A year-by-year record of the women recognized during the CMA Awards' first 13 years.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: November 12, 2026
The CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award was established in 1967, when the Country Music Association held its first annual awards ceremony. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, the category recognized women whose recordings, performances, and chart success helped shape country music during a period of significant growth. From traditional country to crossover hits, these artists played an important role in the genre's history. Below is the complete list of CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners and nominees from 1967 through 1979, organized by award year.
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1967
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Connie Smith
Dottie West
Tammy Wynette
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1968
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Jeannie C. Riley
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1969
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Jeannie C. Riley
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1970
Winner: Tammy Wynette
Nominees:
Lynn Anderson
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Connie Smith
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1971
Winner: Lynn Anderson
Nominees:
Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton
Sammi Smith
Tammy Wynette
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1972
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Donna Fargo
Dolly Parton
Connie Smith
Tammy Wynette
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1973
Winner: Loretta Lynn
Nominees:
Donna Fargo
Jeanne Pruett
Tanya Tucker
Tammy Wynette
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1974
Winner: Olivia Newton-John
Nominees:
Loretta Lynn
Anne Murray
Dolly Parton
Tanya Tucker
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1975
Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:
Jessi Colter
Loretta Lynn
Linda Ronstadt
Tanya Tucker
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1976
Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Tammy Wynette
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1977
Winner: Crystal Gayle
Nominees:
Emmylou Harris
Loretta Lynn
Barbara Mandrell
Dolly Parton
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1978
Winner: Crystal Gayle
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Dolly Parton
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1979
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Crystal Gayle
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
Source
Country Music Association (CMA) – Past Winners and Nominees
Explore More CMA Female Vocalist of the Year History
Return to our complete CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners list for every winner since 1967, all-time records, and links to nominees by decade.