The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The award is based on the musical performance of the duo on solo country single or album release, as well as their overall contribution to country music during the eligibility period. For the purposes of the award, a duo is defined as "an act composed of two people, both of whom normally perform together and neither of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist", though this was not always the case.
The award was originally presented in 1970 as a spin-off of the Country Music Association Award for Vocal Group of the Year. The inaugural recipients were Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner. Brooks & Dunn hold the record for most wins in the category, with fourteen, and have a record-setting twenty four nominations. The Judds were the first all-female duo in 1988 and are, to date, the only female duo to win. The Bellamy Brothers holds the record for most nominations without a win, with fifteen. Nine artists (Barbara Mandrell, Bill Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Dottie West, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard, Parton and Willie Nelson) have received nominations as part of more than one duo.
Recipients
YearWinnerNominees2026 TBA Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Muscadine Bloodline Thelma & James2025 Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae The War and Treaty2024 Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae The War and Treaty2023 Brothers Osborne Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae The War and Treaty2022 Brothers Osborne Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay LoCash Maddie & Tae2021 Brothers Osborne Brooks & Dunn Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae2020 Dan + Shay Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae2019 Dan + Shay Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae2018 Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Sugarland Maddie & Tae2017 Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line LoCash Maddie & Tae2016 Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Joey + Rory Maddie & Tae2015 Florida Georgia Line Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Maddie & Tae Thompson Square2014 Florida Georgia Line Dan + Shay Love and Theft The Swon Brothers Thompson Square2013 Florida Georgia Line The Civil Wars Big & Rich Love and Theft Sugarland Thompson Square2012 Thompson Square Big & Rich The Civil Wars Love and Theft Sugarland2011 Sugarland The Civil Wars Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Thompson Square2010 Sugarland Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Joey + Rory Montgomery Gentry2009 Sugarland Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Joey + Rory Steel Magnolia2008 Sugarland Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Montgomery Gentry The Wreckers 2007 Sugarland Big & Rich Brooks & Dunn Montgomery Gentry The Wreckers2006 Brooks & Dunn Big & Rich Montgomery Gentry The Wreckers Van Zant2005 Brooks & Dunn Big & Rich Montgomery Gentry Van Zant The Warren Brothers2004 Brooks & Dunn Big & Rich Blue County Montgomery Gentry The Warren Brothers2003 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers Montgomery Gentry Sons of the Desert The Warren Brothers2002 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers Montgomery Gentry Sons of the Desert The Warren Brothers2001 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers The Kinleys Montgomery Gentry The Warren Brothers2000 Montgomery Gentry The Bellamy Brothers Brooks & Dunn The Kinleys The Warren Brothers1999 Brooks & Dunn The Kinleys The Lynns Montgomery Gentry The Warren Brothers1998 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers The Kinleys The Lynns Thrasher Shiver1997 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers The Raybon Brothers Thrasher Shiver John & Audrey Wiggins1996 Brooks & Dunn Baker & Myers The Bellamy Brothers John & Audrey Wiggins Sweethearts of the Rodeo1995 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers Brother Phelps John & Audrey Wiggins Sweethearts of the Rodeo1994 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers Brother Phelps Orrall & Wright Sweethearts of the Rodeo1993 Brooks & Dunn The Bellamy Brothers Darryl & Don Ellis Sweethearts of the Rodeo1992 Brooks & Dunn Baillie and the Boys The Bellamy Brothers The Judds Sweethearts of the Rodeo1991 The Judds Baillie and the Boys The Bellamy Brothers Foster & Lloyd Sweethearts of the Rodeo1990 The Judds Baillie and the Boys The Bellamy Brothers Foster & Lloyd Sweethearts of the Rodeo1989 The Judds Baillie and the Boys The Bellamy Brothers Foster & Lloyd Sweethearts of the Rodeo1988 The Judds The Bellamy Brothers Foster & Lloyd The O'Kanes Sweethearts of the Rodeo1987 Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Dan Seals and Marie Osmond Earl Thomas Conley and Anita Pointer Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle Michael Martin Murphey and Holly Dunn1986 Dan Seals and Marie Osmond Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle Steve Wariner and Nicolette Larson Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson1985 Anne Murray and Dave Loggins Barbara Mandrell and Lee Greenwood Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Willie Nelson and Ray Charles1984 Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias Barbara Mandrell and Lee Greenwood Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Don Williams and Emmylou Harris Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley1983 Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard David Frizzell and Shelly West Don Williams and Emmylou Harris Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle Merle Haggard and George Jones1982 David Frizzell and Shelly WestConway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Don Williams and Emmylou Harris George Jones and Merle Haggard Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson1981 David Frizzell and Shelly West Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter1980 Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Janie Fricke and Johnny Duncan Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius1979 Kenny Rogers and Dottie West Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Janie Fricke and Johnny Duncan Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson1978 Kenny Rogers and Dottie West Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Janie Fricke and Johnny Duncan Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson1977 Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson1976 Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Mel Tillis and Sherry Bryce1975 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner George Jones and Tammy Wynette Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Mel Tillis and Sherry Bryce1974 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Barbara Mandrell and David Houston Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner George Jones and Tammy Wynette Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely1973 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Barbara Mandrell and David Houston Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner George Jones and Tammy Wynette Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely1972 Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner George Jones and Tammy Wynette Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Johnny Paycheck and Jody Miller1971 Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash1970 Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner Bill Anderson and Jan Howard Don Gibson and Dottie West Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens
Artists with multiple wins + Duos that received multiple awardsAwardsArtist16Brooks & Dunn6Brothers Osborne5Sugarland4Conway Twitty and Loretta LynnThe Judds3Florida Georgia Line2Dan + ShayDavid Frizzell and Shelly WestKenny Rogers and Dottie West
Won on First nomination
In CMA history, fifteen duos have won Duo of the Year the very first time they were nominated. They are:
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner (1970) Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson (1975) Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius (1977) Kenny Rogers and Dottie West (1978) Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley (1980) David Frizzell and Shelly West (1981) Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (1983) Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias (1984) Anne Murray and Dave Loggins (1985) Dan Seals and Marie Osmond (1986) Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White (1987) The Judds (1988) Brooks & Dunn (1992) Sugarland (2007) Florida Georgia Line (2013)
Artists with multiple nominations 25 nominations Brooks & Dunn
15 nominations The Bellamy Brothers
13 nominations Dan + Shay Montgomery Gentry
12 nominations Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
11 nominations George Jones
10 nominations Brothers Osborne Maddie & Tae
9 nominations
Big & Rich Dolly Parton Florida Georgia Line Sweethearts of the Rodeo Tammy Wynette Willie Nelson
7 nominations Sugarland The Warren Brothers Waylon Jennings
6 nominations Porter Wagoner
5 nominations Kenny Rogers The Judds Thompson Square
4 nominations
Baillie & the Boys Barbara Mandrell Foster & Lloyd Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius Merle Haggard Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley The Kinleys
3 nominations
Bill Anderson Crystal Gayle David Frizzell and Shelly West Don Williams and Emmylou Harris Dottie West Janie Fricke and Johnny Duncan Joey + Rory John & Audrey Wiggins Love and Theft The Civil Wars The Wreckers
2 nominations
Brother Phelps Dan Seals and Marie Osmond David Houston Gary Morris Lee Greenwood LoCash Mary Lou Turner Mel Tillis and Sherry Bryce Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Sons of the Desert Steel Magnolia The Lynns The War and Treaty Thrasher Shiver Van Zant
References