# Academy of Country Music Award for New Female Artist of the Year

The Academy of Country Music Award for New Female Artist of the Year is one of the new artist categories presented at the Academy of Country Music Awards. This award was first awarded in 1966 to Kay Adams, when this award was known as the Most Promising Female Vocalist.
From 1966 to 1977, this award was known as the Most Promising Female Vocalist.
From 1978 to 2008, the award was known as the Top New Female Vocalist.
And from 2016 to now, this award is now known as the New Female Artist of the Year.
This award is given to the new female artist who has gained initial fame or significantly greater recognition during the promotion of a debut or sophomore album within the eligibility period. The artist must have released a single that reached the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs or the Mediabase Country charts. Any albums self-released through an independent label the artist owns and operates may not be counted as a debut or sophomore album, unless it produces a Top 40 single reported by Billboard's Hot Country Songs or Mediabase Country charts.

## Winners and nominees

In the following tables, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony. Artists are eligible based on their work of the previous calendar year. Entries with a blue ribbon next to the artist's name have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.
There was no winner for this award in 2004, 2005, and from 2010 to 2015. For the award was changed into the Academy of Country Music Award for New Artist of the Year award. The winners in 2009 and 2013 would be finalist for the New Artist of the Year.

### 2020s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2024 | Megan Moroney | Kassi Ashton Ashley Cooke Hannah Ellis Kylie Morgan |
| 2023 | Hailey Whitters | Priscilla Block Megan Moroney Caitlyn Smith Morgan Wade |
| 2022 | Lainey Wilson | Tenille Arts Priscilla Block Lily Rose Caitlyn Smith |
| 2021 | Gabby Barrett | Ingrid Andress Tenille Arts Mickey Guyton Caylee Hammack |
| 2020 | Tenille Townes | Ingrid Andress Gabby Barrett Lindsay Ell Caylee Hammack |

### 2010s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2019 | Ashley McBryde | Danielle Bradbery Lindsay Ell Carly Pearce |
| 2018 | Lauren Alaina | Danielle Bradbery Carly Pearce RaeLynn |
| 2017 | Maren Morris | Lauren Alaina Cam Brandy Clark |
| 2016 | Kelsea Ballerini | Cam Mickey Guyton RaeLynn |
| 2013 | Jana Kramer | Kacey Musgraves Sunny Sweeney |

### 2000s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 2009 | Julianne Hough | Sarah Buxton Ashton Shepherd |
| 2008 | Taylor Swift | Sarah Buxton Kellie Pickler |
| 2007 | Miranda Lambert | Kellie Pickler Taylor Swift |
| 2006 | Carrie Underwood | Miranda Lambert Julie Roberts |
| 2003 | Kellie Coffey | Jennifer Hanson Rebecca Lynn Howard |
| 2002 | Carolyn Dawn Johnson | Tammy Cochran Cyndi Thomson |
| 2001 | Jamie O'Neal | Tammy Cochran Carolyn Dawn Johnson |
| 2000 | Jessica Andrews | Julie Reeves Chalee Tennison |

### 1990s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1999 | Jo Dee Messina | Sherrie Austin Allison Moorer |
| 1998 | Lee Ann Womack | Sara Evans Lila McCann |
| 1997 | LeAnn Rimes | Deana Carter Mindy McCready |
| 1996 | Shania Twain | Terri Clark Alison Krauss |
| 1995 | Chely Wright | Lisa Brokop Victoria Shaw |
| 1994 | Faith Hill | Lari White Kelly Willis |
| 1993 | Michelle Wright | Martina McBride Joy Lynn White |
| 1992 | Trisha Yearwood | Paulette Carlson Ronna Reeves |
| 1991 | Shelby Lynne | Matraca Berg Carlene Carter |
| 1990 | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Daniele Alexander Jann Browne |

### 1980s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1989 | Suzy Bogguss | Vicki Bird Cee Cee Chapman Linda Davis Donna Meade |
| 1988 | K.T. Oslin | Nancy Griffith Libby Hurley k.d lang Dana McVicker |
| 1987 | Holly Dunn | Darlene Austin Lisa Childress Rosie Flores Pam Tillis |
| 1986 | Judy Rodman | Liz Boardo Tari Hensley Robin Lee Patty Loveless |
| 1985 | Nicolette Larson | Becky Hobbs Hilary Kanter Katy Moffatt Karen Taylor-Good |
| 1984 | Gus Hardin | Lane Brody Amy Grant Kathy Mattea Lorrie Morgan |
| 1983 | Karen Brooks | Deborah Allen Cindy Hurt Sue Powell Amy Wooley |
| 1982 | Juice Newton | Judy Bailey Kippi Brannon Terry Gregory Tricia Johns |
| 1981 | Terri Gibbs | Kim Carnes Reba McEntire Sissy Spacek Sylvia |
| 1980 | Lacy J. Dalton | Rosanne Cash Gail Davies Louise Mandrell Sylvia |

### 1970s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1979 | Cristy Lane | Susie Allanson Zella Lehr Charly McClain Bonnie Tyler |
| 1978 | Debby Boone | Helen Cornelius Janie Fricke Stella Parton Mary Lou Turner |
| 1977 | Billie Jo Spears | Dottsy Mary Kay Place Sunday Sharpe Margo Smith |
| 1976 | Crystal Gayle | Barbie Benton Jessi Colter La Costa Emmylou Harris |
| 1975 | Linda Ronstadt | Kay Austin La Costa Crystal Gayle Sharon Leighton Marilyn Sellars |
| 1974 | Olivia Newton-John | Debbie Hawkins Sharon Leighton Lawanda Lindsey Linda Ronstadt |
| 1973 | Tanya Tucker | Sharon Leighton Jonie Mosby Bobbie Roy Kathy Smith |
| 1972 | Barbara Mandrell | Kenni Husky Jae Judy Kay Jeanne Pruett Lynda Peace |
| 1971 | Sammi Smith | Lynn Harper Jae Judy Kay Anne Murray Susan Raye |
| 1970 | Donna Fargo | Peggy Little Linda Manning Susan Raye Judy West |

### 1960s

| Year | Winner | Nominees |
| 1969 | Cheryl Poole | Donna Fargo Sandy Knox Linda Manning Judy West |
| 1968 | Bobbie Gentry | Faye Hardin Sandy Knox Sharon Leighton Beth Moore |
| 1967 | Cathie Taylor | Jeanne Black Faye Hardin Betty Foster Alice Rene |
| 1966 | Kay Adams | Jeanne Black Faye Hardin Betty Foster Myrna Jay Pamela Miller Joanie O'Neal |