Every CMA New Artist of the Year Winner and Nominee
Formerly known as the Horizon Award, the category honors rising acts in country music.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: June 7, 2026
Introduced in 1981, the CMA Horizon Award recognized promising, up-and-coming country acts. In 2008, the category was renamed as New Artist of the Year.
Official Criteria: This award goes to the artist, whether individual or a group, who is known primarily as a country artist, who has in the eligibility period demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development in overall consumption or chart activity, live performance and/or national media recognition related to the launch of their career. Any artist who has previously won a CMA Award (except Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year) or who has twice been a final nominee for the New Artist of the Year Award is ineligible for nomination.
By the Numbers:
Wins:
24 - Wins by a Male Artist
14 - Wins by a Female Artist
6 - Wins by a Group
1 - Win by a Duo
Nominations:
117 - Nominations by a Male Artist
68 - Nominations by a Female Artist
25 - Nominations by a Group
16 - Nominations by a Duo
1981
Winner: Terri Gibbs
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
T.G. Sheppard
Boxcar Willie
Shelly West and David Frizzell
1982
Winner: Ricky Skaggs
Nominees:
John Anderson
Rosanne Cash
David Frizzell
Lee Greenwood
1983
Winner: John Anderson
Nominees:
Vern Gosdin
Reba McEntire
George Strait
The Whites
1984
Winner: The Judds
Nominees:
Deborah Allen
Earl Thomas Conley
Vern Gosdin
Michael Martin Murphey
1985
Winner: Sawyer Brown
Nominees:
Ray Charles
Mel McDaniel
Eddy Raven
John Schneider
1986
Winner: Randy Travis
Nominees:
Forester Sisters
Kathy Mattea
Dan Seals
Dwight Yoakam
1987
Winner: Holly Dunn
Nominees:
T. Graham Brown
The O’Kanes
Restless Heart
Sweethearts of the Rodeo
1988
Winner: Ricky Van Shelton
Nominees:
Highway 101
Patty Loveless
K.T. Oslin
Sweethearts of the Rodeo
1989
Winner: Clint Black
Nominees:
The Desert Rose Band
Patty Loveless
Shenandoah
Keith Whitley
1990
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Alan Jackson
The Kentucky Headhunters
Lorrie Morgan
Travis Tritt
1991
Winner: Travis Tritt
Nominees:
Mark Chesnutt
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Doug Stone
Pam Tillis
1992
Winner: Suzy Bogguss
Nominees:
Billy Dean
Brooks & Dunn
Pam Tillis
Trisha Yearwood
1993
Winner: Mark Chesnutt
Nominees:
Sammy Kershaw
Tracy Lawrence
John Michael Montgomery
Trisha Yearwood
1994
Winner: John Michael Montgomery
Nominees:
Faith Hill
Martina McBride
Tim McGraw
Lee Roy Parnell
1995
Winner: Alison Krauss
Nominees:
David Ball
John Berry
Faith Hill
Shania Twain
1996
Winner: Bryan White
Nominees:
Terri Clark
Wade Hayes
LeAnn Rimes
Shania Twain
1997
Winner: LeAnn Rimes
Nominees:
Trace Adkins
Deana Carter
Terri Clark
Lee Ann Womack
1998
Winner: The Chicks
Nominees:
Trace Adkins
Jo Dee Messina
Michael Peterson
Lee Ann Womack
1999
Winner: Jo Dee Messina
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Sara Evans
The Wilkinsons
Chely Wright
2000
Winner: Brad Paisley
Nominees:
Sara Evans
Montgomery Gentry
SheDaisy
Chely Wright
2001
Winner: Keith Urban
Nominees:
Jessica Andrews
Nickel Creek
Jamie O’Neal
Phil Vassar
2002
Winner: Rascal Flatts
Nominees:
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Nickel Creek
Phil Vassar
Darryl Worley
2003
Winner: Joe Nichols
Nominees:
Gary Allan
Buddy Jewell
Blake Shelton
Darryl Worley
2004
Winner: Gretchen Wilson
Nominees:
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Julie Roberts
Josh Turner
2005
Winner: Dierks Bentley
Nominees:
Big & Rich
Miranda Lambert
Julie Roberts
Sugarland
2006
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Little Big Town
Sugarland
Josh Turner
2007
Winner: Taylor Swift
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Kellie Pickler
Rodney Atkins
Little Big Town
2008
Winner: Lady A
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
James Otto
Kellie Pickler
2009
Winner: Darius Rucker
Nominees:
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Zac Brown Band
2010
Winner: Zac Brown Band
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
2011
Winner: The Band Perry
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young
2012
Winner: Hunter Hayes
Nominees:
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Love and Theft
Thompson Square
2013
Winner: Kacey Musgraves
Nominees:
Lee Brice
Brett Eldredge
Florida Georgia Line
Kip Moore
2014
Winner: Brett Eldredge
Nominees:
Brandy Clark
Kip Moore
Thomas Rhett
Cole Swindell
2015
Winner: Chris Stapleton
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Sam Hunt
Maddie & Tae
Thomas Rhett
2016
Winner: Maren Morris
Nominees:
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
2017
Winner: Jon Pardi
Nominees:
Lauren Alaina
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Brett Young
2018
Winner: Luke Combs
Nominees:
Lauren Alaina
Chris Janson
Midland
Brett Young
2019
Winner: Ashley McBryde
Nominees:
Cody Johnson
Midland
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen
2020
Winner: Morgan Wallen
Nominees:
Ingrid Andress
Jimmie Allen
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
2021
Winner: Jimmie Allen
Nominees:
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Mickey Guyton
HARDY
2022
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Cody Johnson
Walker Hayes
Parker McCollum
HARDY
2023
Winner: Jelly Roll
Nominees:
Megan Moroney
Parker McCollum
Zach Bryan
Hailey Whitters
2024
Winner: Megan Moroney
Nominees:
Zach Top
Shaboozey
Mitchell Tenpenny
Bailey Zimmerman
Nate Smith
2025
Winner: Zach Top
Nominees:
Ella Langley
Shaboozey
Stephen Wilson Jr.
Tucker Wetmore
CMA New Artist of the Year FAQ
Who won CMA New Artist of the Year in 2025?
Zach Top won CMA New Artist of the Year in 2025. The other nominees were Ella Langley, Shaboozey, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Tucker Wetmore.
What was CMA New Artist of the Year originally called?
CMA New Artist of the Year was originally called the Horizon Award. The category was introduced in 1981 and later became known as New Artist of the Year.
Who was the first CMA Horizon Award winner?
Terri Gibbs was the first CMA Horizon Award winner in 1981.
When did the CMA Horizon Award become New Artist of the Year?
The Horizon Award became New Artist of the Year in 2008.
Can an artist be nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year more than once?
Yes. Artists can be nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year more than once, as long as they still meet the category’s eligibility rules.
When are the 2026 CMA Awards?
The 60th Annual CMA Awards are scheduled to air Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 8/7c on ABC.
How is CMA New Artist of the Year different from ACM New Artist categories?
The CMA Awards have one combined New Artist of the Year category. The ACM Awards have used separate new artist categories, including New Female Artist, New Male Artist, and New Duo or Group of the Year.