All of the Women Who've Won the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award

Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift.Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Since theCountry Music Association Awardsfirst aired in 1967, there have only been eight women to win the coveted title of Entertainer of the Year.This year,the category was once again male dominated, withCarrie UnderwoodandLainey Wilsonthe only females nominated, alongsideLuke Combs,Chris StapletonandMorgan Wallen.In an exciting moment, Wilson —the night’s top nominee, with nine nods — won, making her the first woman to do so since Taylor Swift scored her second title in 2011.Here, a look at the women who went before her.

Since theCountry Music Association Awardsfirst aired in 1967, there have only been eight women to win the coveted title of Entertainer of the Year.

This year,the category was once again male dominated, withCarrie UnderwoodandLainey Wilsonthe only females nominated, alongsideLuke Combs,Chris StapletonandMorgan Wallen.

In an exciting moment, Wilson —the night’s top nominee, with nine nods — won, making her the first woman to do so since Taylor Swift scored her second title in 2011.

Here, a look at the women who went before her.

01of 08Loretta Lynn, 1972Loretta Lynn.Eric OgdenThe very first woman to trailblaze this category wasLoretta Lynnin 1972. The late star is best known for her hits “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and a successful career that spanned almost 60 years.

01of 08

Loretta Lynn, 1972

Loretta Lynn.Eric Ogden

The very first woman to trailblaze this category wasLoretta Lynnin 1972. The late star is best known for her hits “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man),” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and a successful career that spanned almost 60 years.

02of 08Dolly Parton, 1978Dolly Parton.Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty ImagesNext is the country music legendDolly Parton,who earned the title in 1978. Parton is known not only for her impressive discography, but for being a jack of all trades! She is a talented actress, promotes literacy with her organization,Imagination Library, has created her very own theme park, Dollywood, and has been an executive producer in film and television. She was alsoinducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Famein November 2022.

02of 08

Dolly Parton, 1978

Dolly Parton.Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Next is the country music legendDolly Parton,who earned the title in 1978. Parton is known not only for her impressive discography, but for being a jack of all trades! She is a talented actress, promotes literacy with her organization,Imagination Library, has created her very own theme park, Dollywood, and has been an executive producer in film and television. She was alsoinducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Famein November 2022.

03of 08Barbara Mandrell, 1980 & 1981Barbara Mandrell.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicBarbara Mandrell won back-to-back Entertainer of the Year awards, making her the first woman to win two. Mandrell is known for hits like “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” She parlayed her singing career into an acting stint when she earned her own primetime variety show,Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.

03of 08

Barbara Mandrell, 1980 & 1981

Barbara Mandrell.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Barbara Mandrell won back-to-back Entertainer of the Year awards, making her the first woman to win two. Mandrell is known for hits like “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed,” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” She parlayed her singing career into an acting stint when she earned her own primetime variety show,Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters.

04of 08

Reba McEntire, 1986

Reba McEntire.Ron Wolfson/WireImage

05of 08Shania Twain, 1999Shania Twain.Samir Hussein/WireImageLet’s go girls! Canadian singerShania Twaintook home the award in 1999, after her third albumCome On Overbecame the best-selling country album in 1997. With hits like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” “You’re Still the One” and “From This Moment On,” Twain solidified herself in country history in that period.

05of 08

Shania Twain, 1999

Shania Twain.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Let’s go girls! Canadian singerShania Twaintook home the award in 1999, after her third albumCome On Overbecame the best-selling country album in 1997. With hits like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” “You’re Still the One” and “From This Moment On,” Twain solidified herself in country history in that period.

06of 08Dixie Chicks, 2000The Chicks.Christie Goodwin/Getty ImagesThe only female vocalist group to have won the award, theDixie Chicksskyrocketed to fame with their debut album,Wide Open Spaces,and continued to dominate the charts with their second album,Fly. In 2000, they were experiencing serious commercial success with both of their albums and were crowned Entertainer(s) of the Year.After their initial accolades, the group hit a rough patch when they criticized then-presidentGeorge W. Bushwhile performing at a concert in England. Many country fans then boycotted their music, causing them to fall from the charts.The band made a comeback in 2006 with their single “Not Ready to Make Nice,” and albumTaking the Long Way Home, and more recently collaborated withTaylor Swifton the song, “Things Will Get Better” from herLoveralbum. In 2020 theydropped the “Dixie” in their nameand released another album,Gaslighter, as the Chicks.

06of 08

Dixie Chicks, 2000

The Chicks.Christie Goodwin/Getty Images

The only female vocalist group to have won the award, theDixie Chicksskyrocketed to fame with their debut album,Wide Open Spaces,and continued to dominate the charts with their second album,Fly. In 2000, they were experiencing serious commercial success with both of their albums and were crowned Entertainer(s) of the Year.

After their initial accolades, the group hit a rough patch when they criticized then-presidentGeorge W. Bushwhile performing at a concert in England. Many country fans then boycotted their music, causing them to fall from the charts.

The band made a comeback in 2006 with their single “Not Ready to Make Nice,” and albumTaking the Long Way Home, and more recently collaborated withTaylor Swifton the song, “Things Will Get Better” from herLoveralbum. In 2020 theydropped the “Dixie” in their nameand released another album,Gaslighter, as the Chicks.

07of 08Taylor Swift, 2009 & 2011Taylor Swift.Sara Kauss/Getty ImagesAnother woman who managed to take home the award not once, but twice,Taylor Swifthas become not only an icon for country music, but an example of how to be a successful crossover artist.When she won her first award in 2009, she said of the honor, “I will never forget this moment because in this moment, everything I have ever wanted has just happened to me.” The then-19-year-old was fresh off of the success of her second studio album,Fearless.Two years later, Swift was back to accept her second award,using her arm as a piece of paperto remember all of the people she needed to thank. She was the youngest woman to win the award and the second woman to win it twice.

07of 08

Taylor Swift, 2009 & 2011

Taylor Swift.Sara Kauss/Getty Images

Another woman who managed to take home the award not once, but twice,Taylor Swifthas become not only an icon for country music, but an example of how to be a successful crossover artist.

When she won her first award in 2009, she said of the honor, “I will never forget this moment because in this moment, everything I have ever wanted has just happened to me.” The then-19-year-old was fresh off of the success of her second studio album,Fearless.

Two years later, Swift was back to accept her second award,using her arm as a piece of paperto remember all of the people she needed to thank. She was the youngest woman to win the award and the second woman to win it twice.

08of 08Lainey Wilson, 2023Lainey Wilson.Terry Wyatt/GettyBreaking a long streak of men’s wins,Lainey Wilsontook home the award in 2023.“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said in her tearful acceptance speech. “It’s the only thing I know how to do. I’ve been in this town for twelve-and-a-half years and it finally feels like country music is starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart.”

08of 08

Lainey Wilson, 2023

Lainey Wilson.Terry Wyatt/Getty

Terry Wyatt/Getty

Breaking a long streak of men’s wins,Lainey Wilsontook home the award in 2023.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said in her tearful acceptance speech. “It’s the only thing I know how to do. I’ve been in this town for twelve-and-a-half years and it finally feels like country music is starting to love me back. I love it with my whole heart.”

source: people.com