First awarded 1967 Country United States of America | Official website www.cmaawards.com Presented by Country Music Association | |
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Awarded for Achievements in country music Network NBC (1968–1971)
CBS (1972–2005)
ABC (2006–present) Ceremony date November 2, 2016, 5:00 PM PDT Winners Garth Brooks, Garth Brooks, Entertainer of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Carrie Underwood, Carrie Underwood, Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Chris Stapleton, Chris Stapleton, Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Kenny Chesney, Kenny Chesney, Pinnacle Award, Pinnacle Award, Humble and KindLori McKenna, Humble and Kind, Song of the Year, Song of the Year, Die a Happy ManThomas Rhett - Dann Huff - Jesse Frasure -, Die a Happy Man, Single of the Year, Single of the Year, Maren Morris, Maren Morris, New Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Mr MisunderstoodEric Church - Universal Music Group Nashville - Jay Joyce -, Mr Misunderstood, Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Brothers Osborne, Brothers Osborne, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Different for GirlsElle King - Dierks Bentley, Different for Girls, Musical Event of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Dann Huff, Dann Huff, Musician of the Year, Musician of the Year, Fire AwayChris Stapleton - Tim Mattia, Fire Away, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Luke Bryan, Luke Bryan, Entertainer of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lambert, Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Chris Stapleton, Chris Stapleton, Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Girl CrushLori McKenna - Hillary Lindsey - Liz Rose, Girl Crush, Song of the Year, Song of the Year, Girl CrushLittle Big Town - Capitol Records Nashville - Jay Joyce, Girl Crush, Single of the Year, Single of the Year, Chris Stapleton, Chris Stapleton, New Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, TravellerChris Stapleton - Dave Cobb - Mercury Nashville Records, Traveller, Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Florida Georgia Line, Florida Georgia Line, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Raise 'Em UpKeith Urban - Eric Church, Raise 'Em Up, Musical Event of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Mac McAnally, Mac McAnally, Musician of the Year, Musician of the Year, Girl in a Country SongMaddie & Tae - TK McKamy, Girl in a Country Song, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Luke Bryan, Luke Bryan, Entertainer of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lambert, Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton, Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Follow Your ArrowKacey Musgraves - Brandy Clark - Shane McAnally, Follow Your Arrow, Song of the Year, Song of the Year, AutomaticMiranda Lambert - Frank Liddell - Chuck Ainlay -, Automatic, Single of the Year, Single of the Year, Brett Eldredge, Brett Eldredge, New Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, PlatinumMiranda Lambert - Frank Liddell - Chuck Ainlay -, Platinum, Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Florida Georgia Line, Florida Georgia Line, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, We Were UsMiranda Lambert - Keith Urban, We Were Us, Musical Event of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Mac McAnally, Mac McAnally, Musician of the Year, Musician of the Year, Drunk on a PlaneDierks Bentley - Wes Edwards, Drunk on a Plane, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Vince Gill, Vince Gill, Irving Wahl Award for Excellence, Irving Wahl Award for Excellence, George Strait, George Strait, Entertainer of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lambert, Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton, Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift, Pinnacle Award, Pinnacle Award, I Drive Your TruckLee Brice - Jessi Alexander - Jimmy Yeary -, I Drive Your Truck, Song of the Year, Song of the Year, CruiseFlorida Georgia Line - Joey Moi - BMLG Records, Cruise, Single of the Year, Single of the Year, Kacey Musgraves, Kacey Musgraves, New Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Based on a True StoryBlake Shelton - Warner Bros Records - Scott Hendricks, Based on a True Story, Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Florida Georgia Line, Florida Georgia Line, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Highway Don't CareTaylor Swift - Keith Urban - Tim McGraw -, Highway Don't Care, Musical Event of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Mac McAnally, Mac McAnally, Musician of the Year, Musician of the Year, Highway Don't CareTaylor Swift - Keith Urban - Tim McGraw -, Highway Don't Care, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Kenny Rogers, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton, Entertainer of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lambert, Female Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton, Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Over YouBlake Shelton - Miranda Lambert, Over You, Song of the Year, Song of the Year, PontoonLittle Big Town - Capitol Records Nashville - Jay Joyce, Pontoon, Single of the Year, Single of the Year, Hunter Hayes, Hunter Hayes, New Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, ChiefEric Church - Jay Joyce - EMI Records Nashville, Chief, Album of the Year, Album of the Year, Thompson Square, Thompson Square, Vocal Duo of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Little Big Town, Little Big Town, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Feel Like a Rock StarTim McGraw - Kenny Chesney, Feel Like a Rock Star, Musical Event of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Mac McAnally, Mac McAnally, Musician of the Year, Musician of the Year, Red Solo CupToby Keith - Michael Salomon, Red Solo Cup, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award | ||
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony features performances and award presentations by popular country music artists.
Contents
History
The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in 1967; the Entertainer of the Year award that night went to Eddy Arnold. The second annual CMA awards were presented in October 1968; NBC taped the ceremony and televised it a few weeks later. Since then, the awards have been televised live, usually in October or November, by NBC from 1969 through 1971, by CBS from 1972 through 2005, and by ABC beginning in 2006. Starting in 1968 they were held at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry (initially at Ryman Auditorium, and from 1974 through 2004 at the new Grand Ole Opry House). In 2005, the awards show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since 2006, they have been held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Eligibility and voting
Albums and songs released between July 1 of the previous calendar year and June 30 of the award show's year are eligible for consideration. More than 7,300 individuals from the Country Music Association trade group vote for the nominees and winners through three rounds of balloting.
Awards
Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, New Artist (previously known as the Horizon Award until 2008), Vocal Group, Vocal Duo (introduced in 1970), Single, Album, Song, Musical Event (split off from the Vocal Duo award in 1988 as Vocal Event), Music Video (introduced in 1985), and Musician. The distinction between the Duo and Event awards is that the former is presented to two artists who normally perform together, while the latter was specifically created to honor one-off collaborations. Nine awards are also given to radio broadcasters for Station of the Year and Personality of the Year (divided into four categories each, based on market size), as well as National Personality of the Year to the host of a nationally syndicated show. Since 2012, the ceremony features a Lifetime Achievement Award.
CMA Awards hosts
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley have co-hosted the ceremonies together since 2008. Vince Gill has been the longest concurrent host from 1992 to 2003, co-hosting with Reba in 1992 and Clint Black in 1993. The first ceremony in 1967 was co-hosted by Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry, but this ceremony was not televised.