The Academy of Country Music Award for Female Artist of the Year (formerly known as Top Female Vocalist, until 2011) is awarded to the top female country music artist of the past year. It is based on individual musical performance on a solo Country single or album release, as well as the overall contribution to Country Music.The following is the list of winners, with the year representing the nominated work. This Award goes to the artist. This award was one of the original awards given at the first ceremony in 1966. The first recipient was Bonnie Owens. The most recent recipient is Ella Langley.
Recipients YearWinnerNominees2026 Ella Langley Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Megan Moroney Lainey Wilson2025 Lainey Wilson Kelsea Ballerini Ella Langley Megan Moroney Kacey Musgraves2024 Lainey Wilson Kelsea Ballerini Ashley McBryde Megan Moroney Kacey Musgraves2023 Lainey Wilson Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Carly Pearce2022 Carly Pearce Gabby Barrett Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Maren Morris2021 Maren Morris Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Carly Pearce2020 Maren Morris Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood2019 Kacey Musgraves Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Maren Morris Carrie Underwood2018 Miranda Lambert Kelsea Ballerini Maren Morris Reba McEntire Carrie Underwood2017 Miranda Lambert Kelsea Ballerini Maren Morris Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood2016 Miranda Lambert Kelsea Ballerini Jana Kramer Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood2015 Miranda Lambert Brandy Clark Martina McBride Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood2014 Miranda Lambert Sheryl Crow Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift2013 Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift2012 Miranda Lambert Sara Evans Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift2011 Miranda Lambert Reba McEntire Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift Lee Ann Womack2010 Miranda Lambert Reba McEntire Carrie Underwood Taylor Swift Lee Ann Womack2009 Carrie Underwood Miranda Lambert Heidi Newfield Taylor Swift Lee Ann Womack2008 Carrie Underwood Martina McBride Miranda Lambert LeAnn Rimes Taylor Swift2007 Carrie Underwood Sara Evans Faith Hill Martina McBride Miranda Lambert2006 Sara Evans Martina McBride Carrie Underwood Gretchen Wilson Lee Ann Womack2005 Gretchen Wilson Terri Clark Sara Evans Martina McBride Lee Ann Womack2004 Martina McBride Terri Clark Sara Evans Patty Loveless Shania Twain2003 Martina McBride Terri Clark Faith Hill Shania Twain Lee Ann Womack2002 Martina McBride Faith Hill Sara Evans Lee Ann Womack Trisha Yearwood2001 Faith Hill Sara Evans Martina McBride Jo Dee Messina Lee Ann Womack2000 Faith Hill Martina McBride Jo Dee Messina Trisha Yearwood Chely Wright1999 Faith Hill Martina McBride Jo Dee Messina Shania Twain Trisha Yearwood1998 Trisha Yearwood Deana Carter Martina McBride Patty Loveless LeAnn Rimes1997 Patty Loveless Reba McEntire LeAnn Rimes Shania Twain Trisha Yearwood1996 Patty Loveless Faith Hill Reba McEntire Pam Tillis Shania Twain1995 Reba McEntire Faith Hill Mary Chapin Carpenter Patty Loveless Pam Tillis1994 Wynonna Mary Chapin Carpenter Reba McEntire Pam Tillis Tanya Tucker1993 Mary Chapin Carpenter Lorrie Morgan Pam Tillis Tanya Tucker Wynonna1992 Reba McEntire Mary Chapin Carpenter Lorrie Morgan Pam Tillis Tanya Tucker1991 Reba McEntire Kathy Mattea Mary Chapin Carpenter Patty Loveless Tanya Tucker1990 Kathy Mattea K.D. Lang Reba McEntire Dolly Parton Tanya Tucker1989 K.T. Oslin Rosanne Cash Kathy Mattea Reba McEntire Tanya Tucker1988 Reba McEntire Rosanne Cash Crystal Gayle Kathy Mattea Tanya Tucker1987 Reba McEntire Janie Fricke Crystal Gayle Juice Newton Marie Osmond1986 Reba McEntire Rosanne Cash Crystal Gayle Anne Murray Juice Newton1985 Reba McEntire Janie Fricke Emmylou Harris Anne Murray Dolly Parton1984 Janie Fricke Crystal Gayle Barbara Mandrell Reba McEntire Sylvia1983 Sylvia Rosanne Cash Janie Fricke Barbara Mandrell Dottie West1982 Barbara Mandrell Rosanne Cash Lacy J. Dalto Emmylou Harris Sylvia1981 Dolly Parton Lacy J. Dalto Emmylou Harris Crystal Gayle Barbara Mandrell1980 Crystal Gayle Anne Murray Barbara Mandrell Dolly Parton Loretta Lynn1979 Barbara Mandrell Anne Murray Crystal Gayle Dolly Parton Loretta Lynn1978 Crystal Gayle Loretta Lynn Linda Ronstadt Dolly Parton Tammy Wynette1977 Crystal Gayle Emmylou Harris Loretta Lynn Dolly Parton Tammy Wynette1976 Loretta Lynn Anne Murray Linda Ronstadt Dolly Parton Tanya Tucker1975 Loretta Lynn Donna Fargo Anne Murray Olivia Newton-John Dolly Parton1974 Loretta Lynn Barbara Fairchild Donna Fargo Anne Murray Dolly Parton1973 Donna Fargo Loretta Lynn Anne Murray Dolly Parton Susan Raye1972 Loretta Lynn Lynn Anderson Anne Murray Susan Raye Linda Ronstadt1971 Lynn Anderson Bobbie Gentry Loretta Lynn Dolly Parton Tammy Wynette1970 Tammy Wynette Lynn Anderson Bobbie Gentry Judy Lynn Loretta Lynn Dolly Parton Connie Smith Cathie Taylor1969 Cathie Taylor Bobbie Gentry Bonnie Guitar Judy Lynn Jody Miller1968 Lynn Anderson Bonnie Guitar Bonnie Owens Lucille Starr Cathie Taylor1967 Bonnie Guitar Kay Adams Molly Bee Janie Mosby Bonnie Owens1966 Bonnie Owens Molly Bee Rose Lee Maphis Rose Maddox Jody Miller
Category records
Wins Most wins — Miranda Lambert (9). Most wins from the 1960s — n/a. Most wins from the 1970s — Loretta Lynn (4). Most wins from the 1980s — Reba McEntire (4). Most wins from the 1990s — Reba McEntire (3). Most wins from the 2000s — Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood (3). Most wins from the 2010s — Miranda Lambert (9). Most wins from the 2020s — Lainey Wilson (3).
Nominations Most nominated — Miranda Lambert (17). Most nominated from the 1960s — Bonnie Guitar and Bonnie Owens (3). Most nominated from the 1970s — Loretta Lynn (10). Most nominated from the 1980s — Crystal Gayle and Reba McEntire (6). Most nominated from the 1990s — Reba McEntire (7). Most nominated from the 2000s — Martina McBride (9). Most nominated from the 2010s — Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood (10). Most nominated from the 2020s — Kelsea Ballerini (6).
References