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
Country Music Memories: Alan Jackson Wins Five CMA Awards
On Nov. 6, 2002, Jackson had plenty of reasons to celebrate -- five, in fact.
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.
Country Music Memories: Vince Gill Wins Three CMA Awards
Oct. 5, 1994 was a day of celebration for Gill.
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.
2022 CMA Awards Ratings Up Compared to 2021
In choosing Manning to join Luke Bryan as co-host, ABC and the Country Music Association were gambling that a popular, non-country music personality could pull more attention to the awards show.
Luke Combs Was 'Nervous' About the 2022 CMA Entertainer Trophy
Combs wasn't sure he was going to hang onto his Entertainer of the Year title for a second year.
Lainey Wilson's CMAs Win Fulfilled a Childhood Dream of Her Dad's
Backstage at the CMAs, Lainey explained that having her dad at the show with her was just as special as the awards she won.
The War + Treaty Share the Story of Their Brothers Osborne Collab
The War and Treaty say that their collaboration with Brothers Osborne was a labor of love.
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.
Cody Johnson Recalls His Early CMA Win for Video of the Year
Johnson was announced as the winner in this category before the awards show broadcast — in fact, he was still asleep.