CMA Flashback: Entertainer of the Year
For a look back at the other major categories, visit our CMA Awards page.
1984- Alabama
- Lee Greenwood
- Barbara Mandrell
- Ronnie Milsap
- Oak Ridge Boys
A mere three years after Barbara Mandrell made history by being the first artist to win two Entertainer awards, Alabama went her one better and won three. They remain the only act to win this award three years in a row.
1983- Alabama
- Merle Haggard
- Barbara Mandrell
- Willie Nelson
- Ricky Skaggs
How big were Alabama back in the early eighties? They were selling Rascal Flatts numbers – four million an album – back when country artists were lucky to go gold. In th pre-Garth/Shania/Dixie Chicks days, that was unthinkable.
1982- Alabama
- Barbara Mandrell
- Willie Nelson
- Oak Ridge Boys
- Ricky Skaggs
The massive success of Alabama at radio and retail helped them become the first group to ever win this award. Though they helped usher in the multi-platinum era of country music, these Hall of Famers are still the only male band to take this award home.
1981- Alabama
- George Jones
- Barbara Mandrell
- Oak Ridge Boys
- Kenny Rogers
Who would’ve guessed that the first person to win this award twice would be a woman? On top of that, a woman with a cheesy variety show whose music was closer to pop and R&B? Give the girl credit, she made some history back in ‘81.
1980 - Charlie Daniels Band
- Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
- Barbara Mandrell
- Willie Nelson
- Kenny Rogers
After losing Female Vocalist to Emmylou Harris, Mandrell could be forgiven for thinking her night would end without a win. Instead, she became the third woman to win Entertainer of the Year, after Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Talk about excellent company.
1979- Crystal Gayle
- Barbara Mandrell
- Willie Nelson
- Kenny Rogers
- Statler Brothers
He never won Male Vocalist of the Year, but superstar Willie Nelson was given his due by the CMA in 1979 when they awarded him Entertainer. Nearly three decades later, he’s still entertaining on the road, blowing away audiences across the country.
1978- Crystal Gayle
- Ronnie Milsap
- Dolly Parton
- Kenny Rogers
- Mel Tillis
Her famous quote – “I’m not leaving country. I’m taking it with me!” – must have held some water with the Nashville establishment, as Parton won this award at the height of her pop crossover success with “Here You Come Again,” the title track of her first platinum album.
1977- Merle Haggard
- Waylon Jennings
- Ronnie Milsap
- Dolly Parton
- Kenny Rogers
He has three Male Vocalist and three Album awards to his credit, but Milsap’s only victory in the biggest race came in 1977.
1976- Waylon Jennings
- Ronnie Milsap
- Willie Nelson
- Dolly Parton
- Mel Tillis
This 2007 Hall of Fame inductee won this award just as he was changing labels. His daughter, Pam Tillis, would win Female Vocalist eighteen years later, making them the only parent-child combination to date to win major CMA awards.
1975- John Denver
- Waylon Jennings
- Loretta Lynn
- Ronnie Milsap
- Conway Twitty
John Denver’s victory in this race led to the most infamous moment in CMA history. Though he claimed it was due to medication later on, presenter Charlie Rich seemed to be making a furious statement against the pop crossover artists dominating country music when he opened the envelope, read it, and then lit a cigarette lighter and burned the envelope. The paper went up in flames as he derisively snarled the winner’s name, “My friend, Mister John Denver.” Poor John, accepting via satellite, was clueless to what was going on at the Opry house, and graciously accepted his award.
1974- Roy Clark
- Mac Davis
- Loretta Lynn
- Olivia Newton-John
- Charlie Rich
The massive success of “The Most Beautiful Girl” and “Behind Closed Doors” helped Charlie Rich win this award, only a year after winning Male Vocalist.
1973- Roy Clark
- Merle Haggard
- Tom T. Hall
- Loretta Lynn
- Charley Pride
He’s best known for Hee Haw, the country music variety show that he co-hosted, and it’s no coincidence that he won while the show was in its prime. Still, Clark is also one of country’s most admired legends, and his legacy goes far beyond his campy TV show.
1972- Merle Haggard
- Freddie Hart
- Loretta Lynn
- Charley Pride
- Jerry Reed
Her husband Mooney went hunting because he didn’t want to watch her lose. He missed watching history unfold before his eyes as Loretta Lynn became the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year.
1971- Merle Haggard
- Loretta Lynn
- Charley Pride
- Jerry Reed
- Conway Twitty
The last of four consecutive years where the Male Vocalist winner matched the Entertainer winner, Charley Pride went home with both awards in 1971.
1970- Glen Campbell
- Johnny Cash
- Roy Clark
- Merle Haggard
- Charley Pride
Merle Haggard swept the show in 1970, winning Male Vocalist, Single and Album of the Year, so it was no surprise when he triumphed in the final category.
1969- Glen Campbell
- Johnny Cash
- Roy Clark
- Merle Haggard
- Charley Pride
Cash was practically invisible to the CMA for the next 34 years, until his cover of “Hurt” scored him some nominations at the 2003 awards. But in 1969, he was the king, winning four big awards.
1968- Eddy Arnold
- Glen Campbell
- Johnny Cash
- Merle Haggard
- Charley Pride
Glen Campbell not only won a ton of CMA’s in 1968, he also was a big presence at the Grammys, a reflection his status as a pop-country star in his prime.
1967- Bill Anderson
- Eddy Arnold
- Merle Haggard
- Sonny James
- Buck Owens
One year after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Eddy Arnold was named the very first Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural CMA awards in 1967. Don’t assume it was a sympathy vote. Arnold had three #1 hits in the twelve months leading up to the ceremony, as he was in the middle of his impressive mid-sixties comeback defined by the 1965 mega-hit “Make the World Go Away.”
Facts & Feats
Multiple Wins:
- (4) – Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney
- (3) – Alabama, Alan Jackson
- (2) –Vince Gill, Barbara Mandrell, George Strait, Hank Williams, Jr.
Most Consecutive Wins:
- (3) – Alabama (1982-1984), Kenny Chesney (2006-2008)
- (2) – Garth Brooks (1991-1992, 1997-1998), Vince Gill (1993-1994), Barbara Mandrell (1980-1981), George Strait (1989-1990), Hank Williams, Jr. (1987-1988)
Most Nominations:
- (17) – George Strait
- (12) – Alan Jackson
- (11) – Brooks & Dunn
- (10) – Reba McEntire
- (9) – Garth Brooks
- (8) – Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard
- (6) – Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride
- (5) – Alabama, Brad Paisley, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Keith Urban
Most Nominations Without a Win:
- (5) – Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers
- (4) – Toby Keith, Randy Travis
- (3) – Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Oak Ridge Boys
Winners in First Year of Nomination:
Eddy Arnold (1967), Garth Brooks (1991), Glen Campbell (1968), John Denver (1975), Charlie Rich (1974), Mel Tillis (1976), Shania Twain (1999), Keith Urban (2004), Hank Williams, Jr. (1987)
Eddy Arnold (1967), Garth Brooks (1991), Glen Campbell (1968), John Denver (1975), Charlie Rich (1974), Mel Tillis (1976), Shania Twain (1999), Keith Urban (2004), Hank Williams, Jr. (1987)
CMA Entertainers of the Year Who Have Never Won the ACM Award:
Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Rich, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Keith Urban
Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Rich, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Keith Urban
ACM Entertainers of the Year Who Have Never Won the CMA Award:
Mac Davis, Mickey Gilley, Freddie Hart, Toby Keith, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood
Mac Davis, Mickey Gilley, Freddie Hart, Toby Keith, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood
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