CMA Awards Each year, the Country Music Association Awards ceremony -- known as the CMA Awards -- is one of the genre's most-anticipated events of the year. It began in 1967 as an un-televised ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., as a way of honoring the biggest achievements in country music for recording artists and broadcasters. Since then, the ceremony has grown to include a live TV aspect and a bevy of live performances in addition to the presentation of trophies. The CMA Awards have also doled out its coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy each year, with iconic acts like George Strait, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson all becoming recipients of the coveted honor in the show's early years. Garth Brooks holds the record for artist with the most Entertainer trophies, having won the award seven times. First Ceremony: Oct. 20, 1967 Did You Know…: If you look at a CMA Awards trophy up close, you’ll notice a tiny circle of musical notes inscribed on its surface. Turns out, that’s not just for decoration: It notates the chorus of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” one of country music’s most important songs . Required Reading: Reba McEntire Looks Back on THAT CMA Awards Red Dress , CMA Awards Voting: How Does it Work? , Which Artist Have the Most CMA Awards Nominations? , Snoop Dogg + More Surprising CMA Awards Winners + Nominees , Every CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year Winner Ever , These 10 CMA Awards Photos Will Send You Down Memory Lane , Top 10 CMA Awards Moments Source: Charley Pride Had Been Hospitalized With COVID-19 Since Late November
Country Music Memories: Alan Jackson Wins Five CMA Awards Country Music Memories: Alan Jackson Wins Five CMA Awards On Nov. 6, 2002, Jackson had plenty of reasons to celebrate -- five, in fact. Gayle Thompson Gayle Thompson
Country Music Memories: Loretta Lynn First Woman to Win CMA EotY Country Music Memories: Loretta Lynn First Woman to Win CMA EotY On Oct. 16, 1972, Lynn became the first woman to win a CMA for Entertainer of the Year. Gayle Thompson Gayle Thompson
Country Music Memories: Vince Gill Wins Three CMA Awards Country Music Memories: Vince Gill Wins Three CMA Awards Oct. 5, 1994 was a day of celebration for Gill. The Boot Staff The Boot Staff
Country Music Memories: Vince Gill Wins Five CMA Awards Country Music Memories: Vince Gill Wins Five CMA Awards On Sept. 29, 1993, Gill won five CMA Awards, including one for Entertainer of the Year. The Boot Staff The Boot Staff
2022 CMA Awards Performances: Full List 2022 CMA Awards Performances: Full List Traditional performances from Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson, fiery moments from Carrie Underwood and (literally) Elle King and a tribute to Alan Jackson were among the highlights. Billy Dukes Billy Dukes
2022 CMA Awards: The Winners List 2022 CMA Awards: The Winners List Find out which of your favorite country stars became winners at the 2022 CMA Awards. Lorie Liebig Lorie Liebig
LOOK: 16 Important CMA Awards Wins LOOK: 16 Important CMA Awards Wins Since 1967, the CMA Awards have lauded some of country music's biggest stars. Christina Vinson Christina Vinson
25 Memorable CMA Awards Acceptance Speeches 25 Memorable CMA Awards Acceptance Speeches CMA winners' acceptance speeches are often the highlights in a show that's full of them. Carrie Horton Carrie Horton
Every CMA Awards Male and Female Vocalist of the Year Winner Ever Every CMA Awards Male and Female Vocalist of the Year Winner Ever The CMA trophies for Male and Female Vocalist of the Year are honors to receive, not just in recognition of a single musical work, but in recognition of a year spent contributing to the country music genre as a whole. The Boot Staff The Boot Staff
Every CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year Winner Ever Every CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year Winner Ever Since the CMA Awards' inception in 1967, when Eddy Arnold nabbed the first-ever Entertainer of the Year trophy, there have been many deserving country singers awarded the title. Christina Vinson Christina Vinson