The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Vocal Group of the Year. The award is based on the musical performance of the group on solo country single or album release, as well as their overall contribution to country music during the eligibility period. For the purposes of the award, a group is defined as "an act composed of three or more people, both of whom normally perform together and none of whom are known primarily as individual performing artists", though this was not always the case. In 1970, a separate category was established for vocal duos.
The inaugural recipients were The Stoneman Family in 1967. The Statler Brothers hold the record for most wins in the category, with nine, while three-time recipients Alabama hold the record for most nominations, with twenty one. To date, The Judds and the Dixie Chicks are the only all-female groups to win the award. Zac Brown Band holds the record for most nominations without a win, with twelve.
Recipients
YearWinnerNominees2026 TBA Lady A Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion The Red Clay Strays2025 The Red Clay Strays Lady A Little Big Town Old Dominion Rascal Flatts2024 Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town The Red Clay Strays Zac Brown Band2023 Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town Midland Zac Brown Band2022 Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town Midland Zac Brown Band2021 Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town Midland Zac Brown Band2020 Old Dominion Lady A Little Big Town Midland Rascal Flatts2019 Old Dominion Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Midland Zac Brown Band2018 Old Dominion Lady Antebellum LANCO Little Big Town Midland2017 Little Big Town Old Dominion Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band Lady Antebellum2016 Little Big Town Old Dominion Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band Lady Antebellum2015 Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Lady Antebellum Zac Brown Band2014 Little Big Town Eli Young Band Lady Antebellum The Band Perry Zac Brown Band2013 Little Big Town Eli Young Band Lady Antebellum The Band Perry Zac Brown Band2012 Little Big Town Eli Young Band Lady Antebellum The Band Perry Zac Brown Band2011 Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Zac Brown Band2010 Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry Zac Brown Band2009 Lady Antebellum Eagles Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band2008 Rascal Flatts Eagles Emerson Drive Lady Antebellum Little Big Town2007 Rascal Flatts Alison Krauss and Union Station Dixie Chicks Emerson Drive Little Big Town2006 Rascal Flatts Alison Krauss and Union Station Little Big Town Lonestar Sugarland2005 Rascal Flatts Alison Krauss and Union Station Diamond Rio Lonestar Sugarland2004 Rascal Flatts Alabama Diamond Rio Lonestar Trick Pony2003 Rascal Flatts Alabama Diamond Rio Dixie Chicks Lonestar2002 Dixie Chicks Diamond Rio Lonestar Nickel Creek Rascal Flatts2001 Lonestar Alabama Diamond Rio Dixie Chicks Nickel Creek2000 Dixie Chicks Alabama Asleep at the Wheel Diamond Rio Lonestar1999 Dixie Chicks Alabama Diamond Rio Lonestar The Wilkinsons1998 Dixie Chicks Alabama Diamond Rio The Mavericks Sawyer Brown1997 Diamond Rio Alabama The Mavericks Ricochet Sawyer Brown1996 The Mavericks Alabama Blackhawk Diamond Rio Sawyer Brown1995 The Mavericks Blackhawk (band) Diamond Rio Sawyer Brown Shenandoah1994 Diamond Rio Alabama Little Texas Sawyer Brown Confederate Railroad1993 Diamond Rio Alabama Confederate Railroad Restless Heart Sawyer Brown1992 Diamond Rio Alabama McBride & the Ride Sawyer Brown Shenandoah1991 Kentucky Headhunters Alabama Diamond Rio Restless Heart Shenandoah1990 Kentucky Headhunters Desert Rose Band Highway 101 Restless Heart Shenandoah1989 Highway 101 Alabama Desert Rose Band Restless Heart Shenandoah1988 Highway 101 Alabama The Forester Sisters Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Restless Heart1987 The Judds Alabama Asleep at the Wheel Exile Restless Heart1986 The Judds Exile The Forester Sisters Nitty Gritty Dirt Band The Oak Ridge Boys1985 The Judds Alabama Exile The Oak Ridge Boys The Whites1984 The Statler Brothers Alabama Exile The Judds The Oak Ridge Boys1983 Alabama The Bellamy Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys The Statler Brothers The Whites1982 Alabama Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys The Statler Brothers Tompall & the Glaser Brothers1981 Alabama The Bellamy Brothers Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys The Statler Brothers1980 The Statler Brothers Alabama Charlie Daniels Band Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys1979 The Statler Brothers Charlie Daniels Band Dave & Sugar The Kendalls The Oak Ridge Boys1978 The Oak Ridge Boys Dave & Sugar The Kendalls Texas Playboys The Statler Brothers1977 The Statler Brothers Asleep at the Wheel Dave & Sugar Eagles The Oak Ridge Boys1976 The Statler Brothers Amazing Rhythm Aces Asleep at the Wheel Dave & Sugar Eagles1975 The Statler Brothers Asleep at the Wheel Four Guys The Osborne Brothers The Pointer Sisters1974 The Statler Brothers Brush Arbor Band The Buckaroos The Jordanaires The Osborne Brothers1973 The Statler Brothers The Carter Family The Jordanaires The Osborne Brothers Tompall and the Glaser Brothers1972 The Statler Brothers The Carter Family The Osborne Brothers Tompall & the Glaser Brothers The Wilburn Brothers1971 The Osborne Brothers The Carter Family The Hager Brothers The Statler Brothers Tompall & the Glaser Brothers1970 Tompall & the Glaser Brothers The Carter Family The Osborne Brothers Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan1969 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Tompall & the Glaser Brothers Don Gibson and Dottie West Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner1968 Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner The Stoneman Family Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann Bill Anderson and Jan Howard Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash1967 The Stoneman Family The Anita Kerr Singers The Browns The Statler Brothers Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Tammy Wynette and David Houston
Artists with multiple wins + Groups that received multiple awardsAwardsArtist9The Statler Brothers 7Old Dominion6Little Big TownRascal Flatts4Diamond RioDixie Chicks3AlabamaLady AntebellumThe Judds2Highway 101Kentucky HeadhuntersThe Mavericks
Won on first nomination In CMA history, only six groups have won Vocal Group of the Year the very first time they were nominated. They are:
The Stoneman Family (1967) Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner (1968) Highway 101 (1988) Kentucky Headhunters (1990) The Mavericks (1995) Dixie Chicks (1998)
Artists with multiple nominations 21 nominations Alabama Little Big Town
18 nominations Lady Antebellum
15 nominations The Statler Brothers Diamond Rio
14 nominations Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band
10 nominations Oak Ridge Boys Old Dominion
8 nominations Lonestar
7 nominations
Dixie Chicks Sawyer Brown Midland
6 nominations
Osborne Brothers Restless Heart The Band Perry Tompall and the Glaser Brothers
5 nominations Asleep at the Wheel Shenandoah
4 nominations
Dave & Sugar Eagles Exile The Carter Family The Judds The Mavericks
3 nominations
Alison Krauss & Union Station Eli Young Band Highway 101 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers The Red Clay Strays
2 nominations
Blackhawk Charlie Daniels Band Confederate Railroad Desert Rose Band Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner Emerson Drive Kentucky Headhunters Nickel Creek Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Sugarland The Bellamy Brothers The Forester Sisters The Jordanaires The Kendalls The Stoneman Family The Whites
References