How Lainey Wilson Made History By Winning CMA Entertainer Of The Year

Christopher Polk / Contributor / Getty Images

Lainey Wilson Won Entertainer Of The Year At The 2023 CMA Awards & Made History In Multiple Ways

Lainey Wilson already made CMA Award history just with the number of nominations she earned this year. She was nominated nine times, making her the most-nominated artist. Wilson was only the fourth artist in the ceremony’s history to earn nine or more nominations.

She earned six nominations at the 2022 ceremony, which was also the most of any artist. That was her first year being nominated. Therefore, Wilson became the first artist in CMA history to have the highest number of nominations in their first two years on the ballot.

Wilson won two trophies early on the day of the CMA Awards (November 8). She and HARDY won Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year for their collaboration “wait in the truck.”

RELATED: LAINEY WILSON REACTS TO HER EARLY CMA AWARD WINS

Breaking Down The Stats Behind Lainey’s Entertainer Of The Year Win

Then, during the ceremony, Wilson took home the trophies for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Her win in the latter category made history in multiple ways.

For starters, Wilson is only the 11th artist in CMA history to win Entertainer of the Year in their first year being nominated. Other artists who achieved the same feat include Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, and Hank Williams Jr.

Additionally, Wilson is the first female artist to win Entertainer of the Year since Taylor Swift in 2011.

To add to that, Wilson and Swift are the only two solo female artists to win the award in 24 years…since Shania Twain in 1999. The Chicks took home the trophy in 2000.

Lainey Wilson with her trophies from the 2023 CMA Awards
Scott Kirkland / Contributor / Getty Images

Furthermore, Wilson is only the seventh solo female artist to win Entertainer of the Year in the entire history of the CMA Awards. The other six artists are:

Taylor Swift

Shania Twain

Reba McEntire

Barbara Mandrell

Dolly Parton

Loretta Lynn

Wilson joins an elite list of artists following her history-making win at the 2023 CMA Awards. Watch her accept the trophy for Entertainer of the Year in the video below.

Congratulations Lainey Wilson!

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