Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year

Last updated

Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year
CountryUnited States
Presented by Country Music Association
First awarded1967
Currently held by Tracy Chapman (2023)

The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year. [1] This Award goes to the songwriter(s) and is for artistic achievement in songwriting. Any Country Music song with original words and music is eligible based upon the song's Country singles chart activity during the eligibility period. [2] It is the sister category to the Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year, which recognizes the artist, producer and engineer.

Contents

It was first handed out at the inaugural 1967 CMA Awards to Dallas Frazier for his song "There Goes My Everything" which had been popularised at that time by Jack Greene. K. T. Oslin became the first woman to win the award in 1988 for her hit "80's Ladies". Vince Gill is the most awarded songwriter in the category, with four wins, while two—time winner Alan Jackson and 2014 recipient Shane McAnally hold the record for most nominations, with ten each. Bob McDill and Brad Paisley are the most nominated writers not to win, with six nominations. The current holder of the award is Tracy Chapman, who wrote Luke Combs' hit "Fast Car", which won at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2023.

To date, thirteen men: Dallas Frazier (1967), Bobby Russell (1968), Bob Ferguson (1969), Kris Kristofferson (1970), Freddie Hart (1971—2), Kenny O'Dell (1973), Don Wayne (1974), John Denver (1975), Larry Weiss (1976), Richard Leigh (1978), Don Schlitz (1979), Lee Greenwood (1985) and Vince Gill (1996) and seven women: K.T. Oslin (1988), Gretchen Peters (1995), Jennifer Nettles (2008), Kimberly Perry (2011), Lori McKenna (2016), Taylor Swift (2017) and Tracy Chapman (2023) have won the Song of the Year award with a solo composition.

To date, only three songs, "Easy Loving", "Always on My Mind" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today", have received the award in consecutive years and only Freddie Hart, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill and Lori McKenna have won in consecutive years.

Recipients

Tracy Chapman became the first black woman to win a CMA award when Luke Combs' cover of her 1988 hit "Fast Car" won Song of the Year. Tracy Chapman 3.jpg
Tracy Chapman became the first black woman to win a CMA award when Luke Combs' cover of her 1988 hit "Fast Car" won Song of the Year.
Two--time recipient Chris Stapleton. Stapleton ACL 20161002005.jpg
Two—time recipient Chris Stapleton.
Lori McKenna won the award in consecutive years (2015--16) and also received Grammy Awards for the same songs. LoriMcKennaNewBedfordSummerfest2006 (cropped).jpg
Lori McKenna won the award in consecutive years (2015—16) and also received Grammy Awards for the same songs.
2012 winner Blake Shelton wrote "Over You" about the death of his brother. Blake Shelton 2017 Warrior Games opening ceremony 170701-Z-QJ832-319 (cropped).jpg
2012 winner Blake Shelton wrote "Over You" about the death of his brother.
Jennifer Nettles is one of seven women to receive the award for a solo composition. JenniferNettlesCountyFair-04.jpg
Jennifer Nettles is one of seven women to receive the award for a solo composition.
Two--time winner Jamey Johnson. Jamey Johnson 2013.jpg
Two—time winner Jamey Johnson.
Renowned songwriter Bill Anderson received the award in 2005 and 2007. Bill Anderson (3461703442-I).jpg
Renowned songwriter Bill Anderson received the award in 2005 and 2007.
Four--time honoree Vince Gill. Vince Gill.png
Four—time honoree Vince Gill.
1970 recipient Kris Kristofferson won for his classic hit "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down". 2018 Kris Kristofferson - by 2eight - DSC5043 cropped.jpg
1970 recipient Kris Kristofferson won for his classic hit "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down".

2020s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
2023 Blueribbon icon.png Tracy Chapman "Fast Car"
2022 Blueribbon icon.png Jacob Davis
Blueribbon icon.png Jordan Davis
Blueribbon icon.png Josh Jenkins

Blueribbon icon.png Matt Jenkins
"Buy Dirt"
2021 Blueribbon icon.png Mike Henderson
Blueribbon icon.png Chris Stapleton
"Starting Over"
2020 Blueribbon icon.png Maren Morris
Blueribbon icon.png Jimmy Robbins
Blueribbon icon.png Laura Veltz
"The Bones"

2010s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
2019 Blueribbon icon.png Luke Combs
Blueribbon icon.png Wyatt Durrette
Blueribbon icon.png Robert Williford
"Beautiful Crazy"
2018 Blueribbon icon.png Mike Henderson
Blueribbon icon.png Chris Stapleton
"Broken Halos"
2017 Blueribbon icon.png Taylor Swift "Better Man"
2016 Blueribbon icon.png Lori McKenna "Humble and Kind"
2015 Blueribbon icon.png Hillary Lindsey
Blueribbon icon.png Lori McKenna
Blueribbon icon.png Liz Rose
"Girl Crush"
2014 Blueribbon icon.png Brandy Clark
Blueribbon icon.png Shane McAnally
Blueribbon icon.png Kacey Musgraves
"Follow Your Arrow"
2013 Blueribbon icon.png Jessi Alexander
Blueribbon icon.png Connie Harrington
Blueribbon icon.png Jimmy Yeary
"I Drive Your Truck"
2012 Blueribbon icon.png Miranda Lambert
Blueribbon icon.png Blake Shelton
"Over You"
2011 Blueribbon icon.png Kimberly Perry "If I Die Young"
2010 Blueribbon icon.png Tom Douglas
Blueribbon icon.png Allen Shamblin
"The House That Built Me"

2000s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
2009 Blueribbon icon.png Jamey Johnson
Blueribbon icon.png Lee Thomas Miller
Blueribbon icon.png James Otto
"In Color"
2008 Blueribbon icon.png Jennifer Nettles "Stay"
2007 Blueribbon icon.png Bill Anderson
Blueribbon icon.png Buddy Cannon
Blueribbon icon.png Jamey Johnson
"Give It Away"
2006 Blueribbon icon.png Ronnie Dunn

Blueribbon icon.png Craig Wiseman

"Believe"
2005 Blueribbon icon.png Bill Anderson
Blueribbon icon.png Jon Randall
"Whiskey Lullaby"
2004 Blueribbon icon.png Tim Nichols
Blueribbon icon.png Craig Wiseman
"Live Like You Were Dying"
2003 Blueribbon icon.png Doug Johnson
Blueribbon icon.png Kim Williams
"Three Wooden Crosses"
2002 Blueribbon icon.png Alan Jackson "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"
2001 Blueribbon icon.png Larry Cordle
Blueribbon icon.png Larry Shell
"Murder on Music Row"
2000 Blueribbon icon.png Mark D. Sanders
Blueribbon icon.png Tia Sillers
"I Hope You Dance"

1990s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
1999 Blueribbon icon.png Beth Nielsen Chapman
Blueribbon icon.png Robin Lerner
Blueribbon icon.png Annie Roboff
"This Kiss"
1998 Blueribbon icon.png Billy Kirsch
Blueribbon icon.png Steve Wariner
"Holes in the Floor of Heaven"
1997 Blueribbon icon.png Matraca Berg
Blueribbon icon.png Gary Harrison
"Strawberry Wine"
1996 Blueribbon icon.png Vince Gill "Go Rest High on That Mountain"
1995 Blueribbon icon.png Gretchen Peters "Independence Day"
1994 Blueribbon icon.png Jim McBride
Blueribbon icon.png Alan Jackson
"Chattahoochee"
1993 Blueribbon icon.png Vince Gill
Blueribbon icon.png John Barlow Jarvis
"I Still Believe in You"
1992 Blueribbon icon.png Max D. Barnes
Blueribbon icon.png Vince Gill
"Look at Us"
1991 Blueribbon icon.png Tim DuBois
Blueribbon icon.png Vince Gill
"When I Call Your Name"
1990 Blueribbon icon.png Don Henry
Blueribbon icon.png Jon Vezner
"Where've You Been"

1980s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
1989 Blueribbon icon.png Max D. Barnes
Blueribbon icon.png Vern Gosdin
"Chiseled in Stone"
1988 Blueribbon icon.png K. T. Oslin "80's Ladies"
1987 Blueribbon icon.png Paul Overstreet
Blueribbon icon.png Don Schlitz
"Forever and Ever, Amen"
1986 Blueribbon icon.png Paul Overstreet
Blueribbon icon.png Don Schlitz
"On the Other Hand"
1985 Blueribbon icon.png Lee Greenwood "God Bless the U.S.A."
1984 Blueribbon icon.png Larry Henley
Blueribbon icon.png Jeff Silbar
"The Wind Beneath My Wings"
1983 Blueribbon icon.png Wayne Carson
Blueribbon icon.png Johnny Christopher
Blueribbon icon.png Mark James
"Always on My Mind"
1982
1981 Blueribbon icon.png Bobby Braddock
Blueribbon icon.png Curly Putman
"He Stopped Loving Her Today"
1980

1970s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
1979 Blueribbon icon.png Don Schlitz "The Gambler"
1978 Blueribbon icon.png Richard Leigh "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"
1977 Blueribbon icon.png Roger Bowling
Blueribbon icon.png Hal Bynum
"Lucille"
1976 Blueribbon icon.png Larry Weiss "Rhinestone Cowboy"
1975 Blueribbon icon.png John Denver "Back Home Again"
1974 Blueribbon icon.png Don Wayne "Country Bumpkin"
1973 Blueribbon icon.png Kenny O'Dell "Behind Closed Doors"
1972 Blueribbon icon.png Freddie Hart "Easy Loving"
1971
1970 Blueribbon icon.png Kris Kristofferson "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"

1960s

YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees
1969 Blueribbon icon.png Bob Ferguson "The Carroll County Accident"
1968 Blueribbon icon.png Bobby Russell "Honey"
1967 Blueribbon icon.png Dallas Frazier "There Goes My Everything"

Writers with multiple wins

Songwriters that received multiple awards
AwardsArtist
4 Vince Gill
3 Don Schlitz
2 Bill Anderson
Chris Stapleton
Freddie Hart
Lori McKenna
Mike Henderson
Paul Overstreet

Writers with multiple nominations

10 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

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References

  1. "CMA Awards Past Winners & Nominees".
  2. "About". CMA Awards 2021 | Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 8|7c on ABC. Retrieved 2021-11-02.