Country Music Association

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Country Music Association

Initially, CMA's Board of Directors included nine directors and five officers. Wesley Rose , president of Acuff-Rose Publishing, Inc. , served as CMA's first chairman of the board. Broadcasting entrepreneur and executive Connie B. Gay was the founding president.

Originally there were nine individual membership categories. The current 15 categories represent all facets of the music industry. Organizational memberships are also available. CMA membership is composed of those persons or organizations that are involved in Country Music, directly and substantially.

The first CMA Awards ceremony was held in 1967 in Nashville. Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry hosted the event, which was not televised. The winner of the first "Entertainer of the Year" award was singer Eddy Arnold . "Male Vocalist of the Year" went to Jack Green and "Female Vocalist of the Year" to Loretta Lynn .

In 1968 , Roy Rogers and Dale Evans hosted the awards, which was televised from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The first live telecast of the show was in 1969 .

Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Horizon Award, Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, Music Event, Music Video, and Musician.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

: 2005 Keith Urban
: 2004 Kenny Chesney
: 2003 Alan Jackson
: 2002 Alan Jackson
: 2001 Tim McGraw
: 2000 Dixie Chicks
: 1999 Shania Twain
: 1998 Garth Brooks
: 1997 Garth Brooks
: 1996 Brooks & Dunn
: 1995 Alan Jackson
: 1994 Vince Gill
: 1993 Vince Gill
: 1992 Garth Brooks
: 1991 Garth Brooks
: 1990 George Strait
: 1989 George Strait
: 1988 Hank Williams, Jr.
: 1987 Hank Williams, Jr.
: 1986 Reba McEntire
: 1985 Ricky Skaggs
: 1984 Alabama
: 1983 Alabama
: 1982 Alabama
: 1981 Barbara Mandrell
: 1980 Barbara Mandrell
: 1979 Willie Nelson
: 1978 Dolly Parton
: 1977 Ronnie Milsap
: 1976 Mel Tillis
: 1975 John Denver
: 1974 Charlie Rich
: 1973 Roy Clark
: 1972 Loretta Lynn
: 1971 Charley Pride
: 1970 Merle Haggard
: 1969 Johnny Cash
: 1968 Glen Campbell
: 1967 Eddy Arnold

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

: 2005 Keith Urban
: 2004 Keith Urban
: 2003 Alan Jackson
: 2002 Alan Jackson
: 2001 Toby Keith
: 2000 Tim McGraw
: 1999 Tim McGraw
: 1998 George Strait
: 1997 George Strait
: 1996 George Strait
: 1995 Vince Gill
: 1994 Vince Gill
: 1993 Vince Gill
: 1992 Vince Gill
: 1991 Vince Gill
: 1990 Clint Black
: 1989 Ricky Van Shelton
: 1988 Randy Travis
: 1987 Randy Travis
: 1986 George Strait
: 1985 George Strait
: 1984 Lee Greenwood
: 1983 Lee Greenwood
: 1982 Ricky Skaggs
: 1981 George Jones
: 1980 George Jones
: 1979 Kenny Rogers
: 1978 Don Williams
: 1977 Ronnie Milsap
: 1976 Ronnie Milsap
: 1975 Waylon Jennings
: 1974 Ronnie Milsap
: 1973 Charlie Rich
: 1972 Charley Pride
: 1971 Charley Pride
: 1970 Merle Haggard
: 1969 Johnny Cash
: 1968 Glen Campbell
: 1967 Jack Greene

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

: 2005 Gretchen Wilson
: 2004 Martina McBride
: 2003 Martina McBride
: 2002 Martina McBride
: 2001 Lee Ann Womack
: 2000 Faith Hill
: 1999 Martina McBride
: 1998 Trisha Yearwood
: 1997 Trisha Yearwood
: 1996 Patty Loveless
: 1995 Alison Krauss
: 1994 Pam Tillis
: 1993 Mary Chapin Carpenter
: 1992 Mary Chapin Carpenter
: 1991 Tanya Tucker
: 1990 Kathy Mattea
: 1989 Kathy Mattea
: 1988 K.T. Oslin
: 1987 Reba McEntire
: 1986 Reba McEntire
: 1985 Reba McEntire
: 1984 Reba McEntire
: 1983 Janie Fricke
: 1982 Janie Fricke
: 1981 Barbara Mandrell
: 1980 Emmylou Harris
: 1979 Barbara Mandrell
: 1978 Crystal Gayle
: 1977 Crystal Gayle
: 1976 Dolly Parton
: 1975 Dolly Parton
: 1974 Olivia Newton-John
: 1973 Loretta Lynn
: 1972 Loretta Lynn
: 1971 Lynn Anderson
: 1970 Tammy Wynette
: 1969 Tammy Wynette
: 1968 Tammy Wynette
: 1967 Loretta Lynn

SONG OF THE YEAR

: 1993 John Barlow Jarvis , Vince Gill
: 1992 Max D. Barnes , Vince Gill
: 1991 Tim Dubois , Vince Gill
: 1990 Don Henry , Jon Vezner
: 1989 Max D. Barnes , Vern Gosdin
: 1988 K.T. Oslin
: 1987 Paul Overstreet , Don Schlitz
: 1986 Paul Overstreet , Don Schlitz
: 1985 Lee Greenwood
: 1984 Larry Henley , Jeff Silbar
: 1983 Wayne Carson , Johnny Christopher , Mark James
: 1982 Wayne Carson , Johnny Christopher , Mark James
: 1981 Bobby Braddock , Curly Putman
: 1980 Bobby Braddock , Curly Putman
: 1979 Don Schlitz
: 1978 Richard Leigh
: 1977 Roger Bowling , Hal Bynum
: 1976 Larry Weiss
: 1975 John Denver
: 1974 Don Wayne
: 1973 Kenny O'Dell
: 1972 Freddie Hart
: 1971 Freddie Hart
: 1970 Kris Kristofferson
: 1969 Bob Ferguson
: 1968 Bobby Russell
: 1967 Dallas Frazier

SEE ALSO

Academy Of Country Music

Country Music Hall Of Fame

Grand Ole Opry

EXTERNAL LINKS

Country Music Association

CMA Awards

CMA Music Festival

Grand Ole Opry