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.
CMA Awards
2022 CMA Awards Begin With All-Star Tribute to Loretta Lynn
It was a moving homage to the Queen of Country Music.
Zac Brown Shares CMA Awards Memories Prior to Show
Zac Brown talks CMA Awards ceremonies past and present:
Jimmie Allen Pulls Out of CMA Awards Performance Due to Illness
Jimmie Allen is unable to perform at the CMA Awards.
Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde Win Musical Event of the Year CMA
They're both going into the live show as multiple nominees.
Cody Johnson's ''TIl You Can't' Named CMA Music Video of the Year
Cody Johnson's message to seize life while you can has earned him his very first CMA Award.
LOOK: 16 Important CMA Awards Wins
Since 1967, the CMA Awards have lauded some of country music's biggest stars.
25 Memorable CMA Awards Acceptance Speeches
CMA winners' acceptance speeches are often the highlights in a show that's full of them.
See Dolly Parton’s Very Dolly CMA Awards Looks Through the Years
The singer was first nominated for a CMA in 1968; she's been nominated a total of 45 times.
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.
Country Music Memories: Chris Stapleton's Big Night at the CMAs
The 2015 CMA Awards were a HUGE night for a then-relatively unknown Chris Stapleton.