The CMA Entertainer of the Year award remains the most prestigious individual accolade presented by the Country Music Association. For many artists, a nomination alone serves as a definitive career milestone, yet the path to victory has historically been narrow for women. In the history of the awards, only ten female artists have ever claimed the title, with Lainey Wilson being the most recent to join this elite circle.
Wilson, who secured the honor in both 2023 and during her monumental run in 2024 and 2025, now stands alongside legends such as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Dolly Parton—whose crossover success with hits like 9 To 5 helped define the modern era of country stardom. As the industry prepares for the 2026 CMA Awards on November 18 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the spotlight once again falls on those who have yet to reach the summit.
Miranda Lambert: A Legacy of Nominations
Miranda Lambert is arguably one of the most decorated artists in the history of the Country Music Association, boasting an incredible 70 nominations and 14 wins across various categories. However, the top prize has remained elusive. Despite being nominated for Entertainer of the Year six times, Lambert has yet to take the trophy home.
Her consistent presence in the category speaks to her enduring relevance and touring power, yet she remains one of the most high-profile artists to never win the night’s final award.
Carrie Underwood: The Vocal Powerhouse
Like Lambert, Carrie Underwood has received six nominations for Entertainer of the Year without a win. Since her debut, Underwood has been a pillar of the genre, collecting seven CMA Awards from 40 total nominations. Her live shows are widely considered some of the best in the business, making her lack of a win in this specific category a frequent point of discussion among fans and critics alike.
Faith Hill: A Singular Recognition
Faith Hill’s impact on country music during the late 90s and early 2000s was undeniable, yet she only received a single nomination for Entertainer of the Year during her career. With 22 CMA nominations and three wins overall, Hill’s crossover success and massive stadium tours with Tim McGraw made her a definitive entertainer of her era, though the CMA voters only recognized her in the top category once.
Martina McBride: The Surprising Omission
Perhaps the most shocking entry on this list is Martina McBride. Despite being one of the most celebrated vocalists in the genre’s history with 30 CMA nominations and five wins, McBride was never once nominated for Entertainer of the Year. Her exclusion from the category during her peak years remains one of the more notable snubs in the association’s history.
Kacey Musgraves: A Genre-Defying Absence
Kacey Musgraves has fundamentally changed the landscape of modern country music, earning seven CMA wins from 27 nominations. Despite her critical acclaim and global touring success, Musgraves has also never been nominated for the CMA Entertainer of the Year award. As she continues to push the boundaries of the genre, her absence from the top category continues to be a topic of industry debate.
As the 2026 ceremony approaches, these statistics serve as a reminder of the intense competition and the high bar set for female artists in the country music industry.