ACM Entertainer of the Year Award: A History of Women Who've Won

01of 111976: Loretta LynnWalt Disney Television via GettyFive years after the very first Academy of Country Music Awards, the Coal Miner’s Daughter became the first woman to win entertainer of the year. She beat an all-male slate of Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver and Mickey Gilley.

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1976: Loretta Lynn

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Five years after the very first Academy of Country Music Awards, the Coal Miner’s Daughter became the first woman to win entertainer of the year. She beat an all-male slate of Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, John Denver and Mickey Gilley.

02of 111978: Dolly PartonGettyTwo years later, the Tennesse darling bested Lynn to pick up what is surprisingly her only entertainer of the year trophy.

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1978: Dolly Parton

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Two years later, the Tennesse darling bested Lynn to pick up what is surprisingly her only entertainer of the year trophy.

03of 111981: Barbara MandrellCBS via GettyMandrell beat Parton and Willie Nelson, among others, in 1981 andaccording to The Boot, became the first woman to win the Triple Crown Award, having won top new female vocalist in 1972 and top female vocalist in 1979.

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1981: Barbara Mandrell

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Mandrell beat Parton and Willie Nelson, among others, in 1981 andaccording to The Boot, became the first woman to win the Triple Crown Award, having won top new female vocalist in 1972 and top female vocalist in 1979.

04of 111995: Reba McEntireMark J Terrill/AP/ShutterstockA woman wouldn’t win again for nearly 15 years as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr. and Garth Brooks dominated the ’80s and early ’90s. In a poignant speech, Oklahoma native McEntire dedicated her 1995 award to the families of victims of the Oklahoma City Bombings, which had happened just weeks prior.

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1995: Reba McEntire

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A woman wouldn’t win again for nearly 15 years as Alabama, Hank Williams Jr. and Garth Brooks dominated the ’80s and early ’90s. In a poignant speech, Oklahoma native McEntire dedicated her 1995 award to the families of victims of the Oklahoma City Bombings, which had happened just weeks prior.

05of 112000: Shania TwainFrank Micelotta/ImageDirect/gettyThe year 2000 brought Twain’s second entertainer of the year nomination and first win. She was actually out of the country for the awards (she’s pictured at right winning a BMI Country Award later in the year), so presenter Dolly Parton accepted on her behalf.

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2000: Shania Twain

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The year 2000 brought Twain’s second entertainer of the year nomination and first win. She was actually out of the country for the awards (she’s pictured at right winning a BMI Country Award later in the year), so presenter Dolly Parton accepted on her behalf.

06of 112001: The Dixie ChicksM. Caulfield/WireImageIn the first of back-to-back wins for women, the trio (now known as The Chicks) scored their sole entertainer of the year win and the Triple Crown. Band member Martie Maguire accepted the award, shouting out women who paved the way, like previous winner Barbara Mandrell.

06of 11

2001: The Dixie Chicks

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In the first of back-to-back wins for women, the trio (now known as The Chicks) scored their sole entertainer of the year win and the Triple Crown. Band member Martie Maguire accepted the award, shouting out women who paved the way, like previous winner Barbara Mandrell.

07of 112009: Carrie UnderwoodUnderwood is the female with the most entertainer of the year wins under her belt, at three. Her first was in 2009, when she bested Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney, and earned the Triple Crown.

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2009: Carrie Underwood

Underwood is the female with the most entertainer of the year wins under her belt, at three. Her first was in 2009, when she bested Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney, and earned the Triple Crown.

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2010: Carrie Underwood

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09of 112011: Taylor SwiftJason Merritt/GettyIn her second year of being nominated, Swift won the award, beating many prior nominees and first-timerMiranda Lambert.

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2011: Taylor Swift

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In her second year of being nominated, Swift won the award, beating many prior nominees and first-timerMiranda Lambert.

10of 112012: Taylor SwiftChristopher Polk/GettySwift did it again in 2012, and in true Taylor fashion, hugged several of her fellow nominees (and her mom!) on her way to the stage.

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2012: Taylor Swift

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Swift did it again in 2012, and in true Taylor fashion, hugged several of her fellow nominees (and her mom!) on her way to the stage.

11of 112020: Carrie Underwood (and Thomas Rhett)John Shearer/GettyIn what some considered peak 2020, Underwood tied with Rhett to win the honor at the 55th annual show in Nashville. Host Keith Urban, who presented the award, was shocked as anyone, and when Underwood took her place at the mic, she sighed, “2020, man!” She did, however, congratulate Rhett (who returned the sentiment) and their fellow nominees: Eric Church,Luke Bryanand Luke Combs.

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2020: Carrie Underwood (and Thomas Rhett)

John Shearer/Getty

In what some considered peak 2020, Underwood tied with Rhett to win the honor at the 55th annual show in Nashville. Host Keith Urban, who presented the award, was shocked as anyone, and when Underwood took her place at the mic, she sighed, “2020, man!” She did, however, congratulate Rhett (who returned the sentiment) and their fellow nominees: Eric Church,Luke Bryanand Luke Combs.

source: people.com