# Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year

The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year.
The inaugural recipient of the award was There Goes My Everything by Jack Greene in 1967, with Jessi Colter becoming the first female winner in 1976, and Alabama being the first group awarded in 1983. George Strait holds the record for most wins in the category, with five, and also leads in nominations, with eighteen. To date, Miranda Lambert is the only woman to have won twice and she is tied with Reba McEntire as the most nominated women in the category, with six nominations each. Brooks & Dunn hold the record for most nominations without a win, with eight. The current holder of the award is Luke Combs, who won in both 2022 for his third studio album Growin' Up.

## Eligibility

According to the Country Music Association, this award is given to the artist, producer and mix engineer. The album should be judged on all aspects including, but not limited to, artist’s performance, musical background, engineering, packaging, design, art, layout and liner notes. At least 75% of the recordings on the album must have achieved peak national prominence during the eligibility period. Greatest hits albums or compilation albums consisting of previously released recordings are not eligible for this award.
The album must have charted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for the first time during the eligibility period. However, if the album charted on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart prior to the eligibility period, but achieved its highest chart position for the first time during the eligibility period, it is eligible unless it has previously appeared on a Final Ballot in this category.

## Recipients

| Year | Winners | Artist | Nominees |
| 2024 | Leather | Cody Johnson | Higher — Chris Stapleton Deeper Well — Kacey Musgraves Fathers & Sons — Luke Combs Whitsitt Chapel — Jelly Roll |
| 2023 | Bell Bottom Country | Lainey Wilson | Ashley McBryde presents: Lindeville — Ashley McBryde Gettin' Old — Luke Combs One Thing at a Time — Morgan Wallen Rolling Up the Welcome Mat — Kelsea Ballerini |
| 2022 | Growin' Up | Luke Combs | Humble Quest — Maren Morris Palomino — Miranda Lambert Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' — Lainey Wilson Time, Tequila & Therapy — Old Dominion |
| 2021 | Starting Over | Chris Stapleton | 29 — Carly Pearce Dangerous: The Double Album — Morgan Wallen Heart — Eric Church Skeletons — Brothers Osborne |
| 2020 | What You See Is What You Get | Luke Combs | Heartache Medication — Jon Pardi Never Will — Ashley McBryde Old Dominion — Old Dominion Wildcard — Miranda Lambert |
| 2019 | Girl | Maren Morris | Center Point Road — Thomas Rhett Cry Pretty — Carrie Underwood Dan + Shay — Dan + Shay Desperate Man — Eric Church |
| 2018 | Golden Hour | Kacey Musgraves | From A Room: Volume 2 — Chris Stapleton Graffiti U — Keith Urban Life Changes — Thomas Rhett The Mountain — Dierks Bentley |
| 2017 | From A Room: Volume 1 | Chris Stapleton | The Breaker — Little Big Town Heart Break — Lady Antebellum The Nashville Sound — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit The Weight of These Wings — Miranda Lambert |
| 2016 | Mr. Misunderstood | Eric Church | Black — Dierks Bentley Hero — Maren Morris Ripcord — Keith Urban Storyteller — Carrie Underwood |
| 2015 | Traveller | Chris Stapleton | Old Boots, New Dirt — Jason Aldean The Big Revival — Kenny Chesney Pageant Material — Kacey Musgraves Pain Killer — Little Big Town |
| 2014 | Platinum | Miranda Lambert | Crash My Party — Luke Bryan Fuse — Keith Urban The Outsiders — Eric Church Riser — Dierks Bentley |
| 2013 | Based on a True Story... | Blake Shelton | Tornado — Little Big Town Same Trailer Different Park — Kacey Musgraves Red — Taylor Swift Blown Away — Carrie Underwood |
| 2012 | Chief | Eric Church | Home — Dierks Bentley Tailgates & Tanlines — Luke Bryan Own the Night — Lady Antebellum Four the Record — Miranda Lambert |
| 2011 | My Kinda Party | Jason Aldean | This Is Country Music — Brad Paisley All About Tonight — Blake Shelton Speak Now — Taylor Swift You Get What You Give — Zac Brown Band |
| 2010 | Revolution | Miranda Lambert | Up on the Ridge — Dierks Bentley Need You Now — Lady Antebellum Twang — George Strait Play On — Carrie Underwood |
| 2009 | Fearless | Taylor Swift | American Saturday Night — Brad Paisley That Lonesome Song — Jamey Johnson Love on the Inside — Sugarland Defying Gravity — Keith Urban |
| 2008 | Troubadour | George Strait | Cowboy Town — Brooks & Dunn Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates — Kenny Chesney Good Time — Alan Jackson Carnival Ride — Carrie Underwood |
| 2007 | It Just Comes Natural | George Strait | Long Trip Alone — Dierks Bentley These Days — Vince Gill 5th Gear — Brad Paisley Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing — Keith Urban |
| 2006 | Time Well Wasted | Brad Paisley | Hillbilly Deluxe — Brooks & Dunn The Road and the Radio — Kenny Chesney Precious Memories — Alan Jackson Me and My Gang — Rascal Flatts |
| 2005 | There's More Where That Came From | Lee Ann Womack | Live Like You Were Dying — Tim McGraw Feels Like Today — Rascal Flatts Somewhere Down in Texas — George Strait Be Here — Keith Urban |
| 2004 | When the Sun Goes Down | Kenny Chesney | Red Dirt Road — Brooks & Dunn Shock'n Y'all — Toby Keith Mud on the Tires — Brad Paisley Here for the Party — Gretchen Wilson |
| 2003 | American IV: The Man Comes Around | Johnny Cash | Home — Dixie Chicks Man with a Memory — Joe Nichols Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors — Tim McGraw Unleashed — Toby Keith |
| 2002 | Drive | Alan Jackson | New Favorite — Alison Krauss and Union Station No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems — Kenny Chesney Pull My Chain — Toby Keith The Great Divide — Willie Nelson The Road Less Traveled — George Strait |
| 2001 | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Various Artists | Born to Fly — Sara Evans Set This Circus Down — Tim McGraw Steers & Stripes — Brooks & Dunn When Somebody Loves You — Alan Jackson |
| 2000 | Fly | Dixie Chicks | Breathe — Faith Hill I Hope You Dance — Lee Ann Womack Under the Influence — Alan Jackson Who Needs Pictures — Brad Paisley |
| 1999 | A Place in the Sun | Tim McGraw | Always Never the Same — George Strait The Key — Vince Gill Two Teardrops — Steve Wariner Where Your Road Leads — Trisha Yearwood |
| 1998 | Everywhere | Tim McGraw | Come on Over — Shania Twain Long Stretch of Lonesome — Patty Loveless One Step at a Time — George Strait Sevens — Garth Brooks |
| 1997 | Carrying Your Love with Me | George Strait | Blue — LeAnn Rimes Did I Shave My Legs for This? — Deana Carter Everybody Knows — Trisha Yearwood Everything I Love — Alan Jackson |
| 1996 | Blue Clear Sky | George Strait | Borderline — Brooks & Dunn High Lonesome Sound — Vince Gill The Trouble with the Truth — Patty Loveless Wild Angels — Martina McBride |
| 1995 | When Fallen Angels Fly | Patty Loveless | John Michael Montgomery — John Michael Montgomery Lead On — George Strait When Love Finds You — Vince Gill Who I Am — Alan Jackson |
| 1994 | Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles | Various Artists | Tribute to The Music of Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys — Asleep at the Wheel Easy Come Easy Go — George Strait Rhythm, Country and Blues — Various Artists Who I Am — Alan Jackson |
| 1993 | I Still Believe in You | Vince Gill | A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) — Alan Jackson Come On, Come On — Mary Chapin Carpenter Hard Workin' Man — Brooks & Dunn The Chase — Garth Brooks |
| 1992 | Ropin' the Wind | Garth Brooks | Brand New Man — Brooks & Dunn For My Broken Heart — Reba McEntire What Do I Do with Me — Tanya Tucker Wynonna — Wynonna Judd |
| 1991 | No Fences | Garth Brooks | Don't Rock the Jukebox — Alan Jackson Pocket Full of Gold — Vince Gill Put Yourself in My Shoes — Clint Black Rumor Has It — Reba McEntire |
| 1990 | Pickin' on Nashville | The Kentucky Headhunters | Here in the Real World — Alan Jackson I Wonder Do You Think of Me — Keith Whitley Livin' It Up — George Strait RVS III — Ricky Van Shelton |
| 1989 | Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | Beyond the Blue Neon — George Strait Loving Proof — Ricky Van Shelton Old 8×10 — Randy Travis Willow in the Wind — Kathy Mattea |
| 1988 | Born to Boogie | Hank Williams Jr. | Chiseled in Stone — Vern Gosdin Diamonds and Dirt — Rodney Crowell If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin' — George Strait Untasted Honey — Kathy Mattea |
| 1987 | Always And Forever | Randy Travis | Trio — Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton Wine Colored Roses — George Jones What Am I Gonna Do About You — Reba McEntire Ocean Front Property — George Strait |
| 1986 | Lost in the Fifties Tonight | Ronnie Milsap | 7 — George Strait Rockin' with the Rhythm — The Judds Storms of Life — Randy Travis Whoever's in New England — Reba McEntire |
| 1985 | Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind | George Strait | 40—Hour Week — Alabama Country Boy — Ricky Skaggs My Kind of Country — Reba McEntire Why Not Me — The Judds |
| 1984 | A Little Good News | Anne Murray | Don't Cheat in Our Hometown — Ricky Skaggs Right or Wrong — George Strait Roll On — Alabama That's the Way Love Goes — Merle Haggard |
| 1983 | The Closer You Get | Alabama | Highways & Heartaches — Ricky Skaggs It Ain't Easy — Janie Fricke Pancho & Lefty — Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard Wild and Blue — John Anderson |
| 1982 | Always on My Mind | Willie Nelson | Big City — Merle Haggard Bobbie Sue — Oak Ridge Boys Mountain Music — Alabama Still the Same Ole Me — George Jones |
| 1981 | I Believe in You | Don Williams | 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs — Dolly Parton Feels So Right — Alabama I Am What I Am — George Jones Out Where the Bright Lights Are Glowing — Ronnie Milsap |
| 1980 | Coal Miner's Daughter | Sissy Spacek Beverly D'Angelo Levon Helm | Just Good Ol' Boys — Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Kenny — Kenny Rogers Roses in the Snow — Emmylou Harris There's a Little Bit of Hank in Me — Charley Pride |
| 1979 | The Gambler | Kenny Rogers | Armed and Crazy — Johnny Paycheck One for the Road — Willie Nelson and Leon Russell Rose Colored Glasses — John Conlee The Originals — The Statler Brothers |
| 1978 | It Was Almost Like a Song | Ronnie Milsap | Country Boy — Don Williams Heaven's Just a Sin Away — The Kendalls Here You Come Again — Dolly Parton Waylon and Willie — Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson |
| 1977 | Ronnie Milsap Live | Ronnie Milsap | I Don't Want to Have to Marry You — Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius I Remember Patsy — Loretta Lynn Kenny Rogers — Kenny Rogers Ol' Waylon — Waylon Jennings |
| 1976 | Wanted! The Outlaws | Jessi Colter Tompall Glaser Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson | 200 Years of Country Music — Sonny James Night Things — Ronnie Milsap Teddy Bear — Red Sovine The Blind Man in the Bleachers — Kenny Starr |
| 1975 | A Legend in My Time | Ronnie Milsap | An Evening with John Denver — John Denver Before the Next Teardrop Falls — Freddie Fender Feelins' — Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty Rhinestone Cowboy — Glen Campbell The Ramblin' Man — Waylon Jennings |
| 1974 | Very Special Love Songs | Charlie Rich | Country Bumpkin — Cal Smith If We Make It Through December — Merle Haggard If You Love Me, Let Me Know — Olivia Newton—John You've Never Been This Far Before — Conway Twitty |
| 1973 | Behind Closed Doors | Charlie Rich | Entertainer of the Year — Loretta Lynn Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man — Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty Satin Sheets — Jeanne Pruett The Storyteller — Tom T. Hall |
| 1972 | Let Me Tell You About a Song | Merle Haggard | Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs — Charley Pride Coat of Many Colors — Dolly Parton Lead Me On — Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. — Donna Fargo |
| 1971 | I Won't Mention It Again | Ray Price | A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (or, My Salute to Bob Wills) — Merle Haggard Help Me Make It Through the Night — Sammi Smith Rose Garden — Lynn Anderson When You're Hot, You're Hot — Jerry Reed |
| 1970 | Okie from Muskogee | Merle Haggard | The Fightin' Side of Me — Merle Haggard Hello Darlin' — Conway Twitty Hello, I'm Johnny Cash — Johnny Cash Just Plain Charley — Charley Pride |
| 1969 | Johnny Cash At San Quentin | Johnny Cash | Charley Pride Live and in Person — Charley Pride Same Train, a Different Time — Merle Haggard Stand by Your Man — Tammy Wynette Wichita Lineman — Glen Campbell |
| 1968 | Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison | Johnny Cash | By the Time I Get to Phoenix — Glen Campbell Gentle on My Mind — Glen Campbell The Best of Merle Haggard — Merle Haggard D—I—V—O—R—C—E — Tammy Wynette |
| 1967 | There Goes My Everything | Jack Greene | The Best of Eddy Arnold — Eddy Arnold I'm a Lonesome Fugitive — Merle Haggard The Best of Sonny James — Sonny James Danny Boy — Ray Price |
Notes
^ A. Award presented to: Norman Blake, The Fairfield Four, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, James Carter and the Prisoners, Chris Thomas King, Alison Krauss, Harry McClintock, Sarah Peasall, Hannah Peasall, Leah Peasall, Soggy Bottom Boys, Stanley Brothers, Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch and The Whites
^ B. Award presented to: John Anderson, Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Dean, Diamond Rio, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Little Texas, Lorrie Morgan, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood
^ C. Nominees were: Chet Atkins, Clint Black, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, Al Green, George Jones, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Little Richard, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Sam Moore, Aaron Neville, The Pointer Sisters, The Staple Singers, Marty Stuart, Allen Toussaint, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Trisha Yearwood

## Artists with multiple wins

Artists that received multiple awards :
| Awards | Artist |
| 5 | George Strait |
| 4 | Ronnie Milsap |
| 3 | Chris Stapleton |
| 3 | Johnny Cash |
| 2 | Alan Jackson |
| 2 | Charlie Rich |
| 2 | Eric Church |
| 2 | Merle Haggard |
| 2 | Miranda Lambert |
| 2 | Luke Combs |
| 2 | Tim McGraw |
| 2 | Vince Gill |
| 2 | Willie Nelson |

## Artists with multiple nominations
### 18 nominations

* George Strait

### 12 nominations

* Alan Jackson

### 11 nominations

* Merle Haggard

### 8 nominations

* Brooks & Dunn
* Vince Gill

### 6 nominations

* Brad Paisley
* Conway Twitty
* Dierks Bentley
* Keith Urban
* Miranda Lambert
* Reba McEntire
* Ronnie Milsap
* Willie Nelson

### 5 nominations

* Alabama
* Carrie Underwood
* Eric Church
* Kenny Chesney
* Loretta Lynn
* Tim McGraw

### 4 nominations

* Charley Pride
* Dolly Parton
* Garth Brooks
* Glen Campbell
* George Jones
* Johnny Cash
* Trisha Yearwood
* Waylon Jennings

### 3 nominations

* Clint Black
* Emmylou Harris
* Kacey Musgraves
* Kenny Rogers
* Lady Antebellum
* Little Big Town
* Luke Combs
* Maren Morris
* Patty Loveless
* Randy Travis
* Ricky Skaggs
* Tanya Tucker
* Taylor Swift
* Toby Keith
* Wynonna Judd

### 2 nominations

* Alison Krauss
* Ashley McBryde
* Dixie Chicks
* Don Williams
* Jason Aldean
* John Anderson
* Kathy Mattea
* Lainey Wilson
* Lee Ann Womack
* Luke Bryan
* Morgan Wallen
* Old Dominion
* Rascal Flatts
* Ray Price
* Ricky Van Shelton
* Sonny James
* Tammy Wynette
* The Judds
* Thomas Rhett
* Travis Tritt
Notes
* ↑ Including two as a member of The Judds.