CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees
A complete year-by-year list of CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners, from Loretta Lynn in 1967 through today.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Date Published: September 2, 2026
The CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award has been presented annually since the first CMA Awards in 1967, when Loretta Lynn became the category's inaugural winner. The award recognizes an artist's individual musical performance on a solo country single or album, along with her overall contribution to country music.
Winners have included Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Lainey Wilson. Miranda Lambert holds the record with seven wins, while Lambert and Reba McEntire share the record for the most nominations with 18 each.
Below is the complete year-by-year list of CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners and nominees from 1967 through 2025, along with information about the 2026 award.
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Quick Facts
Award first presented: 1967
First winner: Loretta Lynn
Presented by: Country Music Association
Current winner: Lainey Wilson (2025)
2026 winner: To be announced November 18, 2026
2026 eligibility period: July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026
2026 CMA Awards: November 18, 2026, at 8/7c on ABC
2026 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year
The 2026 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominees will be announced on September 10, 2026. The winner will be revealed during the 60th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
View the complete 2026 CMA Awards nominees and visit our 2026 CMA Awards guide for more information about this year’s awards.
Who Has the Most CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Wins?
Miranda Lambert has the most wins in the Female Vocalist category with a total of seven.
Miranda Lambert - 7 Wins
Carrie Underwood - 5 Wins
Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, and Lainey Wilson - 4 Wins
Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette - 3 Wins
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Janie Fricke, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Kathy Mattea, Dolly Parton, and Trisha Yearwood - 2 Wins
Lynn Anderson, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton-John, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, K.T. Oslin, Carly Pearce, Taylor Swift, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, Gretchen Wilson, and Lee Ann Womack - 1 Win
Who Has the Most CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Nominations?
Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire are the most-nominated artists for Female Vocalist with a total of eighteen.
Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire - 18 Nominations
Martina McBride - 17 Nominations
Carrie Underwood - 16 Nominations
Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton - 12 Nominations
Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker - 9 Nominations
Kelsea Ballerini, Patty Loveless, Kacey Musgraves, Tammy Wynette, and Trisha Yearwood - 8 Nominations
Janie Fricke, Alison Krauss, Anne Murray, and Taylor Swift - 7 Nominations
Rosanne Cash, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Maren Morris, and Lee Ann Womack - 6 Nominations
Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Kathy Mattea, Ashley McBryde, and Pam Tillis - 5 Nominations
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lainey Wilson - 4 Nominations
Wynonna Judd, Carly Pearce, and Connie Smith - 3 Nominations
Terri Clark, Kelly Clarkson, Donna Fargo, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Megan Moroney, Jeannie C. Riley, Shania Twain, and Gretchen Wilson - 2 Nominations
Gabby Barrett, Deana Carter, Jessi Colter, Lacy J. Dalton, Terri Gibbs, Olivia Newton-John, Ella Langley, Juice Newton, K.T. Oslin, Jeanne Pruett, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Sammi Smith, and Dottie West - 1 Nomination
Every CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winner
1967 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Connie Smith
Dottie West
Tammy Wynette
1968 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Jeannie C. Riley
1969 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Jeannie C. Riley
1970 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Connie Smith
1971 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lynn Anderson
Nominees:
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Sammi Smith
Tammy Wynette
1972 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Donna Fargo
Dolly Parton
Connie Smith
Tammy Wynette
1973 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Donna Fargo
Jeanne Pruett
Tanya Tucker
Tammy Wynette
1974 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Olivia Newton John
Nominees:
Loretta Lynn
Anne Murray
Dolly Parton
Tanya Tucker
1975 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:
Jessi Colter
Loretta Lynn
Linda Ronstadt
Tanya Tucker
1976 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Tammy Wynette
1977 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Crystal Gayle
Nominees:
Emmylou Harris
Loretta Lynn
Barbara Mandrell
Dolly Parton
1978 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Crystal Gayle
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Dolly Parton
1979 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Crystal Gayle
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
1980 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Emmylou Harris
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Loretta Lynn
Barbara Mandrell
Anne Murray
1981 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Terri Gibbs
Emmylou Harris
Loretta Lynn
Anne Murray
1982 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Janie Fricke
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Juice Newton
1983 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Janie Fricke
Nominees:
Lacy J. Dalton
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Reba McEntire
1984 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Anne Murray
1985 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
1986 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
1987 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Emmylou Harris
Kathy Mattea
Dolly Parton
1988 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: K.T. Oslin
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Kathy Mattea
Reba McEntire
Tanya Tucker
1989 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Kathy Mattea
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Patty Loveless
Reba McEntire
Tanya Tucker
1990 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Kathy Mattea
Nominees:
Patty Loveless
Reba McEntire
Lorrie Morgan
Tanya Tucker
1991 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Tanya Tucker
Nominees:
Patty Loveless
Kathy Mattea
Reba McEntire
Lorrie Morgan
1992 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Nominees:
Wynonna Judd
Reba McEntire
Tanya Tucker
Trisha Yearwood
1993 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Nominees:
Reba McEntire
Pam Tillis
Tanya Tucker
Wynonna Judd
1994 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Pam Tillis
Nominees:
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Reba McEntire
Wynonna
Trisha Yearwood
1995 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Alison Krauss
Nominees:
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Patty Loveless
Reba McEntire
Pam Tillis
1996 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Patty Loveless
Nominees:
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Pam Tillis
Shania Twain
1997 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Trisha Yearwood
Nominees:
Deana Carter
Patty Loveless
LeAnn Rimes
Pam Tillis
1998 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Trisha Yearwood
Nominees:
Faith Hill
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Lee Ann Womack
1999 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Martina McBride
Nominees:
Faith Hill
Jo Dee Messina
Shania Twain
Trisha Yearwood
2000 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Faith Hill
Nominees:
Martina McBride
Jo Dee Messina
Lee Ann Womack
Trisha Yearwood
2001 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lee Ann Womack
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Trisha Yearwood
2002 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Martina McBride
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Lee Ann Womack
Trisha Yearwood
2003 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Martina McBride
Nominees:
Terri Clark
Alison Krauss
Patty Loveless
Dolly Parton
2004 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Martina McBride
Nominees:
Terri Clark
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Reba McEntire
2005 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Gretchen Wilson
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Lee Ann Womack
2006 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Gretchen Wilson
2007 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
2008 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
2009 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Carrie Underwood
2010 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
2011 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
2012 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Kelly Clarkson
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
2013 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Kelly Clarkson
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
2014 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Martina McBride
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
2015 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack
2016 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
2017 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
2018 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
2019 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Kacey Musgraves
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
2020 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Maren Morris
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
2021 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Carly Pearce
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Gabby Barrett
2022 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Carly Pearce
2023 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde
Miranda Lambert
Kelsea Ballerini
Carly Pearce
2024 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde
Kacey Musgraves
Kelsea Ballerini
Megan Moroney
2025 CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
From Loretta Lynn's inaugural win in 1967 to Lainey Wilson's fourth consecutive victory in 2025, the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners represent nearly six decades of country music history. This page will be updated each year with the latest nominees and winner. For dates, nominations, performers, winners, voting information, and more, visit our complete CMA Awards guide.
Sources: CMA Awards official winners and nominees database.