The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The groundwork for the association began on June 3, 1973, when a group of twelve entertainers, promoters and radio personalities met at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, and formed a board of directors to help promote Canadian content. The group included Jury Krytiuk, president of Boot Records, Bod Dalton, a promotor, Sean Eyre, DJ Lindsay, radio personality Harold Moon who worked for BMI Records, Jack Starr of The Horseshoe Tavern, Barry Haugen of RCA Records, Vic Folliott of Brantford Radio, Mary Butterill of the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada, Ben Kerr who was a musician and promoter, and Brent Williams, a notable country and bluegrass entertainer. This group was aided by future Country Music Awards organizer and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Joe Talbot who flew up from Nashville especially for this meeting. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.

The CCMA held the first Canadian Country Music Awards ceremony in 1982. CCMA members vote in a three-stage ballot process to determine the winners of the awards. The first ballot consists of potential candidates nominated by the CCMA voting membership in a "write in" ballot. The top ten contenders for each award are presented in the second ballot period, where they are voted upon for the third (and final) ballot. In this ballot, the top five contenders are announced, who then go through to the awards show.

Country Music Week is an annual event planned by the CCMA. It is hosted by a different Canadian city each year, and culminates with the CCMA Awards on the Sunday night. There are three components to Country Music Week: a music festival (which includes a Fan Fest, Legends Show, and Songwriters Series), the CCMA Awards show, and an industry conference (which includes workshops and seminars, networking events, and awards ceremonies).

Awards ceremonies

Year Location Fans' Choice Award Male Artist of the Year Female Artist of the Year Group or Duo of the Year Host(s) 1977 Ottawa, ON No awards presented; Country Music Week only. 1978 Regina, SK 1979 Toronto, ON 1980 Winnipeg, MB 1981 Ottawa, ON 1982 Halifax, NS Family Brown Terry Carisse Carroll Baker Ronnie Prophet and Glory-Anne Carriere 1983 Regina, SK Dick Damron Marie Bottrell 1984 Moncton, NB Ronnie Prophet Terry Carisse 1985 Edmonton, AB Dick Damron Carroll Baker Mercey Brothers 1986 Winnipeg, MB Family Brown Anita Perras Family Brown 1987 Vancouver, BC k.d. lang Ian Tyson 1988 Toronto, ON k.d. lang 1989 Ottawa, ON Gary Fjellgaard 1990 Edmonton, AB George Fox Michelle Wright Prairie Oyster 1991 Hamilton, ON Rita MacNeil 1992 Cochrane, AB Ian Tyson George Fox 1993 Hamilton, ON Michelle Wright George Fox The Rankin Family 1994 Calgary, AB Prairie Oyster Charlie Major Patricia Conroy Prairie Oyster 1995 Hamilton, ON Michelle Wright Shania Twain 1996 Calgary, AB Shania Twain 1997 Hamilton, ON Terri Clark Paul Brandt Terri Clark Farmer's Daughter 1998 Calgary, ON Shania Twain Shania Twain Leahy Terri Clark 1999 Ottawa, ON The Wilkinsons 2000 Edmonton, AB The Wilkinsons Michelle Wright 2001 Calgary, AB Terri Clark Jason McCoy Carolyn Dawn Johnson 2002 Calgary, AB Paul Brandt Emerson Drive 2003 Calgary, AB Aaron Lines Shania Twain 2004 Edmonton, AB Jason McCoy Terri Clark Doc Walker 2005 Calgary, AB George Canyon George Canyon The Road Hammers 2006 Saint John, NB Terri Clark Carolyn Dawn Johnson 2007 Regina, SK Brad Johner Emerson Drive 2008 Winnipeg, MB Doc Walker Johnny Reid Jessie Farrell Doc Walker 2009 Vancouver, BC Johnny Reid Crystal Shawanda 2010 Edmonton, AB Gord Bamford Victoria Banks 2011 Hamilton, ON Johnny Reid Terri Clark Hey Romeo 2012 Saskatoon, SK Dean Brody Carolyn Dawn Johnson 2013 Edmonton, AB Terri Clark Kira Isabella The Stellas 2014 Edmonton, AB Johnny Reid Gord Bamford Jess Moskaluke Small Town Pistols 2015 Halifax, NS High Valley 2016 London, ON Brett Kissel Brett Kissel 2017 Saskatoon, SK Dean Brody Meghan Patrick The Road Hammers 2018 Hamilton, ON Shania Twain Dallas Smith The Washboard Union Shania Twain 2019 Calgary, AB Brett Kissel Tenille Townes Dallas Smith, Billy Ray Cyrus 2020 Oro-Medonte, ON Brett Kissel 2021 London, ON Dallas Smith The Reklaws Lindsay Ell, Priyanka 2022 Calgary, AB Dallas Smith Blanco Brown, Tenille Townes 2023 Hamilton, ON James Barker Band Jade Eagleson James Barker Band The Reklaws 2024 Edmonton, AB Josh Ross MacKenzie Porter MacKenzie Porter, Thomas Rhett 2025 Kelowna, BC Cameron Whitcomb Jade Eagleson Tom Green 2026 Saskatoon, SK colspan="4" James Barker Band

CCMA Awards The CCMA held the first Canadian Country Music Awards ceremony in 1982. CCMA members vote in a three-stage ballot process to determine the winners of the awards. The first ballot consists of potential candidates nominated by the CCMA voting membership in a "write in" ballot. The top ten contenders for each award are presented in the second ballot period, where they are voted upon for the third (and final) ballot. In this ballot, the top five contenders are announced, who then go through to the awards show.

Since 2019, the CCMA Awards have been broadcast by Global, replacing previous broadcaster CBC Television.

2020

Award WinnerEntertainer of the Year Dallas SmithFans' Choice Award Brett KisselMale Artist of the Year Brett KisselFemale Artist of the Year Tenille TownesGroup or Duo of the Year The Washboard UnionSongwriter(s) of the Year “Jersey on the Wall (I’m Just Asking)” – Tina Parol, Gordie Sampson, Tenille TownesSingle of the Year “Keep It Simple” – James Barker BandAlbum of the Year Now Or Never – Brett KisselRising Star Tenille ArtsInteractive Artist of the Year Lindsay EllVideo of the Year “Jersey on the Wall (I'm Just Asking)” – Tenille Townes

2019

Award WinnerEntertainer of the Year Dallas SmithFans' Choice Award Brett KisselMale Artist of the Year Dallas SmithFemale Artist of the Year Tenille TownesGroup or Duo of the Year The Washboard UnionSongwriter(s) of the Year "Somebody's Daughter" - Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Tenille TownesSingle of the Year "Somebody's Daughter" - Tenille TownesAlbum of the Year Feels Like That - The ReklawsRising Star Jade EaglesonRoots Artist or Group of the Year Donovan Woods/The Washboard UnionInteractive Artist of the Year Lindsay EllVideo of the Year "Somebody's Daughter" - Tenille Townes

2018

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Shania TwainMale Artist of the Year Dallas SmithFemale Artist of the Year Meghan PatrickGroup or Duo of the Year The Washboard UnionSongwriter(s) of the Year "Lonely Drum" - Alexander Black, Aaron Goodvin, Cathy Gravitt (performed by Aaron Goodvin)Single of the Year "Chills" - James Barker BandAlbum of the Year Past the Past - Jess MoskalukeTop Selling Album of the Year Now - Shania TwainTop Selling Canadian Album of the Year Now - Shania TwainRising Star The ReklawsRoots Artist or Group of the Year The Washboard UnionInteractive Artist of the Year Brett KisselVideo of the Year Sky Stays This Blue - Dallas SmithGeneration Award Shania Twain

2017

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Dean BrodyMale Artist of the Year Brett KisselFemale Artist of the Year Meghan PatrickGroup or Duo of the Year The Road HammersSongwriter(s) of the Year "Time" - Dean Brody (Dean Brody)Single of the Year "Autograph" - Dallas SmithAlbum of the Year Side Effects - Dallas SmithTop Selling Album Ripcord - Keith UrbanTop Selling Canadian Album Side Effects - Dallas SmithRising Star Meghan PatrickRoots Artist or Group of the Year The Washboard UnionInteractive Artist of the Year Brett Kissel

2016

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Brett KisselMale Artist of the Year Brett KisselFemale Artist of the Year Jess MoskalukeGroup or Duo of the Year High ValleySongwriter(s) of the Year "Bring Down the House" - Dean Brody (Dean Brody)Single of the Year "Bring Down the House" - Dean BrodyAlbum of the Year Tin Roof - Gord BamfordTop Selling Album Kill the Lights - Luke BryanTop Selling Canadian Album Yoan - YoanCMT Video of the Year Bring Down the House" - Dean BrodyRising Star The Washboard UnionRoots Artist or Group of the Year The Washboard UnionInteractive Artist of the Year Brett Kissel

2015

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year Gord BamfordFemale Artist of the Year Jess MoskalukeGroup or Duo of the Year High ValleySongwriter(s) of the Year "Where a Farm Used to Be" - Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens, Phil O'Donnell (Gord Bamford)Single of the Year "Where a Farm Used to Be" - Gord BamfordAlbum of the Year Lifted - Dallas SmithTop Selling Album Crash My Party - Luke BryanTop Selling Canadian Album Yoan - YoanCMT Video of the Year "Upside Down" - Dean BrodyRising Star Madeline MerloRoots Artist or Group of the Year Lindi OrtegaInteractive Artist of the Year Brett Kissel

2014

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year Gord BamfordFemale Artist of the Year Jess MoskalukeGroup or Duo of the Year Small Town PistolsSongwriter(s) of the Year "Mine Would Be You" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan (Blake Shelton)Single of the Year "When Your Lips Are So Close" - Gord BamfordAlbum of the Year Crop Circles - Dean BrodyTop Selling Album Here's to the Good Times - Florida Georgia LineTop Selling Canadian Album A Christmas Gift to You - Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year "3-2-1" - Brett KisselRising Star Tim HicksRoots Artist or Group of the Year Lindi OrtegaInteractive Artist of the Year Brett Kissel

2013

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Terri ClarkMale Artist of the Year Dean BrodyFemale Artist of the Year Kira IsabellaGroup or Duo of the Year The StellasSongwriter(s) of the Year "Leaning on a Lonesome Song" - Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens, Ray Stephenson (Gord Bamford)Single of the Year "Leaning on a Lonesome Song" - Gord BamfordAlbum of the Year Is It Friday Yet? - Gord BamfordTop Selling Album Red - Taylor SwiftTop Selling Canadian Album Fire It Up - Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year "Leaning on a Lonesome Song" - Gord BamfordRising Star Bobby WillsRoots Artist or Group of the Year Corb LundInteractive Artist of the Year High Valley

2012

Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year Dean BrodyFemale Artist of the Year Carolyn Dawn JohnsonGroup or Duo of the Year Hey RomeoSongwriter(s) of the Year "Is It Friday Yet?" - Gord Bamford, Roger Brown, Byron Hill - Gord BamfordSingle of the Year "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore" - Jason BlaineAlbum of the Year Dirt - Dean BrodyTop Selling Album Own the Night - Lady AntebellumTop Selling Canadian Album Fire It Up - Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year "In This House" - The StellasRising Star Kira IsabellaRoots Artist or Group of the Year Jimmy RankinGeneration Award Taylor Swift

2011 Award WinnerFans' Choice Award Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year Johnny ReidFemale Artist of the Year Terri ClarkGroup or Duo of the Year Hey RomeoSongwriter(s) of the Year "Trail in Life" - Dean Brody (Dean Brody)Single of the Year "Trail in Life" - Dean BrodyAlbum of the Year Trail in Life - Dean BrodyTop Selling Album Speak Now - Taylor SwiftTop Selling Canadian Album A Place Called Love - Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year "Today I'm Gonna Try and Change the World" - Johnny ReidRising Star Chad BrownleeRoots Artist or Group of the Year Jimmy Rankin

2010