For the First Time in 41 Years, Two Solo Female Artists Are Nominated For CMA Entertainer of the Year
Nominees for the 54th Annual CMA Awards were revealed this morning and one of the categories that has everyone talking…

Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood; Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Nominees for the 54th Annual CMA Awards were revealed this morning and one of the categories that has everyone talking is the top honor: Entertainer of the Year.
For the first time in 41 years, the category includes two solo female artists: Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. The last time two solo female entertainers were included in this category was in 1979 when Crystal Gayle and Barbara Mandrell were both nominated.
It’s worth noting that in the year 2000, Faith Hill and The Chicks (who were known as the Dixie Chicks at the time) were nominated as well, but this marks the first time since 1979 that two solo females were included in the mix.
The conversation about females in country music has been a hot topic for several years, and while it seems not much progress has been made, this could be a sign that at least some changes are happening.
Lambert and Underwood are nominated for Entertainer of the Year alongside Eric Church, Luke Combs and Keith Urban.
The last time a solo female artist won the title of CMA Entertainer of the Year was in 2011 when Taylor Swift took home her second EOTY win.
The winner of CMA Entertainer of the Year will be crowned at the conclusion of the 54th Annual CMA Awards, which will broadcast on Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00 – 11:00 PM/EST) on ABC.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.