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. It is generally considered the highest competitive honor presented at the CMA Awards.
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, Taylor Swift, and Lainey Wilson are the only women to have won twice. Chris Stapleton holds the record for most nominations without a win, with nine. The current holder of the award is Lainey Wilson, who won in 2025.
Recipients 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.
YearWinnerNominees2026 TBA Luke Combs Cody Johnson Ella Langley Chris Stapleton Lainey Wilson2025 Lainey Wilson Luke Combs Cody Johnson Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen2024 Morgan Wallen Luke Combs Jelly Roll Chris Stapleton Lainey Wilson2023 Lainey Wilson Luke Combs Chris Stapleton Morgan Wallen Carrie Underwood2022 Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Morgan Wallen2021 Luke Combs Eric Church Miranda Lambert Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood2020 Eric Church Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Carrie Underwood Keith Urban2019 Garth BrooksEric Church Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Keith Urban2018 Keith UrbanJason Aldean Luke Bryan Kenny Chesney Chris Stapleton2017 Garth BrooksLuke Bryan Eric Church Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2016 Garth BrooksLuke Bryan Chris Stapleton Carrie Underwood Keith Urban2015 Luke BryanGarth Brooks Miranda Lambert Eric Church Kenny Chesney2014 Luke BryanMiranda Lambert Blake Shelton George Strait Keith Urban2013 George StraitJason Aldean Luke Bryan Blake Shelton Taylor Swift2012 Blake SheltonJason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Taylor Swift2011 Taylor SwiftJason Aldean Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Keith Urban2010 Brad Paisley Lady Antebellum Miranda Lambert Keith Urban Zac Brown Band2009 Taylor Swift Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley George Strait Keith Urban2008 Kenny ChesneyBrad Paisley George Strait Sugarland Keith Urban2007 Kenny ChesneyBrad Paisley Rascal Flatts George Strait Keith Urban2006 Kenny ChesneyBrooks & Dunn Brad Paisley Rascal Flatts Keith Urban2005 Keith UrbanKenny Chesney Alan Jackson Toby Keith Brad Paisley2004 Kenny ChesneyBrooks & Dunn Alan Jackson Toby Keith Tim McGraw2003 Alan JacksonBrooks & Dunn Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGraw2002 Alan JacksonBrooks & Dunn Kenny Chesney Toby Keith George Strait2001 Tim McGrawBrooks & Dunn Dixie Chicks Alan Jackson George Strait2000 Dixie ChicksFaith Hill Alan Jackson Tim McGraw George Strait1999 Shania TwainGarth Brooks Dixie Chicks Tim McGraw George Strait1998 Garth BrooksBrooks & Dunn Vince Gill Tim McGraw George Strait1997 Garth BrooksBrooks & Dunn Vince Gill Alan Jackson George Strait1996 Brooks & DunnGarth Brooks Vince Gill Alan Jackson George Strait1995 Alan JacksonBrooks & Dunn Garth Brooks Vince Gill Reba McEntire1994 Vince GillBrooks & Dunn Garth Brooks Alan Jackson Reba McEntire1993 Vince GillBrooks & Dunn Garth Brooks Alan Jackson Reba McEntire1992 Garth BrooksVince Gill Alan Jackson Reba McEntire Travis Tritt1991 Garth BrooksClint Black Vince Gill Reba McEntire George Strait1990 George StraitClint Black Kathy Mattea Ricky Van Shelton Randy Travis1989 George StraitReba McEntire Randy Travis Ricky Van Shelton Hank Williams, Jr.1988 Hank Williams, Jr.The Judds Reba McEntire George Strait Randy Travis1987 Hank Williams, Jr.The Judds Reba McEntire George Strait Randy Travis1986 Reba McEntireThe Judds Willie Nelson Ricky Skaggs George Strait1985 Ricky SkaggsAlabama Lee Greenwood Reba McEntire George Strait1984 AlabamaLee Greenwood Barbara Mandrell Ronnie Milsap Oak Ridge Boys1983 AlabamaMerle Haggard Barbara Mandrell Willie Nelson Ricky Skaggs1982 AlabamaBarbara Mandrell Willie Nelson Oak Ridge Boys Ricky Skaggs1981 Barbara MandrellAlabama George Jones Oak Ridge Boys Kenny Rogers1980 Barbara MandrellCharlie Daniels Band Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Willie Nelson Kenny Rogers1979 Willie NelsonCrystal Gayle Barbara Mandrell Kenny Rogers Statler Brothers1978 Dolly PartonCrystal Gayle Ronnie Milsap Kenny Rogers Mel Tillis1977 Ronnie MilsapMerle Haggard Waylon Jennings Dolly Parton Kenny Rogers1976 Mel TillisWaylon Jennings Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson Dolly Parton1975 John DenverWaylon Jennings Loretta Lynn Ronnie Milsap Conway Twitty1974 Charlie RichRoy Clark Mac Davis Loretta Lynn Olivia Newton-John1973 Roy ClarkMerle Haggard Tom T. Hall Loretta Lynn Charley Pride1972 Loretta LynnMerle Haggard Freddie Hart Charley Pride Jerry Reed1971 Charley PrideMerle Haggard Loretta Lynn Jerry Reed Conway Twitty1970 Merle HaggardGlen Campbell Johnny Cash Roy Clark Charley Pride1969 Johnny CashGlen Campbell Roy Clark Merle Haggard Charley Pride1968 Glen CampbellEddy Arnold Johnny Cash Merle Haggard Charley Pride1967 Eddy ArnoldBill Anderson Merle Haggard Sonny James Buck Owens
Artists with multiple wins + Artists that received multiple awardsAwardsArtist7Garth Brooks4Kenny Chesney3Alabama Alan JacksonGeorge Strait2Barbara MandrellHank Williams Jr.Keith UrbanLuke BryanLuke CombsTaylor SwiftVince GillLainey Wilson
Artists with multiple nominations 19 nominations George Strait
13 nominations Garth Brooks Keith Urban
12 nominations Alan Jackson
11 nominations Brooks & Dunn Kenny Chesney
10 nominations Reba McEntire Chris Stapleton
9 nominations Merle Haggard
8 nominations Brad Paisley Vince Gill
7 nominations Luke Combs
6 nominations
Barbara Mandrell Carrie Underwood Charley Pride Luke Bryan Miranda Lambert Tim McGraw Willie Nelson
5 nominations
Alabama Eric Church Kenny Rogers Loretta Lynn Ronnie Milsap
4 nominations
Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Morgan Wallen Randy Travis Ricky Skaggs Roy Clark Taylor Swift Toby Keith Lainey Wilson
3 nominations
Dixie Chicks Dolly Parton Glen Campbell Hank Williams Jr. Johnny Cash Oak Ridge Boys The Judds Waylon Jennings
2 nominations
Clint Black Crystal Gayle Eddy Arnold Lee Greenwood Conway Twitty Rascal Flatts Jerry Reed Mel Tillis Ricky Van Shelton Cody Johnson
Won on First nomination
Eddy Arnold (1967) Glen Campbell (1968) Charlie Rich (1974) John Denver (1975) Mel Tillis (1976) Hank Williams Jr. (1987) Garth Brooks (1991) Shania Twain (1999) Keith Urban (2005) Taylor Swift (2009) Lainey Wilson (2023)
See also Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year
References