Every CMA Entertainer of the Year Winner and Nominee by Year
A complete year-by-year look at every CMA Entertainer of the Year winner and nominee, plus the artists with the most wins and nominations.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: September 2, 2026
The CMA Entertainer of the Year award is one of the most prestigious honors in country music, recognizing artists for their overall impact as live performers and entertainers. Since the first CMA Awards were held in 1967, some of country music’s biggest names have taken home the award. Below, you’ll find every CMA Entertainer of the Year winner and nominee, listed by year.
CMA Entertainer of the Year Quick Facts
Award first presented: 1967
First winner: Eddy Arnold
Presented by: Country Music Association
Awarded to: The artist who displays the greatest competence across all aspects of the entertainment field
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 Entertainer of the Year
The 2026 CMA Entertainer 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.
See the complete 2026 CMA Awards nominees and follow our CMA Awards guide for the latest details on this year's ceremony.
What Is the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award?
The CMA Entertainer of the Year award recognizes the artist or act that demonstrates excellence across multiple areas of country music entertainment. Unlike awards focused primarily on a recording, song, or album, Entertainer of the Year considers an artist’s broader impact, including recorded music, live performances, public acceptance, leadership, and overall contribution to country music.
Official CMA Criteria:
This Award goes to the artist. The Award is for the act displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voter should give consideration not only to recorded performance, but also to the in-person performance, public acceptance, leadership, and overall contribution to Country Music.
Who Has Won the Most CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards?
Garth Brooks has the most wins in the Entertainer of the Year category with a total of seven.
Garth Brooks - 7 wins
Kenny Chesney - 4 wins
Alabama, Alan Jackson, and George Strait - 3 wins
Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Vince Gill, Barbara Mandrell, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Hank Williams Jr., and Lainey Wilson - 2 wins
Eddy Arnold, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Eric Church, John Denver, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Charlie Rich, Ricky Skaggs, Blake Shelton, Mel Tillis, Shania Twain, The Chicks, Morgan Wallen, and Brooks & Dunn - 1 win
Who Has the Most CMA Entertainer of the Year Nominations?
George Strait is the most-nominated act for Entertainer of the Year with a total of nineteen.
George Strait - 19 Nominations
Garth Brooks and Keith Urban - 13 Nominations
Alan Jackson - 12 Nominations
Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn - 11 Nominations
Reba McEntire - 10 Nominations
Merle Haggard and Chris Stapleton - 9 Nominations
Vince Gill and Brad Paisley - 8 Nominations
Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, and Carrie Underwood - 6 Nominations
Alabama, Eric Church, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, and Kenny Rogers - 5 Nominations
Jason Aldean, Roy Clark, Ricky Skaggs, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Randy Travis, Toby Keith, and Morgan Wallen - 4 Nominations
Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, The Chicks, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Dolly Parton, Oak Ridge Boys, Hank Williams Jr., and Lainey Wilson - 3 Nominations
Eddy Arnold, Clint Black, Crystal Gayle, Lee Greenwood, Jerry Reed, Ricky Van Shelton, Mel Tillis, Conway Twitty, and Rascal Flatts - 2 Nominations
Bill Anderson, Charlie Daniels Band, Mac Davis, John Denver, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Freddie Hart, Faith Hill, Sonny James, Cody Johnson, George Jones, Kathy Mattea, Olivia Newton John, Buck Owens, Charlie Rich, Jelly Roll, Statler Brothers, Sugarland, Travis Tritt, Shania Twain, Zac Brown Band, and Lady A - 1 Nomination
Every CMA Entertainer of the Year Winner
1967 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Eddy Arnold
Nominees:
Bill Anderson
Merle Haggard
Sonny James
Buck Owens
1968 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Glen Campbell
Nominees:
Eddy Arnold
Johnny Cash
Merle Haggard
Charley Pride
1969 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Johnny Cash
Nominees:
Glen Campbell
Roy Clark
Merle Haggard
Charley Pride
1970 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Merle Haggard
Nominees:
Glen Campbell
Johnny Cash
Roy Clark
Charley Pride
1971 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Charley Pride
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Loretta Lynn
Jerry Reed
Conway Twitty
1972 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Freddie Hart
Charley Pride
Jerry Reed
1973 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Roy Clark
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Tom T. Hall
Loretta Lynn
Charley Pride
1974 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Charlie Rich
Nominees:
Roy Clark
Mac Davis
Loretta Lynn
Olivia Newton John
1975 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: John Denver
Nominees:
Waylon Jennings
Loretta Lynn
Ronnie Milsap
Conway Twitty
1976 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Mel Tillis
Nominees:
Waylon Jennings
Ronnie Milsap
Willie Nelson
Dolly Parton
1977 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Ronnie Milsap
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Waylon Jennings
Dolly Parton
Kenny Rogers
1978 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Ronnie Milsap
Kenny Rogers
Mel Tillis
1979 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Willie Nelson
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Barbara Mandrell
Kenny Rogers
Statler Brothers
1980 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Charlie Daniels Band
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
Willie Nelson
Kenny Rogers
1981 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Alabama
George Jones
Oak Ridge Boys
Kenny Rogers
1982 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alabama
Nominees:
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Oak Ridge Boys
Ricky Skaggs
1983 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alabama
Nominees:
Merle Haggard
Barbara Mandrell
Willie Nelson
Ricky Skaggs
1984 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alabama
Nominees:
Lee Greenwood
Barbara Mandrell
Ronnie Milsap
Oak Ridge Boys
1985 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Ricky Skaggs
Nominees:
Alabama
Lee Greenwood
Reba McEntire
George Strait
1986 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
The Judds
Willie Nelson
Ricky Skaggs
George Strait
1987 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Hank Williams Jr.
Nominees:
The Judds
Reba McEntire
George Strait
Randy Travis
1988 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Hank Williams Jr.
Nominees:
The Judds
Reba McEntire
George Strait
Randy Travis
1989 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: George Strait
Nominees:
Reba McEntire
Randy Travis
Ricky Van Shelton
Hank Williams Jr.
1990 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: George Strait
Nominees:
Clint Black
Kathy Mattea
Randy Travis
Ricky Van Shelton
1991 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Clint Black
Vince Gill
Reba McEntire
George Strait
1992 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
Travis Tritt
1993 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Vince Gill
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
1994 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Vince Gill
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Alan Jackson
Reba McEntire
1995 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alan Jackson
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Reba McEntire
1996 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Brooks & Dunn
Nominees:
Garth Brooks
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
George Strait
1997 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
George Strait
1998 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Vince Gill
Tim McGraw
George Strait
1999 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Shania Twain
Nominees:
Garth Brooks
The Chicks
Tim McGraw
George Strait
2000 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: The Chicks
Nominees:
Faith Hill
Alan Jackson
Tim McGraw
George Strait
2001 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Tim McGraw
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
The Chicks
Alan Jackson
George Strait
2002 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alan Jackson
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
George Strait
2003 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Alan Jackson
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
2004 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Kenny Chesney
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
2005 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Keith Urban
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
2006 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Kenny Chesney
Nominees:
Brooks & Dunn
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
Keith Urban
2007 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Kenny Chesney
Nominees:
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban
2008 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Kenny Chesney
Nominees:
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban
2009 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
2010 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Brad Paisley
Nominees:
Lady A
Miranda Lambert
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band
2011 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
2012 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Blake Shelton
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Taylor Swift
2013 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: George Strait
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
2014 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban
2015 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Luke Bryan
Nominees:
Garth Brooks
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Miranda Lambert
2016 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
2017 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
2018 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Keith Urban
Nominees:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Chris Stapleton
2019 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Garth Brooks
Nominees:
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
2020 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Eric Church
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Luke Combs
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
2021 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Luke Combs
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
2022 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Luke Combs
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert
Morgan Wallen
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
2023 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Morgan Wallen
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
2024 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Morgan Wallen
Nominees:
Lainey Wilson
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Jelly Roll
2025 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson
Nominees:
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
From Eddy Arnold's inaugural win in 1967 to today's biggest country stars, the CMA Entertainer 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.