Country Music Association Awards
| Country Music Association Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current: 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards | |
 Most recent logo | |
| Awarded for | Achievements in country music |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Country Music Association |
| First awarded | 1967 |
| Website | www.cmaawards.com |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | NBC (1968–1971) CBS (1972–2005) ABC (2006–present) |
| |||||||||||||||||||
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry.[1][2] The televised annual presentation ceremony features performances and award presentations by popular country music artists, with occasional appearances from pop and rock artists.[1] The CMA Awards were first presented in 1967, and televised for the first time the following year.
History
The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in 1967; the Entertainer of the Year award that night went to Eddy Arnold. The second annual CMA awards were presented in October 1968; NBC taped the ceremony and televised it a few weeks later. Since then, the awards have been televised live, usually in October or November, by NBC from 1969 through 1971, by CBS from 1972 through 2005, and by ABC beginning in 2006. Starting in 1968 they were held at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry (initially at Ryman Auditorium, and from 1974 through 2004 at the new Grand Ole Opry House).
In 2005, the awards show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Since 2006, they have been held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.[3] In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 54th CMA Awards were held at Nashville's Music City Center.[4]
Since 2017, the ceremony was held on the second Wednesday of November. Prior to 2017, the awards were generally held on the first Wednesday of November. However, since then the awards have been rescheduled for later in the month to avoid conflict with a possible game seven of Major League Baseball's World Series, since the 2016 ceremony aired the same night as Fox’s eventual telecast of game seven of the 2016 Series, which beat the CMA Awards in the ratings.
In June 2021, the Country Music Association announced that they would extend its broadcast contract with ABC through 2026.[5]
Following the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Country Music Association announced that the 55th CMA Awards on November 10, 2021, would require ticketed audience members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to wear appropriate face coverings.[6]
Eligibility and voting
Albums and songs released between July 1 of the previous calendar year and June 30 of the award show's year are eligible for consideration.[7] More than 7,300 individuals from the Country Music Association trade group vote for the nominees and winners through three rounds of balloting.[7]
Awards
Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, New Artist (previously known as the Horizon Award until 2008), Vocal Group, Vocal Duo (introduced in 1970), Single, Album, Song, Musical Event (split off from the Vocal Duo award in 1988 as Vocal Event), Music Video (introduced in 1985), and Musician.[1] The distinction between the Duo and Event awards is that the former is presented to two artists who normally perform together, while the latter was specifically created to honor one-off collaborations. Nine awards are also given to radio broadcasters for Station of the Year and Personality of the Year (divided into four categories each, based on market size), as well as National Personality of the Year to the host of a nationally syndicated show.[1] Since 2012, the ceremony features a Lifetime Achievement Award.[8] Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson are the only individuals to win Entertainer of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year or Group/Duo of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year all in the same year.
Categories
- Entertainer of the Year
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Vocal Group of the Year
- Vocal Duo of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Musician of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Musical Event of the Year
- Video of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- International Achievement Award
Defunct categories
- Comedian of the Year (1967-1970)
- Instrumental Group of the Year (1967-1986)
Radio awards
- National Personality of the Year
- Major Market Personality of the Year
- Large Market Personality of the Year
- Medium Market Personality of the Year
- Small Market Personality of the Year
- Major Market Station of the Year
- Large Market Station of the Year
- Medium Market Station of the Year
- Small Market Station of the Year
Major awards
Country Music Association Award for International Achievement
The Country Music Association Award for International Achievement is presented to international artists and executives.
International Artist Achievement Award
Formerly presented as the International Touring Artist Award, this award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period. The Dixie Chicks were the first artists to receive the award twice. 2008 is the only year in which there were multiple winners.[9]
- 2021: Luke Combs
- 2020: Keith Urban
- 2019: Kacey Musgraves[10]
- 2018: Little Big Town[11]
- 2017: Carrie Underwood[12]
- 2016: Kacey Musgraves[13]
- 2015: Not presented
- 2014: Brad Paisley
- 2013: Taylor Swift[14]
- 2012: Lady Antebellum
- 2011: Brad Paisley[15]
- 2010: Not presented
- 2009: Taylor Swift[16]
- 2008: Dierks Bentley and Brooks & Dunn
- 2007: Dwight Yoakam
- 2006: Dixie Chicks
- 2005: Keith Urban
- 2004: Dolly Parton
- 2003: Dixie Chicks
- 2002: Bellamy Brothers
- 2001: Lonestar
- 2000 - Reba McEntire
- 1999: Shania Twain
- 1998: Trisha Yearwood
- 1997: The Mavericks
- 1996: BR5 49
Global Country Achievement Award
Named in honor of Jeff Walker, this award recognizes outstanding achievements by a country music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of country music as well as brought attention to the country music format in their territory. This award was first presented in 2003 and has been presented annually since, with the exception of 2015. The Global Country Achievement Award has been most frequently won by Australian artists.
- 2021: The Shires (UK)
- 2020: Ilse DeLange (The Netherlands)
- 2019: Travis Collins (Australia)[17] and Ward Thomas (UK)[18]
- 2018: Dean Brody (Canada)[19]
- 2017: The Shires (UK)[20]
- 2016: Gord Bamford (Canada)[21]
- 2015: Not presented
- 2014: Morgan Evans (Australia)[22]
- 2013: Gord Bamford (Canada)[23]
- 2012: Jasmine Rae (Australia)[24]
- 2011: The McClymonts (Australia)[25]
- 2010: Tommy Emmanuel (Australia)[26]
- 2009: Catherine Britt (Australia)
- 2008: Troy Cassar-Daley (Australia)
- 2007: Adam Harvey (Australia)
- 2006: Jason McCoy (Canada)
- 2005: Paul Brandt (Canada)
- 2004: Kasey Chambers and Slim Dusty (Australia)
- 2003: Lee Kernaghan (Australia)
International Broadcaster of the Year
This award recognizes outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of country music in their country. Up to three recipients may be named in any year. Each recipient must represent a different territory.
- 2021: Baylen Leonard (UK)
- 2020: Ben Earle (UK)
- 2019: Baylen Leonard (UK)
- 2018: Chris Stevens (UK)
- 2017: Bob Harris (UK)[27]
- 2016: Paul McGuire (Canada)
- 2015: Not presented
- 2014: Ricky Ross (UK)[28]
- 2013: Bob Harris (UK)
- 2012: David Burton (Australia), Takehisa Matsuda (Japan) and Lee Williams (UK)
- 2011: Ken McLeod (Scotland), Felicity Urquhart (Australia) and Brian D'Arcy (Northern Ireland)
- 2010: Sandy Harsch (Ireland), Larry Cann (Australia) and Alan Watkiss (UK)
- 2009: Grant Goldman (Australia), Casey Clarke (Canada) and Brian Clough (UK)
- 2008: Pio McCann (Ireland), John Bond (Australia) and Joe Fish (UK)
- 2007: Nick Erby (Australia), Jackie-Rae Greening (Canada) and Georges Lang (France)
- 2006: Tim Rogers (UK), Ian Holland (Australia) and Helen Macpherson (Scotland)
- 2005: The Odd Squad (Canada), Ray Hadley (Australia) and Bryan Burnett (Scotland)
- 2004: Trevor Campbell (UK), Bob Harris (UK) and Nikos Garavelas (Greece)
- 2003: Pat Geary (Scotland), Johnnie Walker (UK) and John Laws (Australia)
- 2002: Stuart Cameron and David Allan (UK)
- 2001: Gary Beattie (Australia) and Bill Black (UK)
- 2000: Thomas Jeier (Germany), Korneliusz Pacuda (Poland), John Nutting (Australia) and Dick Barrie (Scotland)
- 1999: Trevor Smith (Australia), Dieter Vulpus and Bernd Schroeder (Germany), Country FM (The Netherlands)
- 1998: Ruud Hermans and Jan de Jong (The Netherlands), Lloyd Cole (Wales) and Kirsten Helm Petersen (Denmark)
- 1997: Walter Fuchs (Germany), Nick Erby and John Laws (Australia)
CMA Awards hosts
The first ceremony in 1967, which was not televised, was co-hosted by Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry. Vince Gill hosted the awards from 1992 to 2003. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have co-hosted the ceremonies from 2008 to 2018. For the 2019 ceremony, Carrie Underwood hosted alongside Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton. McEntire returned to host the 2020 ceremony with Darius Rucker. Luke Bryan will be hosting 2021 show solo. Bryan returned to host the 2022 ceremony with Peyton Manning.
Award milestones
Most wins
| Artist | Wins[29] |
|---|---|
| Brooks & Dunn | 18 |
| Vince Gill | |
| George Strait | 17 |
| Alan Jackson | 16 |
| Garth Brooks | 14 |
| Brad Paisley | |
| Miranda Lambert | |
| Chris Stapleton |
Most nominated
| Artist | Nominations[30] |
|---|---|
| George Strait | 83 |
| Alan Jackson | 81 |
| Miranda Lambert | 61 |
| Brad Paisley | 58 |
| Vince Gill | 54 |
| Brooks & Dunn | 53 |
Won four main awards in single year
Only two artists have won the top four awards in a single year: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist/Female Vocalist/Group/Duo of the Year and Song of the Year: Vince Gill, in 1993 and Alan Jackson, in 2002.[31]
| Ceremony | Entertainer | Album | Vocalist/Group/Duo | Song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36th | Alan Jackson | Drive – Alan Jackson | Alan Jackson | "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" – Alan Jackson |
| 27th | Vince Gill | I Still Believe in You – Vince Gill | Vince Gill | "I Still Believe in You" – Vince Gill and John Barlow Jarvis |
Controversies
Charlie Rich "lights up" John Denver
When presenting the Entertainer of the Year award at the 1975 ceremony, Charlie Rich, who appeared to be intoxicated after drinking backstage and was allegedly taking pain medication for a broken foot, opened the envelope to reveal the winner. When he saw that John Denver had been chosen, Rich pulled out his lighter and burned the envelope, sarcastically declaring that the winner was "my friend, Mr. John Denver". Many saw Rich's actions as a protest towards pop artists crossing over into country music and it remains one of the most talked about moments in CMA history.[32]
Kathy Mattea's AIDS speech
During a time when the rest of the entertainment industry were wearing red ribbons to signify solidarity and promote awareness of the AIDS epidemic, in an attempt to steer clear of controversy, the CMA instead encouraged guests to wear green ribbons to signify environmental awareness. This did not sit well with Kathy Mattea, who had lost several friends to the disease, and she requested the CMA's help in drafting a short speech on the issue but they ignored her request and she took matters into her own hands. At the 1992 ceremony while presenting an award, Mattea wore three red ribbons and one green one and announced the names of her friends who had passed and delivered an impassioned speech that created a discussion and elevated AIDS awareness among the Nashville community. Mattea went on to become a staunch advocate for the cause, releasing the album Red Hot + Country two years later to raise funds for AIDS charities.[33][34]
Alan Jackson's 1999 performance
On May 8, 1999, George Jones released "Choices", a song written by Mike Curtis and Billy Yates, that featured an accompanying music video which depicted his struggles with substance abuse. The song subsequently became a Top 30 hit for Jones and was nominated for Single of the Year at the 1999 CMA Awards, with the CMA inviting him to perform a shortened version at the ceremony. Jones felt insulted that the CMA requested he remove part of the song and so he passed on the invitation. Alan Jackson, who was slated to perform his current single "Pop a Top", was offended that the CMA had denied Jones the opportunity to sing the full song and so, during his performance, he stopped his own band mid-song and instead sang a chorus of "Choices", which went on to earn a standing ovation from the crowd.[35]
Dixie Chicks 50th anniversary performance
At the 50th CMA Awards in 2016, the Dixie Chicks returned the CMA stage for the first time since their comments about George Bush resulted in them being blacklisted from the industry. They were joined by Beyoncé to perform a medley of "Daddy Lessons" from her 2016 Lemonade album and their own 2002 hit "Long Time Gone". While many viewers and critics praised the performance, it garnered criticism from some country traditionalists, who stated that Beyoncé, a pop/R&B artist had no place at a country music awards show. The comments polarized opinions, with some noting that they could be seen as a racist attack, as previous collaborations with non-country artists had not received the same amount of criticism and some suggesting that old grudges against the Dixie Chicks had fueled the extreme responses to their performance. Many artists including Dierks Bentley and Karen Fairchild defended the performance while others did not, including Alan Jackson who reportedly walked out of the arena.[36][37][38]
See also
- Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame
- CMA Music Festival, a CMA-produced summer event which is part of the CMA broadcast contract with ABC
References
- ^ a b c d "Country Music Association Awards". Country.dj. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "Country Music's Biggest Night". Cmaworld.com. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "CMT : CMA Awards : Archive : 2005 : Country Music Association". Cmt.com. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ "The CMA Awards Promise to Bring Top Country Stars Together 'Safely, All in One Room'". Billboard. October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 17, 2021). "ABC, Country Music Association Extend Broadcast Deal Through 2026". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (October 6, 2021). "2021 CMA Awards Will Require Attendees to Be Vaccinated". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "It's Balloting Season at CMA!". CMA World. Country Music Association. May 5, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- ^ "Kenny Rogers Presented With the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award". CMA World. Country Music Association. November 8, 2013. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "International Awards - CMA World - CMA Country Music Association". CMA World.
- ^ "Kacey Musgraces Receives CMA International Artist Achievement Award". Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ "CMA's International Awards Honor Dean Brody, Little Big Town, John Marks, Mark Hagen". March 19, 2018.
- ^ "Carrie receives CMAS artist achievement award". Carrieunderwoodofficial.com. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "CMA Announces Recipients of 2016 International Awards - CMA World - Country Music Association". Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Geller, Wendy (November 1, 2013). "Taylor Swift to Receive Ultra-Prestigious Country Music Award". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "CMA Presents International Artist Achievement Award to Brad Paisley". Bradpaisley.com.
- ^ "Taylor Swift adds international award to CMA haul". Reuters.com. November 13, 2009.
- ^ "The Country Music Association Presents 2019 CMA International Awards During Visit To Australia". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ Klonowski, Laura (March 7, 2019). "Ward Thomas Receive Prestigious CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award".
- ^ "Dean Brody Awarded The Jeff Walker Global Artist Award by CMA at CMC Rocks in Australia". Countrymusictattletale.com. March 20, 2018.
- ^ Music, CMA Country (March 10, 2017). "Country Music duo @TheShiresUK were surprised with their first CMA at the #CMAsongwriters Series show in London!pic.twitter.com/L7G3IMrRAw". Twitter.com.
- ^ "CMA Honors Gord Bamford, Paul McGuire With International Achievement Awards". Musicrow.com. September 14, 2016.
- ^ Rau, Nate. "Borchetta, Evans win international awards". The Tennessean.
- ^ "Canada's Gord Bamford Receives CMA Global Country Artist Award - CMA World - Country Music Association". Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ "CMA Gives International Awards". Musicrow.com. March 26, 2013.
- ^ "The McClymonts win CMA Global Country Artist Award | Country Music Channel on Foxtel". Country Music Channel. November 9, 2011.
- ^ "Tommy Emmanuel Presented With CMA Global Artist Award". Musicrow.com. June 7, 2011.
- ^ Harris, Bob (March 11, 2017). "Thank you to @CountryMusic - I've just won International Broadcaster of the Year!!pic.twitter.com/OPoCXSbmrp".
- ^ "CMA Presents Two International Trophies - CMA World - Country Music Association". Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ "TOP CMA AWARD WINNERS" (PDF). Cmaawards.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "TOP CMA AWARDS NOMINEES" (PDF). Cmaawards.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ "Past Winners And Nominees". 2019 CMA Awards | Wednesday, November 13 on ABC. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- ^ "Singer Charlie Rich protests John Denver's big win at the CMA Awards". History com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Classic CMA Awards Moments, #10: Kathy Mattea Makes a Difference (1992)". Countryuniverse.net. October 29, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Now 60, Kathy Mattea Has a Legacy of Transcendent Love Songs". Alwaysmountaintime.com. June 21, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "WATCH: 6 Unforgettable CMA Awards Controversies". Theboot.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "The most controversial moments CMA Awards history". Yardbarker.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (November 10, 2016). "How Beyonce's CMA Awards Controversy Foreshadowed Trump's Victory". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Beyonce's 'Daddy Lessons' Finding Support From Country Music Community". Billboard. May 20, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2021.