When Was the First Country Music Association Awards (CMA)? The History of the CMAs
The best entertainers in the music industry get all dolled up each year to attend several award shows in hopes of winning a coveted award. There are even specific music genre award shows, including the Country Music Association Awards or the CMAs. Musicians are up for awards such as Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. Fans tune in to see if their favorites win and to watch some impressive performances by the stars.
Many Americans love country music so it is no surprise that the CMAs are the longest-running annual music awards program on network television. For years, it aired on NBC but has been airing on ABC since 2006. As fans gear up to root for their favorites tonight, learn a little more about the history of the award show and how it works.
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When did the Country Music Association Awards start?
The Country Music Association Awards started in 1967 and were first televised in 1968. NBC taped the ceremony and aired it a few weeks later. In 1969, NBC began airing the award show live.
Who won the very first Entertainer of the Year Award at the 1967 CMAs?
Eddy Arnold won the first award for Entertainer of the Year.
Which artist has won the most CMA Awards?
George Strait has won the most awards with three CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards (1989, 1990, 2013), 17 CMA Award wins, and the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Who decides the winners of the CMA Awards?
The CMA Awards are voted on by the members of the Country Music Association, comprised of artists, music executives, songwriters, publicists, and other industry professionals. Music qualified for the award show must be released during the eligibility period, which this year was July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
What are all of the categories of CMA Awards?
The categories for the CMA Awards are Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Duo of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, Musician of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.
What were some of the Best Moments from the CMAs?
Perhaps the top moment in CMAs‘ history is when the late Charley Pride became the first, and still only, Black artist to win Entertainer of the Year. He won in 1971 after releasing ten albums. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 just a month before his death.
In the same vein, Loretta Lynn made history when she became the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year in 1972 after releasing over 20 albums.
Sometimes the best moments are the surprising performances. In 1994, Tanya Tucker brought on Little Richard for a performance of “Something’ Else” and became a duo to remember.
In more recent years, Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson teamed up for an unusual duet with a very nostalgic song. They performed “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppets to create a heartwarming moment.
When are the 2025 CMA Awards on television?
The 59th annual CMAs will be broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, November 19, at 8/7c. Fans can tune in to the show live on ABC. The ceremony will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
Who is hosting the 2025 CMA Awards?
Lainey Wilson will hit the 59th Annual CMA Awards as both the show’s host and as a musical performer.
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Who is performing at the 2025 CMA Awards?
In addition to hosting, Wilson will also take to the CMAs stage during the awards show. The ceremony’s full lineup of performers also includes Combs, Langley, Moroney, Top, Ballerini, Stapleton, Tucker Wetmore, Kenny Chesney, Brandi Carlile, Riley Green, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Straws, Stephen Wilson Jr., Keith Urban, and Little Big Town.
Wilson Jr. also will team up with Shaboozey for a special performance, while BigXthaPlug and Combs will perform their own on-air collab. Lambert will also perform during the show with Stapleton.
Who is nominated for an award at the 2025 CMAs?
Lainey Wilson’s is up for Entertainer of the Year, but she is against some stiff competition. Her fellow nominees include Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, and Cody Johnson. Wilson is also tied with Ella Langley and Megan Moroney for the most nominations of the year, with a total of six.
The women are nominated together in categories including Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.
Wilson’s album Whirlwind is also up for Album of the Year, along with Megan Moroney’s Am I Okay?, Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music, Post Malone‘s F-1 Trillion, and Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem.
Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, and Kelsea Ballerini make up this year’s Female Vocalist of the Year category, while Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, Zach Top, and Chris Stapleton are all up for Male Vocalist of the Year.
The full list of nominees can be found on the CMA Awards website.
Queens of Country
November 2019
Get your toes-tapping as we give a nod to the queens of classic country music.
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