8 Female Artists Who Have Won The CMA Award For Entertainer Of The Year
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The 60th Annual CMA Awards Will Take Place On November 18
On November 18, 2026, the CMA Awards will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Hosted by Lainey Wilson, the show will hand out 12 awards throughout the night that always promises star-studded performances.
This year, the ladies are taking over with Ella Langley, leading the nominations with a total of nine.
2026 CMA Awards Nominees Revealed – See The Full List
For the first time in many years, two women are up for Entertainer of the Year!
Lainey Wilson is up for the award once again alongside Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Ella Langley.
If Langley or Wilson wins Entertainment of the Year, it will be just the 12th time a woman has taken home the award in the show’s 60 years of existence. And if Wilson wins the award, it’ll be the first time the same woman has won the award three times!
Let’s take a look at all the women who have won Entertainer of the Year At The CMA Awards!
Loretta Lynn – 1972
On October 16, 1972, Loretta Lynn became the first woman to take home Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards. She also took home Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year with Conway Twitty.
The nominees for Entertainer of the Year were: Merle Haggard, Freddie Hart, Charley Pride, and Jerry Reed. It was a stacked category, especially seeing as Haggard and Pride had already take home the award in 1970 and 1971, respectively.
Watch Loretta make history below.
Dolly Parton – 1978
On October 9, 1978, Dolly Parton became the second woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards.
That year, she was also nominated for Album of the Year for Here You Come Again, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year for “Here You Come Again.”
The nominees for Entertainer of the Year were: Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, and Mel Tillis.
Watch Dolly’s acceptance speech below.
Barbara Mandrell – 1980, 1981
On October 13, 1980, Barbara Mandrell co-hosted the 14th CMA Awards with Mac Davis. While she lost out Female Vocalist of the Year to Emmylou Harris, she did become the third woman to win Entertainer of the Year, beating out the Charlie Daniels Band, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Willie Nelson, and Kenny Rogers.
The following year, she became the first, and only, woman to win Entertainer of the Year in back-to-back years when she took home the award again on October 12, 1981.
That year, she won over Alabama, George Jones, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Kenny Rogers.
Reba McEntire – 1986
The 20th CMA Awards were held on October 13, 1986 and hosted by Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Reba McEntire and The Judds leds the nominations with five each.
McEntire took home Female Vocalist of the Year before taking home the biggest award of the night, becoming the fourth woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards.
She won Entertainer of the Year over The Judds, Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, and George Strait.
Watch Reba win the award below.
Shania Twain – 1999
Shania Twain became the fifth woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards on September 22, 1999.
It was an especially special moment, seeing as Reba McEntire presented her with the award! Shania took home the award over Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, and George Strait.
The Chicks (Formerly The Dixie Chicks) – 2000
On October 4, 2000, The Chicks made history by becoming the first all-female group to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards.
They also took home Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year for Fly, and Music Video of the Year for “Goodbye Earl.”
The Chicks, who went by the name Dixie Chicks at the time, beat out Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, George Strait.
Taylor Swift – 2009, 2011
On November 11, 2009, Taylor Swift became the youngest person to win Entertainer of the Year at 20 years old. She also took home Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for “Love Story.”
She won Entertainer of the Year over some heavy hitters including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, and Keith Urban.
In 2011, Swift became just the second woman to win two Entertainer of the Year Awards, taking home the award over Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, and Keith Urban.
It was her lone award of the night.
Lainey Wilson – 2023 and 2025
Lainey Wilson is the most current woman to take home the Entertainer of the Year trophy when she won on November 8, 2023 at the 58th Annual CMA Awards.
She beat out the likes of Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen to become the eighth female artist to win the coveted trophy.
Wilson not only hosted the 2025 show, but she was also nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.
Lainey took home Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year!
She became the third woman in history to win the award twice. An impressive feat!
