Every American Music Award Winner and Nominee for Favorite Male Country Artist
A complete year-by-year history of the AMA for Favorite Male Country Artist, including winners, nominees, and record-holders.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Updated: May 24, 2026
The American Music Award for Favorite Male Country Artist has been part of the show’s country music history since the first ceremony in 1974.
Over the years, the category has featured legends, crossover stars, and modern country hitmakers, with names like Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, and Morgan Wallen appearing throughout its history.
This guide looks back at every Favorite Male Country Artist winner and nominee from 1974 through 2026, along with the artists who hold the records for the most wins and nominations. The American Music Awards did not take place in 2023 or 2024.
Most American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Wins
Garth Brooks has the most wins in the Favorite Male Country Artist category with a total of 8.
Garth Brooks - 8 Wins
Tim McGraw - 6 Wins
Luke Bryan and Kenny Rogers - 5 Wins
Willie Nelson - 4 Wins
Kane Brown and Randy Travis - 3 Wins
Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Blake Shelton, George Strait, and Keith Urban- 2 Wins
Luke Combs, John Denver, Post Malone, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Morgan Wallen- 1 Win
Most American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Nominations
George Strait is the most-nominated artist for Favorite Male Country Artist with a total of 12.
George Strait - 12 Nominations
Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks - 10 Nominations
Tim McGraw - 9 Nominations
Luke Bryan - 8 Nominations
Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, and Kenny Rogers - 7 Nominations
Luke Combs, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, and Hank Williams Jr. - 6 Nominations
Kenny Chesney, Conway Twitty, and Morgan Wallen - 5 Nominations
Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, and Blake Shelton - 4 Nominations
Clint Black, Kane Brown, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis, and Keith Urban - 3 Nominations
Sam Hunt, Jelly Roll, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Rich, Shaboozey, and Chris Stapleton- 2 Nominations
Eric Church, Roy Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus, John Denver, Freddy Fender, Riley Green, Lee Greenwood, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, Cody Johnson, Post Malone, Darius Rucker, Ricky Van Shelton, T. G. Sheppard, Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, and Don Williams - 1 Nomination
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 1970s
1974
Winner: Charley Pride
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Conway Twitty
1975
Winner: Charlie Rich
Nominees:
Roy Clark
Charley Pride
1976
Winner: John Denver
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Charlie Rich
1977
Winner: Charley Pride
Nominees:
Freddy Fender
Conway Twitty
1978
Winner: Conway Twitty
Nominees:
Waylon Jennings
Kenny Rogers
1979
Winner: Kenny Rogers
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Ronnie Milsap
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 1980s
1980
Winner: Kenny Rogers
Nominees:
Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson
1981
Winner: Kenny Rogers
Nominees:
Willie Nelson
Charley Pride
1982
Winner: Willie Nelson
Nominees:
Ronnie Milsap
T. G. Sheppard
Don Williams
1983
Winner: Kenny Rogers
Nominees:
Charley Pride
Conway Twitty
1984
Winner: Willie Nelson
Nominees:
Charley Pride
Kenny Rogers
Conway Twitty
1985
Winner: Kenny Rogers
Nominees:
Ricky Skaggs
Hank Williams Jr.
1986
Winner: Willie Nelson
Nominees:
Lee Greenwood
Hank Williams Jr.
1987
Winner: Willie Nelson
Nominees:
Ronnie Milsap
George Strait
Hank Williams Jr.
1988
Winner: Randy Travis
Nominees:
George Strait
Hank Williams Jr.
1989
Winner: Randy Travis
Nominees:
George Strait
Hank Williams Jr.
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 1990s
1990
Winner: Randy Travis
Nominees:
George Strait
Hank Williams Jr.
1991
Winner: George Strait
Nominees:
Clint Black
Garth Brooks
1992
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Clint Black
Ricky Van Shelton
1993
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Billy Ray Cyrus
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
1994
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
George Strait
1995
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
1996
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Alan Jackson
George Strait
1997
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Alan Jackson
George Strait
1998
Winner: George Strait
Nominees:
Clint Black
Alan Jackson
1999
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Tim McGraw
George Strait
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 2000s
2000
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Tim McGraw
George Strait
2001
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Alan Jackson
George Strait
2002
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Toby Keith
Travis Tritt
2003 (JAN)
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
2003 (NOV)
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
2004
Winner: Toby Keith
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Tim McGraw
2005
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
2006
Winner: Toby Keith
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Keith Urban
2007
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
2008
Winner: Brad Paisley
Nominees:
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
2009
Winner: Keith Urban
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Darius Rucker
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 2010s
2010
Winner: Brad Paisley
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
2011
Winner: Blake Shelton
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
2012
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Eric Church
2013
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Hunter Hayes
Blake Shelton
2014
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Blake Shelton
2015
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Sam Hunt
2016
Winner: Blake Shelton
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett
2017
Winner: Keith Urban
Nominees:
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
2018
Winner: Kane Brown
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett
2019
Winner: Kane Brown
Nominees:
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
American Music Award Favorite Male Country Artist Winners in the 2020s
2020
Winner: Kane Brown
Nominees:
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
2021
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
2022
Winner: Morgan Wallen
Nominees:
Luke Combs
Walker Hayes
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
2023 – No Ceremony
2024 – No Ceremony
2025
Winner: Post Malone
Nominees:
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Shaboozey
Morgan Wallen
2026
Winner: TBA
Nominees:
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Jelly Roll
Shaboozey
Morgan Wallen
Data compiled from official American Music Awards records published by Dick Clark Productions.
This guide is maintained as a continuously updated reference and is reviewed annually using official American Music Awards records to ensure accuracy and completeness.