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, 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.
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