The CMA Awards (Country Music Association Awards) is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television, recognizing outstanding achievement in country music since 1967. Organized by the Country Music Association (CMA), the awards are determined by 7,000-plus Professional voting members across 12 categories. The 59th Annual CMA Awards took place November 19, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, with Lainey Wilson winning Entertainer of the Year. The 60th Annual CMA Awards air November 18, 2026, on ABC, with live streaming on Disney+ for the first time.
Recent Winners (2023 to 2025)
The CMA Awards recognize achievement across 12 categories. Here are recent winners in the major categories:
| Year | Category | Winner | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Entertainer of the Year | Lainey Wilson | (career) |
| 2025 | Female Vocalist of the Year | Lainey Wilson | (career) |
| 2025 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Cody Johnson | (career) |
| 2025 | Album of the Year | Lainey Wilson | Whirlwind |
| 2025 | Song of the Year | Ella Langley, Riley Green, Aaron Raitiere | You Look Like You Love Me |
| 2025 | New Artist of the Year | Zach Top | (career) |
| 2025 | Vocal Duo of the Year | Brooks and Dunn | (career) |
| 2025 | Vocal Group of the Year | The Red Clay Strays | (career) |
| 2024 | Entertainer of the Year | Morgan Wallen | (career) |
| 2024 | Female Vocalist of the Year | Lainey Wilson | (career) |
| 2024 | Male Vocalist of the Year | Chris Stapleton | (career) |
| 2024 | Album of the Year | Cody Johnson | Leather |
| 2024 | Song of the Year | Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson | White Horse |
| 2024 | New Artist of the Year | Megan Moroney | (career) |
| 2023 | Entertainer of the Year | Lainey Wilson | (career) |
| 2023 | Female Vocalist of the Year | Lainey Wilson | (career) |
| 2023 | Album of the Year | Lainey Wilson | Bell Bottom Country |
| 2023 | Song of the Year | Tracy Chapman | Fast Car |
| 2023 | New Artist of the Year | Jelly Roll | (career) |
The 59th Annual CMA Awards (2025) aired on ABC from Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025, hosted by Lainey Wilson solo. She became only the third solo female host in the show's history, following Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. The 60th Annual CMA Awards are scheduled for November 18, 2026, on ABC with live streaming on Disney+ and next-day availability on Hulu.
Submission and Eligibility Details
The CMA Awards use a three-ballot voting system open exclusively to CMA Professional members. Prospective members must apply by June 1 to participate in that year's voting cycle.
Key eligibility and submission details:
- The eligibility period for the 60th Annual CMA Awards runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- Round one (nomination ballot): Emailed to eligible CMA members in early July. Members may submit write-in nominations. Closes mid-July
- Round two: Members vote for up to five candidates per category. Closes late July
- Round three (final ballot): Final nominees are emailed in early October. Members vote through late October
- Only CMA Professional voting members participate. Professional membership is limited to industry professionals who primarily work within country music
- All balloting is tabulated by Deloitte, an independent professional services organization
- There is no application fee for artists. CMA membership fees apply to voting members
Key Benefits for Artists
- Network television exposure: The CMA Awards air live on ABC, consistently drawing millions of viewers. The 60th Annual CMA Awards will also stream live on Disney+ for the first time, expanding the audience beyond traditional broadcast.
- Entertainer of the Year prestige: Winning the top category is widely considered the highest honor in country music. Lainey Wilson's 2025 Entertainer of the Year win followed her 2024 win, making her a back-to-back winner and cementing her arena-headlining status.
- Multi-category recognition: With 12 categories spanning performance, songwriting, production, and music video direction, the CMA Awards recognize both artists and behind-the-scenes professionals. Paul Franklin won Musician of the Year (Steel Guitar) in 2025.
- Historical significance: The CMA Awards is the longest-running annual music awards program on network television, first held in 1967. The 60th anniversary in 2026 represents a milestone year with expanded coverage and retrospective content.
- Commercial impact: CMA wins and nominations consistently drive streaming spikes, album sales, and tour ticket sales. Ella Langley and Riley Green's three wins in 2025 for "You Look Like You Love Me" propelled the song to multi-platinum status.
- Brooks & Dunn record: With their 2025 Vocal Duo win, Brooks & Dunn now hold the record for most CMA Award wins of all time with 20 total, demonstrating the career-spanning impact of CMA recognition.
Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Closed voting system: Only CMA Professional members vote, and Professional membership is restricted to those who primarily work within country music. Independent artists outside the Nashville industry ecosystem may struggle to gain voting member support.
- Nashville-centric structure: The ceremony has been held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville every year except 2020 (pandemic relocation). This geographic concentration reinforces the Nashville industry's gatekeeping role in country music.
- Genre exclusivity: The CMA Awards exclusively recognize country music. Artists working in country-adjacent genres (Americana, folk, alt-country) may not qualify depending on how the CMA defines "country music" in any given year.
- Major label advantage: The voting membership skews toward industry professionals with major label affiliations. Independent artists have historically struggled to secure nominations in marquee categories, though Zach Top's 2025 New Artist win shows exceptions exist.
- Long eligibility window: The July-to-June eligibility period means releases from early in the window may be forgotten by the time final voting occurs in October. Artists should plan release timing and promotional campaigns accordingly.
Notable CMA Performances
At the 2025 CMA Awards, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton performed their duet "A Song to Sing" live from Bridgestone Arena. The collaboration between two of country music's most awarded artists was one of the night's most discussed performances.
Chris Stapleton performed "White Horse" at the 2023 CMA Awards, the same song that won Song of the Year in 2024. The performance has accumulated over 565,000 views on the CMA YouTube channel.
Iconic CMA Moments
At the 2016 CMA Awards (the 50th anniversary show), Alan Jackson and George Strait performed a medley of "Remember When" and "Troubadour" together on stage. The 50th anniversary ceremony was a milestone event that celebrated five decades of country music history, and the pairing of two of the genre's most respected artists became one of the most replayed CMA clips.
Related Resources
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Learn how CMA recognition fits into broader revenue strategies
- How to Release Music Independently - Build a release strategy for country music markets
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate the streaming revenue boost from CMA exposure
- Music Industry Glossary - Understand industry terms related to awards and chart performance
- Official website: cmaawards.com
