About/History

With a history spanning more than 40 years, the CMA Awards provides a spectacular venue for the music industry to celebrate excellence and bestow its highest honor.

1960s

1967

• The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was not a televised event.
• Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry hosted the inaugural gala.
• Eddy Arnold was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Red Foley, J.L. (Joe) Frank and Jim Reeves were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1968

• CMA Awards were taped by NBC-TV for re-broadcast on the Kraft Music Hall, beginning a 19-year sponsor relationship by Kraft.
• Roy Rogers and Dale Evans hosted from the Ryman Auditorium.
• Awards went to Bobby Russell for “Honey” and Jeannie C. Riley for “Harper Valley PTA.”
• Glen Campbell was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Bob Wills was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1969

• First live television broadcast of the CMA Awards.
• Johnny Cash set a record by winning five Awards in a single night, including: Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Single for “Boy Named Sue;” Album; and Vocal Group of the Year for his work with June Carter. The record remains unsurpassed to this day, but has been matched twice.
• Gene Autry and Bill Monroe were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1970s

1970

• Merle Haggard was nominated for nine Awards – a record at the time – and won four, including Entertainer of the Year.
• Vocal Duo of the Year Award was presented for the first time to Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton.
• Comedian of the Year Award was given for the final time. Roy Clark was the last recipient.
• Burl Ives inducted Bill Monroe and The Carter Family into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Walter Miller began his 34-year association with the CMA Awards as director and producer.
• The original Carter Family (A.P. sCarter, Maybelle Carter and Sara Carter) were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1971

• Broadcast on NBC-TV, the Awards merited its own hour and for the first time were not a part of the Kraft Music Hall.
• Charley Pride won both Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year Awards.
• Arthur Edward Satherly was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1972

• CBS-TV began broadcasting the CMA Awards, an association that continues to this day.
• Loretta Lynn became the first female to be named Entertainer of the Year. She also won Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Duo with Conway Twitty.
• For the First time, the Statler Brothers won Vocal Group of the Year, an Award they would win six consecutive times.
• Jimmie H. Davis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1973

• Charlie Rich won Awards for Male Vocalist, Single and Album of the Year for “Behind Closed Doors.” The song, written by Kenny O’Dell, won Song of the Year honors.
• Tanya Tucker made her first appearance on a CMA Awards special.
• Roy Clark was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Chet Atkins and Patsy Cline joined the list of luminaries in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1974

• Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn won the third of their four Vocal Duo of the Year
  Awards.
• Charlie Rich won Entertainer of the Year.
• Owen Bradley and Frank “Pee Wee” King were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1975

• Entertainer of the Year John Denver accepted his Award via satellite from Australia.
• Dolly Parton wins her first Female Vocalist and Waylon Jennings was named Male Vocalist of the Year.
• Minnie Pearl was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1976

• The Year of “The Outlaws” was marked by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings winning three Awards: Single for “Good Hearted Woman;” Vocal Duo; and Album of the Year for Wanted – The Outlaws, with Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter.
• The CMA Awards broadcast expanded from 60 to 90 minutes.
• Mel Tillis was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Paul Cohen and Kitty Wells were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  

1977

• Ronnie Milsap won three Awards: Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Ronnie Milsap Live.
• Kenny Rogers performed “Lucille,” his CMA Award-winning Single of the Year classic.
• Merle Travis was named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1978

• The CMA Awards were simulcast on radio for the first time.
• Dolly Parton was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Crystal Gayle and Don Williams took home respective Female and Male Vocalist of the Year honors.
• Grandpa Jones was named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1979

• Kenny Rogers hosted the broadcast and took home the Male Vocalist Award. His album The Gambler was named Album of the Year.
• Charlie Daniels won three Awards: Instrumental Group for the Charlie Daniels Band; Instrumentalist; and Single of the Year for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
• Willie Nelson was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Hank Snow and Hubert Long were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

1980s

1980

• Barbara Mandrell and Mac Davis began a three-year run as hosts.
• Mandrell was named Entertainer of the Year.
• Burt Reynolds joined Jerry Reed in announcing the Male Vocalist of the Year Award, which went to George Jones.
• Johnny Cash, Connie B. Gay and the original Sons of the Pioneers (Hugh Farr, Karl Farr, Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman, Roy Rogers, Tim Spencer) were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1981

• The Horizon Award was presented for the first time with Terri Gibbs taking the honor.
• Barbara Mandrell became the first performer to repeat as Entertainer of the Year and she won her second Female Vocalist Award.
• Alabama made their first appearance on the CMA Awards.
• Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” captured Single and Album of the Year.
• Vernon Dalhart and Grant Turner were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  

1982

• Alabama became the first group to win Entertainer of the Year.
• Single, Song and Album of the Year trophies were dominated by Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind.”
• Lefty Frizzell, Roy Horton and Marty Robbins were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1983

• “The 17th Annual CMA Awards” introduced a technological first – a synchronized, stereo/radio simulcast, distributed by satellite. The radio broadcast included the airing of a Pre- and Post-Awards Show special featuring interviews with winners and nominees.
• Friends of Kris Kristofferson honored him with a medley of songs written by the legend.
• Two memorable CMA Awards performances took place: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton singing “Islands in the Stream;” and Willie Nelson joined by Julio Iglesias performing “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.”
• Little Jimmy Dickens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• The Irving Waugh Award of Excellence was presented for the first time to Waugh, who served as executive producer of the CMA Awards for more than 25 years.

1984

• Alabama was named Entertainer of the Year an unprecedented third time.
• Lionel Richie was a surprise duet partner with Kenny Rogers on “Lady.”
• Ray Charles, who was nominated for Horizon Award, performed a medley from his Friendship album.
• Reba McEntire won her first Female Vocalist of the Year Award and Lee Greenwood won his second Male Vocalist trophy.
• Ralph Sylvester Peer and Floyd Tillman were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1985

• Anne Murray and Kris Kristofferson hosted “The 19th Annual CMA Awards” gala.
• The Music Video of the Year Award was presented for the first time to Hank Williams Jr. for “All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin’ Over Tonight.”
• Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price and Juice Newton paid tribute to songwriter Willie Nelson.
• New traditionalist Ricky Skaggs won Entertainer of the Year.
• George Strait won his first Male Vocalist of the Year Award.
• Flatt and Scruggs (Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs) were inducted into the County Music Hall of Fame.

1986

• Hosted by Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.
• Collaborations made for a memorable show including Amy Grant and Ricky Skaggs for “Walking in Jerusalem;” Alabama and Lionel Richie on “Deep River Woman;” Anita Pointer and Earl Thomas Conley reprised their “Too Many Times;” and The Trio of Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris performed “Dear Companion.”
• Songwriters Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet earned Song of the Year honors for Randy Travis’ “On the Other Hand.”
• Reba McEntire won Entertainer of the Year.
• Benjamin F. Ford and Wesley H. Rose were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1987

• Kenny Rogers hosted.
• Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet repeated as winners of Song of the Year for the Randy Travis classic, “Forever and Ever, Amen.”
• The CMA Awards were first broadcast in Canada.
• Hank Williams Jr.’s anthem “Young Country” spotlighted emerging talents Lyle Lovett, Nancy Griffith, K.T. Oslin and others.
• Williams won his first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.
• Reba McEntire won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year Award and Randy Travis won Male Vocalist of the Year.
• Rod Brasfield was named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1988

• “The 22nd Annual CMA Awards” marked the first two-hour broadcast on the CBS Television Network.
• Dolly Parton hosted the gala event for the first time.
• The Vocal Event of the Year Award was introduced for the first time to recognize the collaboration of two or more individual acts. It was presented to The Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris). k.d. Lang was joined by Kitty Wells, Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn to reprise their “Honky Tonk Angels.”
• K.T. Oslin ended Reba McEntire’s four-year reign as Female Vocalist of the Year. Her self-penned anthem, “80’s Ladies,” also won Song of the Year.
• Kraft ended its 20-year partnership with the CMA Awards.
• Mother/daughter duo The Judds won their first Vocal Duo of the Year Award.
• The Country Music Hall of Fame welcomed Loretta Lynn and Roy Rogers, who was inducted for his solo career. Rogers was already a member of the Hall of Fame as part of the original Sons of the Pioneers

1989

• Anne Murray and Kenny Rogers hosted the gala event.
• Dolly Parton electrified the audience with “He’s Alive,” backed by a 100-member choir.
• Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. II captured Album of the Year honors, and many of the participants, including Roy Acuff and John Hiatt, joined The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in the performance.
• George Strait won the first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.
• Hank Thompson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Sponsors of the 1989 CMA Awards included Chevrolet Trucks, Kellogg’s and McDonald’s.
• The CMA Awards broadcast won its time slot in the ratings race.
• Jack Stapp, Cliffie Stone and Hank Thompson were all added to the list of industry and artist legends in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1990s

1990

• Reba McEntire and Randy Travis hosted the CMA Awards.
• A then-unknown Mary Chapin Carpenter received a standing ovation for her tongue-in-cheek performance of “Opening Act.”
• Roy Rogers joined Randy Travis, George Jones and Tammy Wynette for “Heroes.”
• A tearful Tennessee Ernie Ford was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Garth Brooks won the Horizon Award, foreshadowing the start of one of the most successful solo artist careers in music history.
• The Judds, named Vocal Duo, claimed their seventh consecutive Award since winning Horizon Award in 1984.

1991

• President and Mrs. George Bush attend the broadcast, hosted by Reba McEntire.
• The broadcast won the night in ratings and was the second highest-rated special of the 1991-1992-television season with 33 million viewers.
• Garth Brooks won the first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.
• Boudleaux and Felice Bryant were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1992

• Reba McEntire and Vince Gill hosted the CMA Awards, which again placed first in the ratings.
• Don Henley was a surprise addition to Trisha Yearwood’s performance of “Walkaway Joe.”
• George Jones and BMI’s Frances Preston were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Brooks & Dunn unseated The Judds as Vocal Duo of the Year.
• More than 48 million viewers watched all or part of the gala event.
• For the first time, UK Channel 4 telecast an edited version of the CMA Awards in the UK.

1993

• “The 27th Annual CMA Awards” marked the show’s expansion to a three-hour broadcast. It was the highest rated music special of the 1993-94 television season.
• Vince Gill and Clint Black co-hosted, and Gill took home five Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.
• Reba McEntire received headlines around the world for her infamous red dress with its plunging neckline.
• Liza Minnelli led a standing ovation for McEntire’s performance with Linda Davis of “Does He Love You.”
• Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette performed “Silver Threads and Golden Needles.”
• Willie Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1994

• Two collaborative efforts – Rhythm, Country & Blues and Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles – were featured in nominations and performances.
• Little Richard honored Mary Chapin Carpenter’s request to “Shut Up and Kiss Me.” He also performed with Tanya Tucker.
• Lyle Lovett and then-wife, Julia Roberts, attended. Lovett performed with Asleep At The Wheel.
• Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Merle Haggard was saluted with a star-studded performance of “Workin’ Man Blues.”
• The CMA Awards was the highest-rated entertainment special on CBS, ranking seventh out of 107 entertainment specials overall.

1995

• First-time CMA Award nominee Alison Krauss won all four Awards for which she was nominated, including the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year.
• Vince Gill, who hosted the live broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House, took home a record fifth consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award. With 15 CMA Awards to his credit, the MCA singer retained his title as the leading CMA Award winner of all time, an accomplishment that continues through 2003.
• The late Roger Miller and former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Once again the CMA Awards won the night in the ratings.
• Alison Krauss, a first-time CMA Award nominee, won all four Awards she was nominated for including Female Vocalist and Horizon.
• Alan Jackson won his first Entertainer of the Year Award.

1996

• “The 30th Annual CMA Awards” was the second highest rated special out of 212 aired during the 1996-1997 television season, ranking only behind the Oscars.
• The broadcast earned CBS Television its highest-rated Wednesday night in two years, propelling CBS to a first-place rating for the night and for the week.
• Brooks & Dunn become the first duo in history to win Entertainer of the Year.
• George Strait won Male Vocalist of the Year, an honor he last received 10 years prior. He also took home Awards for Album and Single of the Year.
• Patsy Montana, Buck Owens and Ray Price were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Hosted by Vince Gill, the broadcast was opened by newcomer LeAnn Rimes with her breakout hit “Blue.”
• Wynonna was joined by pop star Michael Bolton for a duet.
• For the first time, a retail campaign was launched in the UK, and the CMA Awards were broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

1997

• “The 31st Annual CMA Awards” marked the sixth consecutive time that Vince Gill charmed the audience as host.
• Going head-to-head against premiere night on NBC and ABC, the CMA Awards placed first for the night in households, viewers and all adult demographics.
• Harlan Howard, Brenda Lee and Cindy Walker were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Shania Twain made her first public performance with her new single “Love Gets Me Everytime;” Clint Black and Martina McBride came together for their first televised performance of “Still Holdin’ On;” and Rock star Sting and Toby Keith teamed up for the Sting-penned “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying.”
• For the first time, a CMA Awards Collection CD was offered to readers of Radio Times, the UK’s largest TV/radio and entertainment listings magazine with a circulation of 1.4 million.
• Garth Brooks won his third Entertainer of the Year Award.

1998

• “The 32nd Annual CMA Awards” gave CBS its best Wednesday ratings in households and demographics since the Grammy Awards earlier that year.
• George Morgan, Elvis Presley, E.W. “Bud” Wendell and Tammy Wynette became the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• The Dixie Chicks not only made their debut performance on the broadcast, but also took home their first two CMA Awards – Horizon and Vocal Group of the Year – making history as the first all-female group to win the Vocal Group category.
• Reba McEntire gave her first television performance of “Forever Love.”
• Garth Brooks won his fourth Entertainer of the Year Award.
• The program was televised via tape around the world, including the UK by BBC 2 and Australia by the NINE NETWORK.

1999

• An estimated 37 million people watched “The 33rd Annual CMA Awards” on CBS Television during the 1999-2000 season premiere week. The broadcast won in households, viewers and all key demographics. The broadcast also struck a chord with younger viewers, delivering the highest adult 18 – 34 demos since October 1996.
• Johnny Bond, Dolly Parton and Conway Twitty were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• For the eighth consecutive year, Vince Gill hosted the broadcast which featured more than 40 Country luminaries from a broad spectrum of the industry including Alabama teaming up with pop-sensation ‘N Sync on “God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You;” and multi-Platinum artist Jewel singing with Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard on his classic “That’s The Way Love Goes.”
• Shania Twain took home the evening’s highest honor: Entertainer of the Year. It marked the first time in 13 years a female artist won that category. She also received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.

2000s

2000

• “ The 34th Annual CMA Awards,” was the network’s fourth best show of the week, helping CBS win its first season premier week since 1991. CBS estimated that 38 million viewers watched all or part of the broadcast.
• For the ninth consecutive year, Vince Gill hosted the show, which featured Lance Bass of ‘N Sync appearing on stage with Sara Evans to present Tim McGraw with his second Male Vocalist of the Year Award; Montgomery Gentry performing alongside Charlie Daniels; and Brad Paisley won the Horizon Award.
• Montgomery Gentry ended Brooks & Dunn’s eight-year winning streak when they captured Vocal Duo of the Year honors.
• Charley Pride and Faron Young were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• The Dixie Chicks took home the Entertainer of the Year Award, as well as Awards for Music Video, Vocal Group and Album of the Year for Fly.

2001

• The CMA Awards moved to the more competitive November sweeps time period and attracted 1.2 million more viewers than the previous year.
• The soundtrack to the hit movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? was the big winner of the night, taking home Album of the Year as well as Single of the Year for “I am A Man of Constant Sorrow.”
• Vince Gill returned to host for the 10th consecutive year. The show featured superstar Garth Brooks performing alongside Country legend George Jones and Willie Nelson singing with Sheryl Crow.
• To coincide with the opening of the state-of-the-art Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville, 10 special inductees and two regular inductees were named to the prestigious Hall: Bill Anderson, The Delmore Brothers (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore), The Everly Brothers (Don Everly, Phil Everly), Don Gibson, Homer and Jethro (Henry “Homer” Haynes, Kenneth “Jethro” Burns), Waylon Jennings, The Jordonaires (Hoyt Hawkins, Neal Matthews, Jr., Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker), Don Law, The Louvin Brothers (Charlie Louvin, Ira Louvin), Ken Nelson, Sam Phillips and Webb Pierce.
• Patriotism and tribute were prominent themes of the evening. Brooks & Dunn opened the show with “Only In America;” Diamond Rio paid tribute to the heroes of September 11 th with their song, “One More Day;” Alan Jackson performed “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” for the first time; and a chorus of Country Music’s brightest stars closed the show with “America the Beautiful.”
• Tim McGraw was named Entertainer of the Year; Toby Keith won Male Vocalist of the Year; Lee Ann Womack won Female Vocalist; and the Horizon Award went to Keith Urban. All were first-time winners in their respective categories.

2002

• “The 36th Annual CMA Awards” continued its ratings win in its November sweeps time slot. An estimated 38 million viewers tuned in for all or part of the broadcast, which featured a record 26 musical performances. Vince Gill hosted for an unprecedented 11 th year.
• Shania Twain opened the show, riding onto the Grand Ole Opry House stage on a motorcycle to launch her single “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” The performance marked Twain’s first television performance in three years.
• Backed by the Christ Church Choir of Nashville, Dolly Parton turned in a show-stopping performance of “Hello God.” Faith Hill received a standing ovation for “When The Lights Go Down.” Toby Keith brought the house down with the rambunctious “Who’s Your Daddy.” Travis Tritt paid tribute to the late Waylon Jennings with “You Can’t Count Me Out Yet.”
• Alan Jackson made history when he was nominated for 10 Awards, breaking Merle Haggard’s 1970 record of nine. Jackson also became one of three artists to win five Awards in a single night when he won Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album of the Year for Drive; and Single and Song of the Year for “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).”
• Porter Wagoner and “Jumpin’” Bill Carlisle were inducted into the County Music Hall of Fame.
• Martina McBride won her second Female Vocalist trophy, the Dixie Chicks reclaimed the Vocal Group Award and Rascal Flatts won the Horizon Award.

2003

• The November sweep broadcast of “The 37th Annual CMA Awards” became the highest rated CMA Awards broadcast since 1996, delivering more than 40 million viewers, winning the night and becoming the third most watched program of the week, the show’s highest ranking since 1992.
• Vocal collaborations highlighted the evening. Female Vocalist nominee Dolly Parton enlisted multi-Platinum GRAMMY winner Norah Jones for “The Grass Is Blue,” a song Jones performed on Just Because I’m A Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton tribute album. Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett teamed for “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” before walking away with the Vocal Event of the Year trophy, Buffett’s first music award in his legendary career. Twelve-time CMA host Vince Gill performed “Young Man’s Town,” with background vocals from his daughter Jenny Gill.
• A heartwarming tribute to the late Johnny Cash featured performances by Sheryl Crow and Travis Tritt, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Hank Williams Jr. on classic Cash tunes like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” “Jackson” and “Ring of Fire.”
• Martina McBride picked up her third Female Vocalist of the Year trophy.
• Alan Jackson repeated wins in the Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year categories; Rascal Flatts earned their first Vocal Group Award; Joe Nichols won the Horizon Award; and Johnny Cash was honored posthumously with three Awards – Single and Music Video for “Hurt;” and Album for American IV: The Man Comes Around.
• Floyd Cramer and Carl Smith are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  

2004

• The 38th Annual CMA Awards gave CBS its most watched and highest rated Tuesday in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 since November 2001, according to national Nielsen ratings. THE 38th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, posted an 11.5/18 with 18.46m viewers, 7.3/17 in adults 25-54, 5.9/15 in adults 18-49 and 4.3/12 in adults 18-34. CBS was first in households, viewers and key demos from 8:00-11:00PM. CBS won every half-hour in households, viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. More than 37 million viewers watched all or part of the 38th Annual CMA Awards.
• Kenny Chesney picked up his first two CMA Awards, receiving Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for When the Sun Goes Down.
• Kicking off the three-hour broadcast, Tim McGraw performed "How Bad Do You Want It?" He then won the CMA Award Single of the Year for his No. 1 hit “Live Like You Were Dying.” The single also nabbed the Song of the Year Award for songwriters Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman.
• Hosts Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn picked up their 12th Vocal Duo of the Year Award.
• Shania Twain performed her hit, “Party for Two” with duet partner Billy Currington. Other collaborations during the broadcast included Alan Jackson with Patty Loveless performing “Monday Morning Church;” Toby Keith and his daughter Krystal on “Mockingbird”; and Jimmy Buffett with “parrotheads” Clint Black, Chesney, Jackson, Keith and George Strait.
• Martina McBride received her fourth Female Vocalist of the Year Award. This feat ties her with Reba for the most wins in this category.
• Keith Urban picked up his first Male Vocalist of the Year Award, while Rascal Flatts earned their second consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Award. Gretchen Wilson received the Horizon Award, her first CMA Award.
• “Whiskey Lullaby” picked up two CMA Awards for Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, who performed the hit during the broadcast. The song won the Musical Event and Music Video of the Year Awards.

2005

• “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” took a trip outside of Nashville for the first time in history.  The gala event, hosted for the second time by duo Brooks & Dunn, was broadcast live on CBS Television from Madison Square Garden in New York City.  A week of events, dubbed “Country Takes NYC,” led up to the Nov. 15 broadcast with special theme days that featured artist and songwriter concerts; a “Broadway Meets Country” event; art gallery openings; sports events; and more.
• “The 39th Annual CMA Awards” took a bite out of the Big Apple and the competition, giving the CBS Television network a nightly win in viewers and key demographics.  The CMA Awards was first in households (11.1/17), viewers (17.73m), adults 18-49 (5.4/13) and adults 25-54 (6.7/15).  “The 39th Annual CMA Awards” was Tuesday's No. 1 program in households, viewers and adults 25-54.  CBS Research estimates more than 36 million viewers watched all or part of the ceremony.  CBS posted season high Tuesday deliveries in viewers and key demographics with the Network's best Tuesday ratings in adults 18-49 since May 10, 2005 and its best Tuesday performance in viewers and adults 25-54 since Nov. 9, 2004 (also the CMA Awards).
• Lee Ann Womack and Keith Urban were the big winners at the 2005 CMA Awards.  Womack won Single, Album and Musical Event of the Year honors and Urban received his first Entertainer of the Year trophy and his second consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award.  Gretchen Wilson won her first Female Vocalist of the Year Award and Dierks Bentley took home the Horizon Award.  During the broadcast, Alabama, the late DeFord Bailey and Glen Campbell were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Performance highlights included duets by Dolly Parton and Elton John; Willie Nelson and  Paul Simon (accompanied by Norah Jones); and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and Bon Jovi. Superstar Garth Brooks came out of retirement to perform “Good Ride Cowboy,” his tribute to the late Chris LeDoux, live in Times Square.  LeDoux posthumously received the CMA Chairman’s Award of Merit.  CMA Board Chairman Kix Brooks presented the Award to two of LeDoux’s children backstage.

2006

• Music City threw its arms wide open to welcome back “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” when “The 40th Annual CMA Awards” broadcast live from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Downtown Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Brooks & Dunn hosted the event for the third consecutive year.
• • The evening’s hosts, Brooks & Dunn took home the crown for most wins, including Music Video and Single of the Year for “Believe,” and their unprecedented fourteenth Vocal Duo of the Year Award. These three Awards bring Brooks & Dunn’s overall CMA Awards tally to 19, giving them the record for most CMA Award wins of any artist.
• • “The 40th Annual CMA Awards” was first in households (9.9/15), total viewers (16.0 million) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13). ABC’s telecast of the Awards show generated the net’s largest audience and highest adults 8-49 performance since May 2006. An estimated 32.3 million viewers watched at least some portion of “The 40th Annual CMA Awards.”

2007

•  The 41st Annual CMA Awards were settled back in Nashville for their second year at the newly re-named Sommet Center. The live November 7 ABC television network broadcast featured James Denton, Sara Evans, LeAnn Rimes, Kate Walsh and Kimberly William-Paisley sharing segment hosting duties.
• The 2007 CMA Awards ranked behind only the Academy Awards and Grammy Awards during the 2007-2008 season for award shows among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. With “The 41st Annual CMA Awards,” ABC won Wednesday evening in both Total Viewers (16.0 million) and Adults 18-49 (5.4/1 4).
• Kenny Chesney took home his third Entertainer of the Year Award as well as his first Award in the Musical Event of the Year category, sharing the honor with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw for “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” Carrie Underwood won her second consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year Award and added a Single of the Year Award for smash hit “Before He Cheats,” produced by Mark Bright, while Rascal Flatts took home their fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Award.
• Highlights of the evening included several emotional moments. Breaking a six consecutive year win streak by Brooks & Dunn, a stunned Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland accepted their first Vocal Duo of the Year Award by paying tribute to those that came before. "If we're standing up here and we have this lofty view, it's because we're standing on the shoulders of giants, those people who have come before us,” said Nettles. Nominated seven times for Male Vocalist of the Year, Brad Paisley finally won his first Award in the category. “I can’t tell you what this means to me,” Paisley said. “I have always wanted to win this award once. This will do.” Seventeen-year-old Taylor Swift performed “Our Song” before winning her first CMA Award, the coveted Horizon Award. “I can’t even believe that this is real,” the high school senior said. “I want to thank God and my family for moving to Nashville so I could do this. The fans – you have changed my life. This is definitely the highlight of my senior year!”

2008

• “The 42nd Annual CMA Awards” will air live on Wednesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.