The Country Music Association Awards is a major awards show in country music, with one of the primary awards being the New Artist of the Year Award. This award honors artists who have achieved national prominence through their work and are voted to have great success in the genre going forward. The award was known as the Horizon Award from 1981 until 2007 when it received its current title. An artist can be nominated twice in the New Artist category before they become ineligible, although the point at which an artist received "national prominence" is decided by the Country Music Association and is often a source of debate amongst fans and media. The inaugural recipient of this award was Terri Gibbs and the most recent winner is Zach Top.
Recipients 2020s YearWinnerNominees2026 TBA Avery Anna Carter Faith Emily Ann Roberts Tucker Wetmore Stephen Wilson Jr.2025 Zach Top Ella Langley Shaboozey Tucker Wetmore Stephen Wilson Jr.2024 Megan Moroney Shaboozey Nate Smith Mitchell Tenpenny Zach Top Bailey Zimmerman2023 Jelly Roll Zach Bryan Parker McCollum Megan Moroney Hailey Whitters2022 Lainey Wilson HARDY Walker Hayes Cody Johnson Parker McCollum2021 Jimmie Allen Ingrid Andress Gabby Barrett Mickey Guyton HARDY2020 Morgan Wallen Jimmie Allen Ingrid Andress Gabby Barrett Carly Pearce
2010s YearWinnerNominees2019 Ashley McBryde Cody Johnson Midland Carly Pearce Morgan Wallen2018 Luke Combs Lauren Alaina Chris Janson Midland Brett Young2017 Jon Pardi Lauren Alaina Luke Combs Old Dominion Brett Young2016 Maren Morris Kelsea Ballerini Old Dominion Brothers Osborne Cole Swindell2015 Chris Stapleton Kelsea Ballerini Sam Hunt Maddie & Tae Thomas Rhett2014 Brett Eldredge Brandy Clark Kip Moore Thomas Rhett Cole Swindell2013 Kacey Musgraves Lee Brice Brett Eldredge Florida Georgia Line Kip Moore2012 Hunter Hayes Lee Brice Brantley Gilbert Love and Theft Thompson Square2011 The Band Perry Luke Bryan Eric Church Thompson Square Chris Young2010 Zac Brown Band Luke Bryan Easton Corbin Jerrod Niemann Chris Young
2000s
YearWinnerNominees2009 Darius Rucker Randy Houser Jamey Johnson Jake Owen Zac Brown Band2008 Lady Antebellum Jason Aldean Rodney Atkins James Otto Kellie Pickler2007 Taylor Swift Jason Aldean Rodney Atkins Little Big Town Kellie Pickler2006 Carrie Underwood Miranda Lambert Little Big Town Sugarland Josh Turner2005 Dierks Bentley Big & Rich Miranda Lambert Julie Roberts Sugarland2004 Gretchen Wilson Dierks Bentley Big & Rich Julie Roberts Josh Turner2003 Joe Nichols Gary Allan Buddy Jewell Blake Shelton Darryl Worley2002 Rascal Flatts Carolyn Dawn Johnson Nickel Creek Phil Vassar Darryl Worley2001 Keith Urban Jessica Andrews Nickel Creek Jamie O'Neal Phil Vassar2000 Brad Paisley Sara Evans Montgomery Gentry SHeDAISY Chely Wright
1990s
YearWinnerNominees1999 Jo Dee Messina Kenny Chesney Sara Evans The Wilkinsons Chely Wright1998 Dixie Chicks Trace Adkins Jo Dee Messina Michael Peterson Lee Ann Womack1997 LeAnn Rimes Trace Adkins Deana Carter Terri Clark Lee Ann Womack1996 Bryan White Terri Clark Wade Hayes LeAnn Rimes Shania Twain1995 Alison Krauss David Ball John Berry Faith Hill Shania Twain1994 John Michael Montgomery Faith Hill Martina McBride Tim McGraw Lee Roy Parnell1993 Mark Chesnutt Sammy Kershaw Tracy Lawrence John Michael Montgomery Trisha Yearwood1992 Suzy Bogguss Brooks & Dunn Billy Dean Pam Tillis Trisha Yearwood1991 Travis Tritt Mary Chapin Carpenter Mark Chesnutt Doug Stone Pam Tillis1990 Garth Brooks Alan Jackson Kentucky Headhunters Lorrie Morgan Travis Tritt
1980s
YearWinnerNominees1989 Clint Black Desert Rose Band Patty Loveless Shenandoah Keith Whitley1988 Ricky Van Shelton Highway 101 Patty Loveless K.T. Oslin Sweethearts of the Rodeo1987 Holly Dunn T. Graham Brown The O'Kanes Restless Heart Sweethearts of the Rodeo1986 Randy Travis The Forester Sisters Kathy Mattea Dan Seals Dwight Yoakam1985 Sawyer Brown Ray Charles Mel McDaniel Eddy Raven John Schneider1984 The Judds Deborah Allen Earl Thomas Conley Vern Gosdin Michael Martin Murphey1983 John Anderson Vern Gosdin Reba McEntire George Strait The Whites1982 Ricky Skaggs John Anderson Rosanne Cash David Frizzell Lee Greenwood1981 Terri Gibbs Rosanne Cash David Frizzell and Shelly West T. G. Sheppard Boxcar Willie
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