Every CMA Music Video of the Year winner and nominee since 1985, plus the category's unusual history, records, rules, and latest 2026 updates.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: August 29, 2026
2026 CMA Music Video of the Year Quick Details
Nominees: To be announced
Winner: To be announced
CMA Awards Date: November 18, 2026
Eligibility Period: July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026
Awarded to: The artist and director
2026 CMA Music Video of the Year Nominees
The 2026 CMA Music Video of the Year nominees have not yet been announced. This section will be updated when CMA reveals the five finalists.
What Is the CMA Music Video of the Year Award?
The CMA Music Video of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding country music video released during the CMA Awards eligibility period. The award is presented to both the artist and the video’s director, making it one of the CMA Awards categories that honors the visual production behind a song as well as the performer.
The category was introduced in 1985 and has recognized videos from artists including Hank Williams Jr., Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, and many others. While the award has been part of the CMA Awards for most of the past four decades, it briefly disappeared in 1988 following controversy over how the category was being judged before returning the following year.
Why Did CMA Discontinue Music Video of the Year in 1988?
The CMA Award for Music Video of the Year was first presented in 1985, two years after cable channels CMT and TNN premiered and helped increase the demand for and popularity of country music videos.
However, in January 1988, CMA board members voted to discontinue the Music Video of the Year category. The concern was that the award was becoming a “popularity contest,” while its original purpose was to recognize the technical and creative excellence of a music video. The decision to eliminate the category was made official on May 3, 1988.
According to a May 1988 report in Billboard, Ed Benson, who was then the CMA’s associate executive director, said the award could potentially be restored if there was sufficient objection from CMA members.
Why Did the CMA Music Video Award Return in 1989?
After objections from CMA members, the Music Video of the Year award was reinstated in 1989, but with an important change. When the category returned, the award was presented only to the video director rather than the artist. The change was intended to place greater emphasis on the creative and technical work behind the video and reduce concerns that voters would simply choose the most popular artist.
The director-only rule remained in place for several years. CMA's own publications stated that the award was presented to the director in 1990, and contemporary coverage confirms that was still the rule in 1991.
By the 1992 CMA Awards, however, both the artist and director were recognized as recipients. Alan Jackson and director Jim Shea received Music Video of the Year honors for “Midnight in Montgomery,” with CMA's official history identifying it as Jackson's first CMA Award.
The award has been presented annually since the 1989 award show, although in recent years, the winner is revealed the morning of the award ceremony on social media or on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Artists and directors have the opportunity to accept the award during a non-televised pre-ceremony prior to the CMA broadcast. In 2024, the award was presented during a CMA Awards commercial break and a short video clip was shown later in the telecast.
Check out every nominee and winner for Music Video of the Year at the CMA Awards as well as most nominations and win tallies below.
Most CMA Music Video of the Year Wins
Brad Paisley has the most wins in the Music Video category with a total of four.
Brad Paisley - 4 Wins
Hank Williams Jr. - 3 Wins
Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, The Chicks, and Lainey Wilson- 2 Wins
Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Junior Brown, Johnny Cash, Sara Evans, Andy Griffith, Riley Green, HARDY, Faith Hill, Cody Johnson, George Jones, Alison Krauss, Ella Langley, Maddie & Tae, Kathy Mattea, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, and Hank Williams Sr. - 1 Win
Most CMA Music Video of the Year Nominations
Alan Jackson is the most-nominated act for Music Video of the Year with a total of twelve.
Alan Jackson - 12 Nominations
Brad Paisley - 11 Nominations
Miranda Lambert - 10 Nominations
Carrie Underwood - 7 Nominations
Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith - 6 Nominations
Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift - 5 Nominations
Dierks Bentley, Faith Hill, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson - 4 Nominations
Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., and Lee Ann Womack - 3 Nominations
Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, Deana Carter, Dolly Parton, Gary Morris, George Jones, Gretchen Wilson, Johnny Cash, Kathy Mattea, Megan Moroney, Lady A, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Sugarland, The Chicks, The Judds, Thomas Rhett, Travis Tritt, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson - 2 Nominations
Alabama, Alison Krauss, Andy Griffith, Big & Rich, Billy Currington, Billy Ray Cyrus, Cam, Chris Janson, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Dwight Yoakam, Ella Langley, Emerson Drive, Grace Potter, HARDY, Hank Williams Sr., Jake Owen, Jamie O'Neal, Jeff Foxworthy, Jelly Roll, Jimmy Buffett, Jo Dee Messina, John Anderson, Jordan Davis, Junior Brown, Justin Bieber, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Kris Kristofferson, KT Oslin, Lee Brice, Linda Davis, Little Texas, Lorrie Morgan, Maddie & Tae, Mark Wills, Marty Stuart, Michael Martin Murphy, Midland, Morgan Wallen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Old Dominion, Patty Loveless, Pistol Annies, Post Malone, Randy Houser, Ricky Skaggs, Riley Green, Rodney Crowell, Ryan Hurd, Sara Evans, The Band Perry, The Kentucky Headhunters, The O'Kanes, and Trisha Yearwood - 1 Nomination
By The Numbers:
Wins:
26 - Wins by a Male Artist
14 - Wins by a Female Artist
3 - Wins by a Group
3 - Wins by a Duo
Nominations:
116 - Nominations by a Male Artist
73 - Nominations by a Female Artist
19 - Nominations by a Group
16 - Nominations by a Duo
Hank Williams Jr. was the first male artist to win the award (1985), Martina McBride was the first female artist to win (1994), The Tractors were the first group to win (1995), and Brooks & Dunn were the first duo to win in 2006.
1985 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Hank Williams Jr. - “All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin' Over Tonight”
Nominees:
Waylon Jennings - “America”
Ricky Skaggs - “Country Boy”
Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson - “Highwayman”
Gary Morris - “Second Hand Heart”
1986 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: George Jones - “Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes”
Nominees:
Gary Morris - “100% Chance of Rain”
The Judds - “Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)”
Dwight Yoakam - “Honky Tonk Man”
Reba McEntire - “Whoever's In New England”
1987 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Hank Williams Jr. - “My Name Is Bocephus”
Nominees:
Michael Martin Murphey - “A Long Line Of Love”
Randy Travis - “Forever and Ever, Amen”
The O’Kanes - “Oh Darlin”
Reba McEntire - “What Am I Gonna Do About You”
1989 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Hank Williams Sr. and Hank Williams Jr. - “There's A Tear In My Beer”
Nominees:
Rodney Crowell - “After All This Time”
Lorrie Morgan - “Dear Me”
Dolly Parton - “Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That”
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - “Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. II”
1990 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: “The Dance” – Garth Brooks
Nominees:
“Dumas Walker” – Kentucky Headhunters
“He Walked On Water” – Randy Travis
“Hillbilly Rock” – Marty Stuart
“Where You’ve Been” – Kathy Mattea
1991 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: “The Thunder Rolls” – Garth Brooks
Nominees:
“Come Next Monday” – KT Oslin
“Don’t Rock the Jukebox” – Alan Jackson
“Fancy” – Reba McEntire
“Love Can Build a Bridge” – The Judds
1992 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: “Midnight in Montgomery” – Alan Jackson
Nominees:
“Achy Breaky Heart” – Billy Ray Cyrus
“Anymore” – Travis Tritt
“Is There Life Out There” – Reba McEntire
“Look At Us” – Vince Gill
1993 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: “Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson
Nominees:
“Cleopatra, Queen of Denial” – Pam Tillis
“Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away” – Vince Gill
“I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair” – George Jones
“Seminole Wind” – John Anderson
1994 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Martina McBride - “Independence Day”
Nominees:
Reba McEntire and Linda Davis - “Does He Love You”
Patty Loveless - “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye”
Garth Brooks - “Standing Outside The Fire”
Little Texas - “God Blessed Texas”
1995 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: The Tractors - “Baby Likes To Rock It”
Nominees:
Shania Twain - “Any Man of Mine”
Alan Jackson - “I Don't Even Know Your Name”
Garth Brooks - “The Red Strokes”
Vince Gill - “When Love Finds You”
1996 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Junior Brown - “My Wife Thinks You're Dead”
Nominees:
George Strait - “Check Yes Or No”
Vince Gill - “Go Rest High On That Mountain”
Brooks & Dunn - “My Maria”
Jeff Foxworthy and Alan Jackson - “Redneck Games”
1997 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Kathy Mattea - “455 Rocket”
Nominees:
Pam Tillis - “All The Good Ones Are Gone”
Trace Adkins - “Every Light In The House”
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - “It's Your Love”
Deana Carter - “Strawberry Wine”
1998 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Faith Hill - “This Kiss”
Nominees:
Martina McBride - “A Broken Wing”
Jo Dee Messina - “Bye Bye”
George Strait - “Carrying Your Love With Me”
Deana Carter - “Did I Shave My Legs For This?”
1999 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: The Chicks - “Wide Open Spaces”
Nominees:
Mark Wills - “Don't Laugh At Me”
Kenny Chesney - “How Forever Feels”
Alan Jackson - “I'll Go On Loving You”
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw - “Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me”
2000 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: The Chicks - “Goodbye Earl”
Nominees:
Faith Hill - “Breathe”
Brad Paisley - “He Didn’t Have To Be”
Toby Keith - “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
Lee Ann Womack - “I Hope You Dance”
2001 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Sara Evans - “Born To Fly”
Nominees:
Lee Ann Womack - “Ashes By Now”
Trisha Yearwood - “I Would've Loved You Anyway”
Jamie O’Neal - “There Is No Arizona”
Alan Jackson - “www.memory”
2002 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brad Paisley - “I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)”
Nominees:
Alan Jackson - “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
Alan Jackson - “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”
Toby Keith - “I Wanna Talk About Me”
Travis Tritt - “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde”
2003 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Johnny Cash - “Hurt”
Nominees:
Toby Keith and Willie Nelson - “Beer For My Horses”
Brad Paisley - “Celebrity”
Martina McBride - “Concrete Angel”
Brooks & Dunn - “Red Dirt Road”
2004 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss - “Whiskey Lullaby”
Nominees:
Toby Keith - “I Love This Bar”
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett - “It's Five O'Clock Somewhere”
Alan Jackson - “Remember When”
Gretchen Wilson - “Redneck Woman”
2005 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Toby Keith - “As Good As I Once Was”
Nominees:
Brad Paisley - “Alcohol”
Keith Urban - “Days Go By”
Lee Ann Womack - “I May Hate Myself In The Morning”
Gretchen Wilson - “When I Think About Cheatin”
2006 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brooks & Dunn - “Believe”
Nominees:
Big & Rich - “8th of November”
Carrie Underwood - “Jesus Take The Wheel”
Miranda Lambert - “Kerosene”
Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton - “When I Get Where I'm Goin”
2007 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brad Paisley - “Online”
Nominees:
Martina McBride - “Anyway”
Carrie Underwood - “Before He Cheats”
Emerson Drive - “Moments”
Kenny Chesney - “You Save Me”
2008 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith - “Waitin’ on a Woman”
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney - “Don't Blink”
Alan Jackson - “Good Time”
Sugarland - “Stay”
Trace Adkins - “You're Gonna Miss This”
2009 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Taylor Swift - “Love Story”
Nominees:
Randy Houser - “Boots On”
Billy Currington - “People Are Crazy”
Keith Urban and Brad Paisley - “Start A Band”
George Strait - “Troubadour”
2010 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert - “The House That Built Me”
Nominees:
Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins - “Hillbilly Bone”
Lady A - “Need You Now”
Brad Paisley - “Water”
Miranda Lambert - “White Liar”
2011 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter - “You and Tequila”
Nominees:
Blake Shelton - “Honey Bee”
The Band Perry - “If I Die Young”
Taylor Swift - “Mean”
Brad Paisley and Alabama - “Old Alabama”
2012 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Toby Keith - “Red Solo Cup”
Nominees:
Kenny Chesney - “Come Over”
Miranda Lambert - “Over You”
Little Big Town - “Pontoon”
Eric Church - “Springsteen”
2013 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban - “Highway Don't Care”
Nominees:
Carrie Underwood - “Blown Away”
Blake Shelton and Pistol Annies - “Boys 'Round Here”
Lady A - “Downtown”
Miranda Lambert - “Mama's Broken Heart”
Little Big Town - “Tornado”
2014 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Dierks Bentley - “Drunk on a Plane”
Nominees:
Miranda Lambert - “Automatic”
Lady A - “Bartender”
Kacey Musgraves - “Follow Your Arrow”
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood - “Somethin’ Bad”
2015 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Maddie & Tae - “Girl In A Country Song”
Nominees:
Kacey Musgraves - “Biscuits”
Little Big Town - “Girl Crush”
Miranda Lambert - “Little Red Wagon”
Carrie Underwood - “Something in the Water”
2016 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Chris Stapleton - “Fire Away”
Nominees:
Cam - “Burning House”
Tim McGraw - “Humble and Kind”
Eric Church - “Record Year”
Dierks Bentley - “Somewhere On A Beach”
2017 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Brothers Osborne - “It Ain’t My Fault”
Nominees:
Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris - “Craving You”
Little Big Town - “Better Man”
Keith Urban - “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Miranda Lambert - “Vice”
2018 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Thomas Rhett - “Marry Me”
Nominees:
Sugarland and Taylor Swift - “Babe”
Carrie Underwood - “Cry Pretty”
Chris Janson - “Drunk Girl”
Dan + Shay - “Tequila”
2019 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Kacey Musgraves - “Rainbow”
Nominees:
Dierks Bentley and Brothers Osborne - “Burning Man”
Maren Morris - “GIRL”
Blake Shelton - “God’s Country”
Eric Church - “Some Of It”
2020 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Miranda Lambert - “Bluebird”
Nominees:
Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber - “10,000 Hours”
Jake Owen - “Homemade”
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice - “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Chris Stapleton - “Second One To Know”
2021 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney - “half of my hometown”
Nominees:
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd - “Chasing After You”
Chris Young and Kane Brown - “Famous Friends”
Dierks Bentley - “Gone”
Brothers Osborne - “Younger Me”
2022 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Cody Johnson - “'Til You Can't”
Nominees:
Taylor Swift and Chris Stapleton - “I Bet You Think About Me” (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)
Midland and Jon Pardi - “Longneck Way To Go”
Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson - “Never Say Never”
Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde - “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”
2023 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: HARDY and Lainey Wilson - “wait in the truck”
Nominees:
Ashley McBryde - “Light on in the Kitchen”
Old Dominion - “Memory Lane”
Jelly Roll - “Need A Favor”
Jordan Davis - “Next Thing You Know”
2024 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Lainey Wilson - “Wildflowers and Wild Horses”
Nominees:
Cody Johnson - “Dirt Cheap”
Cody Johnson - “The Painter”
Post Malone and Morgan Wallen - “I Had Some Help”
Megan Moroney - “I’m Not Pretty”
2025 CMA Music Video of the Year
Winner: Ella Langley & Riley Green - “you look like you love me”
Nominees:
Megan Moroney - “Am I Okay?”
Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood - “I’m Gonna Love You”
Lainey Wilson - “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Chris Stapleton - “Think I’m In Love With You”
Check back for the 2026 CMA Music Video of the Year nominees once they are announced. All historical winner and nominee information in this article is sourced from the official CMA Awards database.