The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. This Award goes to the artist. The Award is based on individual musical performance on a solo Country single or album release, as well as the overall contribution to Country Music. This award was one of the original awards given at the first ceremony in 1967.
The inaugural recipient of the award was Jack Greene in 1967. Chris Stapleton holds the record for most wins in the category, with eight, while five-time recipient George Strait has a leading twenty-five nominations. Dierks Bentley and Eric Church holds the record for most nominations without a win, with nine each. The current holder of the award is Cody Johnson, who won in 2025
Recipients
YearWinnerNominees2026 TBA Luke Combs Cody Johnson Chris Stapleton Zach Top Stephen Wilson Jr.2025 Cody Johnson Luke Combs Chris Stapleton Zach Top Morgan Wallen2024 Chris Stapleton Luke Combs Jelly Roll Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen2023 Chris Stapleton Luke Combs Jelly Roll Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen2022 Chris Stapleton Eric Church Luke Combs Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen2021 Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Eric Church Luke Combs Thomas Rhett2020 Luke Combs Eric Church Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2019 Luke Combs Dierks Bentley Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2018 Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Keith Urban2017 Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Eric Church Thomas Rhett Keith Urban2016 Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Eric Church Tim McGraw Keith Urban2015 Chris Stapleton Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Blake Shelton2014 Blake Shelton Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Keith Urban2013 Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Eric Church Keith Urban2012 Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Eric Church Keith Urban2011 Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Keith Urban2010 Blake Shelton Dierks Bentley Brad Paisley George Strait Keith Urban2009 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney Darius Rucker George Strait Keith Urban2008 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson George Strait Keith Urban2007 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney George Strait Josh Turner Keith Urban2006 Keith Urban Dierks Bentley Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Brad Paisley2005 Keith Urban Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Brad Paisley George Strait2004 Keith Urban Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Toby Keith George Strait2003 Alan Jackson Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGraw Brad Paisley George Strait2002 Alan Jackson Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Brad Paisley George Strait2001 Toby Keith Alan Jackson Tim McGraw Brad Paisley George Strait2000 Tim McGraw Vince Gill Alan Jackson Brad Paisley George Strait1999 Tim McGraw Vince Gill Alan Jackson George Strait Steve Wariner1998 George Strait Garth Brooks Vince Gill Tim McGraw Collin Raye1997 George Strait Vince Gill Alan Jackson Collin Raye Bryan White1996 George Strait Vince Gill Alan Jackson Collin Raye Bryan White1995 Vince Gill Alan Jackson John Berry John Michael Montgomery George Strait1994 Vince Gill John Anderson Alan Jackson George Strait Dwight Yoakam1993 Vince Gill John Anderson Garth Brooks Alan Jackson George Strait1992 Vince Gill Garth Brooks Joe Diffie Alan Jackson Travis Tritt1991 Vince Gill Clint Black Garth Brooks Alan Jackson George Strait1990 Clint Black Garth Brooks Rodney Crowell George Strait Ricky Van Shelton1989 Ricky Van Shelton Rodney Crowell George Strait Randy Travis Keith Whitley1988 Randy Travis Vern Gosdin George Strait Ricky Van Shelton Hank Williams Jr.1987 Randy Travis George Jones Ricky Skaggs George Strait Hank Williams Jr.1986 George Strait George Jones Gary Morris Randy Travis Hank Williams Jr.1985 George Strait Lee Greenwood Gary Morris Ricky Skaggs Hank Williams Jr.1984 Lee Greenwood Merle Haggard Gary Morris Ricky Skaggs George Strait1983 Lee Greenwood John Anderson Merle Haggard Willie Nelson Ricky Skaggs1982 Ricky Skaggs Merle Haggard George Jones Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson1981 George Jones Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson Kenny Rogers Don Williams1980 George Jones John Conlee Willie Nelson Kenny Rogers Don Williams1979 Kenny Rogers John Conlee Larry Gatlin Willie Nelson Don Williams1978 Don Williams Larry Gatlin Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson Kenny Rogers1977 Ronnie Milsap Larry Gatlin Waylon Jennings Kenny Rogers Don Williams1976 Ronnie Milsap Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson Conway Twitty Don Williams1975 Waylon Jennings John Denver Freddy Fender Ronnie Milsap Conway Twitty1974 Ronnie Milsap Merle Haggard Waylon Jennings Charlie Rich Cal Smith1973 Charlie Rich Merle Haggard Tom T. Hall Johnny Rodriguez Conway Twitty1972 Charley Pride Merle Haggard Freddie Hart Johnny Paycheck Jerry Wallace1971 Charley Pride Merle Haggard Ray Price Jerry Reed Conway Twitty1970 Merle Haggard Johnny Cash Charley Pride Marty Robbins Conway Twitty1969 Johnny Cash Glen Campbell Merle Haggard Sonny James Charley Pride1968 Glen Campbell Eddy Arnold Johnny Cash Merle Haggard Charley Pride1967 Jack Greene Eddy Arnold Merle Haggard Sonny James Buck Owens
Artists with multiple wins + Artists that received multiple awardsAwardsArtist8Chris Stapleton5Blake SheltonGeorge StraitVince Gill3Brad PaisleyKeith UrbanRonnie Milsap2Alan JacksonCharley PrideGeorge JonesLee GreenwoodLuke CombsRandy TravisTim McGraw
Artists with multiple nominations 25 nominations George Strait
16 nominations Alan Jackson Keith Urban
12 nominations Chris Stapleton
11 nominations
Brad Paisley Merle Haggard
10 nominations Vince Gill
9 nominations
Dierks Bentley Eric Church Kenny Chesney Luke Combs
7 nominations Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson
6 nominations Blake Shelton Don Williams Tim McGraw
5 nominations
Charley Pride Conway Twitty Garth Brooks George Jones Kenny Rogers Ricky Skaggs Thomas Rhett Cody Johnson
4 nominations
Hank Williams Jr. Luke Bryan Morgan Wallen Randy Travis Toby Keith Waylon Jennings
3 nominations
Collin Raye Gary Morris Jason Aldean John Anderson Johnny Cash Larry Gatlin Lee Greenwood Ricky Van Shelton
2 nominations
Bryan White Charlie Rich Clint Black Eddy Arnold Glen Campbell Jelly Roll John Conlee Rodney Crowell Sonny James Zach Top
Won on First nomination
In CMA history only thirteen men have won Male Vocalist of the Year the very first time they were nominated. They are:
Jack Greene (1967) Glen Campbell (1968) Charlie Rich (1973) Ronnie Milsap (1974) George Jones (1980) Ricky Skaggs (1982) Lee Greenwood (1983) Clint Black (1990) Vince Gill (1991) Toby Keith (2001) Keith Urban (2004) Blake Shelton (2010) Chris Stapleton (2015)
References
See also
Country Music Association Awards