It’s Been 11 Years Since A Female Won CMA Entertainer of the Year: Will Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood Change That?
If a female artist wins CMA Entertainer of the Year, it will be a history-making moment.
Miranda Lambert; Photo by John Shearer, Carrie Underwood; Photo by Jeff Johnson
This Wednesday, this Country Music Association will crown a new Entertainer of the Year. The winner will be announced during the final moments of the 56th Annual CMA Awards, where reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs, will face off against Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Morgan Wallen for the night’s highest honor.
It’s no secret that the Entertainer of the Year category is typically a male-dominated one, so if a female were to win, it would, without a doubt, be a history-making moment.
If Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood take home the crown on Wednesday, it will mark the first time a female artist has won the trophy in 11 years, since Taylor Swift took home the EOTY title in 2011.
If either artist wins, she will become only the eighth female artist in history to be crowd CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Female CMA Entertainer of the Year Winners:
2011- Taylor Swift
2009 – Taylor Swift
2000 – The Chicks
1999 – Shania Twain
1986 – Reba McEntire
1981 – Barbara Mandrell
1980 – Barbara Mandrell
1978 – Dolly Parton
1972 – Loretta Lynn
Both artists are due for a win. Lambert was previously nominated for CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2020, and 2021, while Underwood earned nods in 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Lambert is a favorite among voters as she remains the most nominated female artist in CMA Awards history with a total of 61 career nominations. The is also the third most-nominated artist, following George Strait (83) and Alan Jackson (81).
Underwood has an impressive history with the CMA Awards as well, with 40 career nominations.
Combs, Stapleton, and Wallen could easily take home the title as each of their careers has climbed to new heights throughout the past year.
Who will take home the win? Fans can tune into the 56th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 9 to find out.
The 56th Annual CMA Awards, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) on ABC and will be available the next day on Hulu.
All five Entertainer of the Year nominees are set to perform during the star-studded broadcast alongside Brothers Osborne, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Cody Johnson, Elle King, Patty Loveless, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, John Osborne, Katy Perry, Pillbox Patti, Cole Swindell, The Black Keys, The War and Treaty, Thomas Rhett, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, HARDY, Marcus King, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson, and Zac Brown Band.
This year’s CMA Awards presenters include two-time World Series champ, MVP and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, CMA Musical Event of the Year nominee this year, BRELAND, from the much-anticipated upcoming limited series, “George & Tammy,” Academy Award winner, Jessica Chastain, two-time CMA nominee this year, Jordan Davis, Apple TV’s “Amber Brown” and Lifetime’s “Reindeer Games Homecoming,” Sarah Drew, Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone” star Cole Hauser, multi-platinum and award-winning songwriter/artist Tyler Hubbard, five-time Grammy winner, Country Music Hall of Fame Member, and one-half of the legendary duo, The Judds, Wynonna Judd, CMA Vocal Group of the Year nominee this year, Lady A, CBS’s “Young Sheldon” and ABC’s “Big Sky” actor Rex Linn, multiple CMA Award-winning band and Vocal Group of the Year nominee this year, Little Big Town, CMA New Artist of the Year nominee this year, Parker McCollum, six-time CMA Awards winner and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Reba McEntire, stars of the hit HGTV shows “HomeTown” and “HomeTown Takeover,” Ben and Erin Napier, 55-year Grand Ole Opry member with over 5,000 performances, and the third female Country artist to win a Grammy, Jeannie Seely, from the much-anticipated upcoming limited series, “George & Tammy,” Academy Award nominee, Michael Shannon, and six-time CMA nominee this year, Lainey Wilson.
Stay tuned to Country Now for additional CMA Awards updates.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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