer Sisters "I'm a Ramblin' Man" Ray Pennington Waylon Jennings "If We Make It Through December" Merle Haggard Merle Haggard "Paper Roses" Janice Torre and Fred Spielman Marie Osmond 1976 "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" Chips Moman and Larry Butler B. J. Thomas "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" Vivian Keith and Ben Peters Freddy Fender "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" Fred Rose Willie Nelson "I'm Not Lisa" Jessi Colter Jessi Colter "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" John Martin Sommers John Denver 1977 "Broken Lady" Larry Gatlin Larry Gatlin "The Door Is Always Open" Bob McDill and Dickey Lee Dave & Sugar "Dropkick Me Jesus" Paul Craft Bobby Bare "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)" Charlie Rich and Billy Sherrill Charlie Rich "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life" Paul Craft Moe Bandy 1978 "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" Richard Leigh Crystal Gayle "Desperado" Glenn Frey and Don Henley Johnny Rodriguez "It Was Almost Like a Song" Archie Jordan and Hal David Ronnie Milsap "Lucille" Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum Kenny Rogers "Luckenbach, Texas" Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman Waylon Jennings 1979 "The Gambler" Don Schlitz Kenny Rogers "Every Time Two Fools Collide" Jan Dyer and Jeffrey Tweel Kenny Rogers and Dottie West "Let's Take the Long Way Around the World" Archie Jordan and Naomi Martin Ronnie Milsap "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" Ed Bruce and Patsy Bruce Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings "Take This Job and Shove It" David Allan Coe Johnny Paycheck
1980s Year Song Songwriter(s) Artist(s) 1980 "You Decorated My Life" Debbie Hupp and Bob Morrison Kenny Rogers "All the Gold in California" Larry Gatlin Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers "Blue Kentucky Girl" Johnny Mullins Emmylou Harris "Every Which Way But Loose" Milton Brown, Steve Dorff and Snuff Garrett Eddie Rabbitt "If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" David Bellamy The Bellamy Brothers 1981 "On the Road Again" Willie Nelson Willie Nelson "Drivin' My Life Away" David Malloy, Eddie Rabbitt and Even Stevens Eddie Rabbitt "He Stopped Loving Her Today" Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman George Jones "I Believe in You" Roger Cook and Sam Hogin Don Williams "Lookin' for Love" Bob Morrison, Wanda Mallette and Patti Ryan Johnny Lee 1982 "9 to 5" Dolly Parton Dolly Parton "Elvira" Dallas Frazier The Oak Ridge Boys "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan Barbara Mandrell "Somebody's Knockin'" Ed Penney and Jerry Gillespie Terri Gibbs "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard David Frizzell and Shelly West 1983 "Always on My Mind" Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James Willie Nelson "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" Dewayne Blackwell David Frizzell "Nobody" Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan Sylvia "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" Don Goodman, Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy Lee Greenwood "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" Tim DuBois Jerry Reed 1984 "Stranger in My House" Mike Reid Ronnie Milsap "Baby I Lied" Deborah Allen, Rory Bourke and Rafe Van Hoy Deborah Allen "I.O.U." Kerry Chater and Austin Roberts Lee Greenwood "Lady Down on Love" Randy Owen Alabama "A Little Good News" Tommy Rocco, Charlie Black and Rory Bourke Anne Murray 1985 "City of New Orleans" Steve Goodman Willie Nelson "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" Hank Williams Jr. Hank Williams Jr. "Faithless Love" JD Souther Glen Campbell "God Bless the U.S.A." Lee Greenwood Lee Greenwood "Mama He's Crazy" Kenny O'Dell The Judds 1986 "Highwayman" Jimmy Webb The Highwaymen "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" Bob McDill Mel McDaniel "Desperados Waiting for a Train" Guy Clark The Highwaymen "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" Dave Loggins, Lisa Silver and Don Schlitz Alabama "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell Rosanne Cash "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)" Mike Reid, Troy Seals and Fred Parris Ronnie Milsap "Love Is Alive" Kent Robbins The Judds 1987 "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)" Jamie O'Hara The Judds "Daddy's Hands" Holly Dunn Holly Dunn "Guitar Town" Steve Earle Steve Earle "Guitars, Cadillacs" Dwight Yoakam Dwight Yoakam "Whoever's in New England" Kendal Franceschi and Quentin Powers Reba McEntire 1988 "Forever and Ever, Amen" Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz Randy Travis "All My Ex's Live in Texas" Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer George Strait "80's Ladies" K. T. Oslin K. T. Oslin "I'll Still Be Loving You" Todd Cerney, Mary Ann Kennedy, Pat Bunch and Pam Rose Restless Heart "Telling Me Lies" Betsy Cook and Linda Thompson Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris 1989 "Hold Me" K. T. Oslin K. T. Oslin "Chiseled in Stone" Vern Gosdin and Max D. Barnes Vern Gosdin "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried" Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell "She's No Lady" Lyle Lovett Lyle Lovett "Streets of Bakersfield" Homer Joy Dwight Yoakam with Buck Owens
1990s