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Female in Country Music Awards
Over the years, women in country music have broken down barriers and made serious waves at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards.
These powerhouse artists didn’t just bring incredible talent to the stage, they changed the game in a genre that’s long been dominated by men.
This spotlights is of 15 standout women who’ve made history at the CMAs and helped shape the future of country music with their record-setting wins and unforgettable moments.
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Loretta Lynn
In 1972, Loretta Lynn made history as the first woman to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year award, proving she was a true trailblazer in country music. Her hit song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” became an anthem, and her music often spoke to the strength and struggles of women.
Over the years, she won Grammys, CMAs, and ACMs and earned spots in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. Loretta made music for decades, leaving a powerful legacy that inspires country artists today.
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Dolly Parton
In 1978, Dolly Parton won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award, making her only the second woman to ever win it after Loretta Lynn in 1972.
This award is one of the highest honors in country music, recognizing an artist’s achievements in performance, songwriting, and influence during the year.
Dolly had already released significant hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” her success on stage and TV made her a standout entertainer.
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Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell made history as the first woman to win the CMA Entertainer of the Year award twice and she did it back-to-back in 1980 and 1981. That made her a true trailblazer in country music.
On top of that, she’s one of only six artists to earn the “Triple Crown,” which means she won Top New Female, Top Female, and Entertainer of the Year awards. Barbara’s legacy proves she was a powerhouse in the country scene.
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Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1986, a massive moment in her career that showed how much she ruled country music. In the 80s and 90s, she became a dominant force, with tons of hit songs and albums.
The CMA award is one of the biggest honors in country music, and Reba’s win proved her colossal impact. She also won multiple Female Vocalist of the Year awards and a Grammy, solidifying her legacy.
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Shania Twain
Shania Twain is widely recognized as one of the best-selling female artists in country music history. She has won numerous CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1999.
In addition, she received nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. She has also earned five Grammy Awards, two World Music Awards, and many other accolades.
Her album “Come On Over” was nominated for Album of the Year in 1998, and she was nominated for Horizon Award in 1996.
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Faith Hill
In 2000, Faith Hill was awarded the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year, recognizing her powerful vocals and success across country and pop music charts.
Her album “Breathe” (1999) achieved significant crossover success, debuting at number one on the Billboard Top Pop Album Chart and the Country Chart. Hill also earned her first three Grammy Awards in 2000, including Best Country Album and Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
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Martina McBride
Martina McBride won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award four times in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004, with her wins in 2002-2004 matching Reba McEntire’s record for the most consecutive wins.
McBride also won the Academy of Country Music’s Top Female Vocalist award three times in a row (2001-2003) and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1995.
She’s sold over 14 million albums in the U.S. and had multiple Top 10 singles and six No. 1 hits.
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Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is the only female artist to win the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year award three times, showing her strong and steady success. She won in 2009, 2010, and again in 2020.
Her 2020 win was especially unique because it was a tie with Thomas Rhett as the first tie ever for that award in ACM history.
Carrie also made history as the first woman to win the award three times, proving her popularity in country music
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Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 2009 and 2011, making her one of the few female artists to win it twice.
In 2009, she became the youngest person ever to win the award and the first female solo artist to take it home since 1999. Her second win in 2011 put her in rare company as she and Barbara Mandrell are the only female artists to win the award twice.
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Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert holds the record for the most CMA Award nominations for a female artist, with 61 total. That puts her behind only George Strait and Alan Jackson overall. She also holds the CMA record for 16 straight nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year.
In recent years, she’s still going strong, earning nominations for Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, proving she’s still a significant force in country music.
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Kacey Musgraves
In 2019, Kacey Musgraves’ album “Golden Hour” snagged the big GRAMMY for Album of the Year. Critics and fans loved it, and she also won the Country Music Association’s Album of the Year.
“Golden Hour” mixed country with pop and even some psychedelic rock, which made it stand out. It was a hit on the charts and ended up on many “best of” lists that year.
People still talk about how cool and different it sounds, and the stories in the songs connect with folks.
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Maren Morris
In 2020, Maren Morris won three big CMA Awards as Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Song of the Year for her hit “The Bones,” which also did well on pop charts.
The Female Vocalist Award honors the best vocal performance by a female artist that year. During her acceptance speech, Maren credited Black female artists in country music, naming Linda Martell, Yola, Mickey Guyton, Rissi Palmer, Brittney Spencer, and Rhiannon Giddens.
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Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson’s win for New Artist of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards was a big moment in her career, showing she was a rising star in country music.
The award came after her 2021 album Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, which helped her breakthrough with her sound and style. She had already been getting noticed, but this win made her stand out.
Since then, she’s kept growing her career with more music, touring, and even acting in the hit TV show Yellowstone, proving she’s here to stay in the spotlight.
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Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, showing off her strong voice and lasting success in country music.
This award is one of the top honors for female singers in the genre, and her back-to-back wins proved she was at the top of her game.
Trisha stood out for her powerful vocals and ability to blend different musical styles, which helped her connect with a broad audience.
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Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss is among the most awarded female artists in country music history, especially at the CMA Awards, where she has won more than any other woman. She also holds the record for the most Grammy wins by a female artist, with 27 Grammys.
Her success goes beyond just those two award shows as she’s also been honored by the International Bluegrass Music Association, the Gospel Music Association, and the CMT Music Awards.
The soulful “I’ll Fly Away” by Alison Krauss is highly adored by many. Check it out.
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Last Updated: September 24, 2025
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