What Are the CMA Awards?
The Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, often referred to as the CMA Awards, are an annual celebration honoring outstanding achievements in country music. Known as “Country Music’s Biggest Night,” the ceremony brings together some of the biggest names in the genre to recognize the artists, songwriters, musicians, producers and industry professionals who have made an impact on country music.
First presented in 1967, the CMA Awards have grown into one of the most prestigious events in country music. Each year, awards are presented in categories, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year, as well as Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Duo, and New Artist of the Year.
In addition to celebrating the year’s biggest accomplishments, the CMA Awards are known for their star-studded performances, unexpected collaborations, emotional tributes, and memorable moments that keep country music fans talking long after the show ends.
Fun Facts About the CMA Awards
This Year’s Ceremony: 2026 CMA Awards
The 60th Annual CMA Awards will take place Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The milestone ceremony will celebrate six decades of recognizing excellence in country music.
Lainey Wilson will return as host for the third consecutive year, marking her second consecutive year hosting the show as a solo host. The ceremony will air live at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+, with streaming available on Hulu the following day.
Leading nominees: Ella Langley leads this year’s nominations with nine, followed by Miranda Lambert with seven. Kacey Musgraves and Ben West earned five nominations each, while Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton and Stephen Wilson Jr. received four apiece.
The 2026 ceremony will also feature a special presentation of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary country duo Brooks & Dunn.
As the CMA Awards celebrate their 60th anniversary, this year’s ceremony promises to be a particularly special night for country music fans.
2026 CMA Awards
History of the CMA Awards
The CMA Awards have been celebrating country music’s biggest accomplishments for nearly six decades. What began as an industry banquet in Nashville has evolved into one of the most-watched annual music awards ceremonies on television.
The Country Music Association was established in 1958 as the first trade organization dedicated to promoting a single genre of music. Nine years later, the organization hosted its first CMA Awards Banquet and Show.
Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry co-hosted that first ceremony in 1967, and Eddy Arnold took home Entertainer of the Year. The following year, the ceremony was broadcast on television for the first time with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans hosting.
CMA AWARDS MILESTONES:
- 1967: The first CMA Awards ceremony takes place in Nashville.
- 1968: The awards are televised nationally for the first time on NBC.
- 1969: Johnny Cash hosts the ceremony, helping establish the awards as a major country music television event.
- 1972: Loretta Lynn becomes the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year.
- 1975: Charlie Rich famously sets fire to the envelope announcing the Entertainer of the Year winner.
- 1999: Shania Twain becomes the fifth woman since Loretta Lynn to win Entertainer of the Year. Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, and Reba McEntire previously took home the honor.
- 2006: The CMA Awards move to ABC and begin broadcasting from the newly opened Bridgestone Arena (then known as the Sommet Center).
- 2009: Taylor Swift becomes the youngest winner of CMA Entertainer of the Year at age 19.
- 2016: The CMA Awards celebrate their 50th anniversary with a special ceremony honoring country music’s history and legacy.
- 2023: Lainey Wilson wins her first Entertainer of the Year award.
- 2025: Brooks & Dunn become the most-awarded act in CMA Awards history, reaching 20 career wins.
- 2026: The CMA Awards celebrate their 60th anniversary
CMA Awards Categories
The CMA Awards recognize achievements across 12 competitive award categories. Some awards celebrate individual artists and groups, while others recognize the people behind the music, including songwriters, producers, and musicians.
Here are the categories presented during the annual ceremony:
- Entertainer of the Year: Recognizes an artist’s overall accomplishments, including recorded music, live performances, public acceptance, leadership, and contributions to country music.
- Single of the Year: Honors a single recording for its commercial and cultural impact. The award recognizes the artist, producer, and mix engineer.
- Album of the Year: Recognizes an outstanding country music album and the creative professionals responsible for its production.
- Song of the Year: Celebrates songwriting excellence and recognizes the songwriters behind an outstanding country music composition.
- Female Vocalist of the Year: Honors an individual female artist for her vocal performances and overall contribution to country music.
- Male Vocalist of the Year: Recognizes an individual male artist for his vocal performances and overall contribution to country music.
- Vocal Group of the Year: Honors a group of three or more performers who regularly perform together.
- Vocal Duo of the Year: Recognizes two performers who regularly work together as a musical duo.
- Musical Event of the Year: Celebrates outstanding collaborative performances involving two or more artists.
- Musician of the Year: Recognizes an exceptional instrumental musician for contributions to country music recordings.
- Music Video of the Year: Honors an artist and director for an outstanding country music video.
- New Artist of the Year: Recognizes an emerging country music artist who has demonstrated significant career growth and development.
The CMA also presents special honors, including the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, to recognize extraordinary contributions to country music.
How Are CMA Awards Winners Chosen?
Unlike some music awards that allow fans to vote for their favorite artists, CMA Awards winners are determined through a process involving professional members of the Country Music Association.
The process takes place over three rounds of voting.
Round 1: Nomination Ballot
Eligible CMA Professional members submit nominations for artists, recordings and projects they believe deserve recognition. The votes determine which candidates advance to the next round.
Round 2: Second Ballot
The candidates receiving the most votes advance to the second ballot. Members vote again to narrow the field to the official nominees.
Round 3: Final Ballot
The final nominees are announced, and eligible CMA voting members cast their votes to determine the winners in each category.
CMA members represent many areas of the country music industry, including recording artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, engineers, publicists, music executives, and touring professionals.
The process ensures that CMA Awards recognition comes from people who work within and contribute to the country music industry.
CMA Record Holders
Over the years, the CMA Awards have produced plenty of record-breaking accomplishments. Some artists have collected an impressive number of trophies, while others have made history with multiple consecutive wins or groundbreaking achievements.
CMA Awards Show Hosts
Hosting the CMA Awards is a huge honor and a big responsibility. From opening monologues and introducing performances to keeping the audience entertained between awards, hosts play an important role in making each ceremony memorable.
Over the years, the CMA Awards have featured an impressive lineup of hosts, including country music legends, popular recording artists, and entertainers from outside the genre.
Some of the most recognizable CMA Awards hosts include:
- Johnny Cash: Hosted the 1969 ceremony.
- Glen Campbell: Hosted several ceremonies during the 1970s and 1980s.
- Dolly Parton: Served as a host during the 1980s.
- Reba McEntire: Became one of the ceremony’s most recognizable hosts, including multiple years in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Vince Gill: Hosted the CMA Awards for 12 consecutive years, from 1992 through 2003.
- Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood: Hosted together for 11 consecutive years, from 2008 through 2018.
- Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning: Shared hosting duties in 2022 and 2023.
- Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson: Hosted together in 2024.
- Lainey Wilson: Took over as solo host in 2025 and returns in 2026.
Memorable CMA Awards Performances
Some of the most talked-about moments in CMA Awards history have happened between the award presentations. The ceremony has become known for bringing together artists for special collaborations, emotional tributes, career-defining moments, and performances that fans remember for years.
From surprise guests to once-in-a-lifetime musical pairings, the CMA Awards stage has delivered plenty of unforgettable moments.
Some performances and collaborations worth revisiting include:
- The 50th Anniversary All-Star Tribute (2016): Country music legends and contemporary stars joined together to celebrate five decades of CMA Awards history.
- Beyoncé and The Chicks (2016): The unexpected collaboration brought pop and country audiences together for a performance of “Daddy Lessons.”
- Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton (2015): Their performance of “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away” became one of the most talked-about collaborations in CMA history.
- The George Strait Tribute (2024): Lainey Wilson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, and Chris Stapleton joined together to honor the King of Country.
Controversial Moments in CMA Awards History
Not every CMA Awards moment has been well received. Over the years, the ceremony has experienced its share of controversy.
A few memorable examples include:
Charlie Rich Sets Fire to the Envelope (1975)
One of the most infamous moments in CMA Awards history occurred in 1975 when country singer Charlie Rich presented the Entertainer of the Year award. After opening the envelope and seeing that John Denver was the winner, Rich pulled out a lighter and set the announcement card on fire.
The incident was widely interpreted as a protest against the growing crossover influence of pop music on country music, although Rich’s exact motivation has remained a subject of debate.
Beyoncé and The Chicks Perform Together (2016)
The 50th Annual CMA Awards featured an unexpected collaboration between Beyoncé and The Chicks. While the performance of “Daddy Lessons” received plenty of attention, it also sparked debate among some country music fans about who belongs on the CMA Awards stage.
Garth Brooks Steps Away from Entertainer of the Year Consideration (2020)
After winning Entertainer of the Year in 2019, Garth Brooks announced that he would no longer accept nominations in the category. He explained that he wanted to give younger artists an opportunity to receive the recognition.
