A complete year-by-year record of the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners and nominees from 1980 through 1989.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Published: November 13, 2026
The 1980s brought several significant milestones to the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year category, including the first four-year consecutive winning streak in the award's history. Throughout the decade, the nominations brought together established country music legends and artists building careers of their own, recognizing vocalists across traditional country and contemporary styles. Below is the complete year-by-year record of CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winners and nominees from 1980 through 1989.
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1980
Winner: Emmylou Harris
Nominees:
Crystal Gayle
Loretta Lynn
Barbara Mandrell
Anne Murray
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1981
Winner: Barbara Mandrell
Nominees:
Terri Gibbs
Emmylou Harris
Loretta Lynn
Anne Murray
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1982
Winner: Janie Fricke
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Juice Newton
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1983
Winner: Janie Fricke
Nominees:
Lacy J. Dalton
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Reba McEntire
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1984
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Barbara Mandrell
Anne Murray
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1985
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1986
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Janie Fricke
Emmylou Harris
Anne Murray
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1987
Winner: Reba McEntire
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Emmylou Harris
Kathy Mattea
Dolly Parton
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1988
Winner: K.T. Oslin
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Kathy Mattea
Reba McEntire
Tanya Tucker
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees: 1989
Winner: Kathy Mattea
Nominees:
Rosanne Cash
Patty Loveless
Reba McEntire
Tanya Tucker
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.
1960s & 1970s CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Winners and Nominees (1967–1979)
View the complete winners and nominees from the award's first 13 years, beginning with its introduction at the inaugural CMA Awards in 1967.