Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year

The following list shows the recipients of the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year. This Award goes to the songwriter(s) and is for artistic achievement in songwriting. Any Country Music song with original words and music is eligible based upon the song's Country singles chart activity during the eligibility period. It is the sister category to the Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year, which recognizes the artist, producer and engineer.

It was first handed out at the inaugural 1967 CMA Awards to Dallas Frazier for his song "There Goes My Everything" which had been popularised at that time by Jack Greene. K. T. Oslin became the first woman to win the award in 1988 for her hit "80's Ladies". Vince Gill is the most awarded songwriter in the category, with four wins, while two—time winner Alan Jackson and 2014 recipient Shane McAnally hold the record for most nominations, with ten each. Bob McDill and Brad Paisley are the most nominated writers not to win, with six nominations. The current holder of the award is Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson, who wrote Stapleton's hit "White Horse", which won at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2024.

To date, thirteen men: Dallas Frazier (1967), Bobby Russell (1968), Bob Ferguson (1969), Kris Kristofferson (1970), Freddie Hart (1971—2), Kenny O'Dell (1973), Don Wayne (1974), John Denver (1975), Larry Weiss (1976), Richard Leigh (1978), Don Schlitz (1979), Lee Greenwood (1985) and Vince Gill (1996) and seven women: K.T. Oslin (1988), Gretchen Peters (1995), Jennifer Nettles (2008), Kimberly Perry (2011), Lori McKenna (2016), Taylor Swift (2017) and Tracy Chapman (2023) have won the Song of the Year award with a solo composition.

To date, only three songs, "Easy Loving", "Always on My Mind" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today", have received the award in consecutive years and only Freddie Hart, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill and Lori McKenna have won in consecutive years.

Recipient 2020s YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees2026 TBATBA “Be Her” — Ella Langley, Smith Ahnquist, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt "Beautiful Things” — Megan Moroney, Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, Connie Harrington “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor “Dry Spell” — Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne "Gary” — Stephen Wilson Jr.2025 Ella Langley Riley Green Aaron Raitiere"You Look Like You Love Me" “4x4xU” — Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson “Am I Okay?” — Megan Moroney, Jessie Jo Dillon, Luke Laird “I Never Lie” — Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols, Zach Top “Texas” — Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock, Lalo Guzman2024 Chris Stapleton Dan Wilson"White Horse" “Burn It Down” — Hillary Lindsey, Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose “Dirt Cheap — Josh Phillips “I Had Some Help” — Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Charlie Handsome, Jonathan Hoskins, Post Malone, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen and Chandler Paul Walters "“The Painter” — Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins2023 Tracy Chapman"Fast Car" "Heart Like a Truck" — Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson "Next Thing You Know" — Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne "Tennessee Orange" — David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams "Wait in the Truck" — Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt2022 Jacob Davis Jordan Davis Josh Jenkins Matt Jenkins "Buy Dirt" "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" — Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce "Sand in My Boots" — Ashley Gorley, Michael Hardy, Josh Osborne "Things a Man Oughta Know" — Jason Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson "You Should Probably Leave" — Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley, Chris Stapleton2021 Mike Henderson Chris Stapleton"Starting Over" "Forever After All" — Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford "The Good Ones" — Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis and Jim McCormick "Hell of A View" — Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell "One Night Standards" — Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde2020 Maren Morris Jimmy Robbins Laura Veltz "The Bones""Bluebird" — Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert "Even Though I'm Leaving" — Luke Combs, Wyatt Durrette, Ray Fulcher "I Hope You're Happy Now" — Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton "More Hearts Than Mine" — Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland

2010s YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees2019 Luke Combs Wyatt Durrette Robert Williford"Beautiful Crazy" "Girl" — Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons and Greg Kurstin "God's Country" — Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt and Michael Hardy "Rainbow" — Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves "Tequila" — Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynolds2018 Mike Henderson Chris Stapleton"Broken Halos" "Body Like a Back Road" — Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne "Drowns the Whiskey" — Brandon Kinney, Jeff Middleton and Josh Thompson "Drunk Girl" — Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas and Chris Janson "Tequila" — Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon and Jordan Reynold2017 Taylor Swift"Better Man" "Blue Ain't Your Color" — Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen and Clint Lagerberg "Body Like a Back Road" — Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne "Dirt on My Boots" — Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley "Tin Man" — Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall2016 Lori McKenna"Humble and Kind" "Burning House" — Jeff Bhasker, Cam and Tyler Johnson "Die a Happy Man" — Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett and Joe Spargur "My Church" — Busbee and Maren Morris "Record Year" — Eric Church and Jeff Hyde2015 Hillary Lindsey Lori McKenna Liz Rose"Girl Crush" "American Kids" — Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally "Like a Cowboy" — Randy Houser and Brice Long "Like a Wrecking Ball" — Eric Church and Casey Beathard "Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne2014 Brandy Clark Shane McAnally Kacey Musgraves"Follow Your Arrow" "Automatic" — Nicolle Galyon, Miranda Lambert and Hillary Lindsey "Give Me Back My Hometown" — Eric Church and Luke Laird "I Don't Dance" — Lee Brice, Dallas Davidson and Rob Hatch "I Hold On" — Dierks Bentley and Brett James2013 Jessi Alexander Connie Harrington Jimmy Yeary"I Drive Your Truck" "Mama's Broken Heart" — Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves "Merry Go 'Round" — Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne "Pontoon" — Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird "Wagon Wheel" — Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor2012 Miranda Lambert Blake Shelton"Over You" "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" — Will Hoge and Eric Paslay "God Gave Me You" — Dave Barnes "Home" — Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley and Dan Wilson "Springsteen" — Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell2011 Kimberly Perry"If I Die Young" "Colder Weather" — Coy Bowles, Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey "Dirt Road Anthem" — Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert "Mean" — Taylor Swift "You and Tequila" — Matraca Berg and Deana Carter2010 Tom Douglas Allen Shamblin"The House That Built Me" "A Little More Country Than That" — Rory Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble "Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott "Toes" — Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Hopkins and Shawn Mullins "White Liar" — Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert

2000s YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees2009 Jamey Johnson Lee Thomas Miller James Otto"In Color" "Chicken Fried" — Zac Brown and Wyatt Durrette "I Told You So" — Randy Travis "People Are Crazy" — Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones "Then" — Chris DuBois, Ashley Gorley and Brad Paisley2008 Jennifer Nettles"Stay" "Good Time" — Alan Jackson "I Saw God Today" — Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby "Letter to Me" — Brad Paisley "You're Gonna Miss This" — Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller2007 Bill Anderson Buddy Cannon Jamey Johnson"Give It Away" "Anyway" — Martina McBride, Brad and Brett Warren "Before He Cheats" — Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins "Lost in This Moment" — Keith Anderson, Rodney Clawson and John Rich "Stupid Boy" — Dave Berg, Deanna Bryant and Sarah Buxton2006 Ronnie Dunn Craig Wiseman"Believe" "8th of November" — Big Kenny and John Rich "Jesus, Take the Wheel" — Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson "Tonight I Wanna Cry" — Monty Powell and Keith Urban "When I Get Where I'm Going" — George Teren and Rivers Rutherford2005 Bill Anderson Jon Randall"Whiskey Lullaby" "Alcohol" — Brad Paisley "As Good as I Once Was" — Sonny Emerick and Toby Keith "Bless the Broken Road" — Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" — Odie Blackman "Redneck Woman" — John Rich and Gretchen Wilson2004 Tim Nichols Craig Wiseman"Live Like You Were Dying" "Long Black Train" — Josh Turner "Redneck Woman" — John Rich and Gretchen Wilson "Remember When" — Alan Jackson "Whiskey Lullaby" — Bill Anderson and Jon Randall2003 Doug Johnson Kim Williams"Three Wooden Crosses" "Beer for My Horses" — Scotty Emerick and Toby Keith "Celebrity" — Brad Paisley "Have You Forgotten?" — Wynn Varble and Darryl Worley "Red Dirt Road" — Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn2002 Alan Jackson"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" — Toby Keith "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" — Alan Jackson "Man of Constant Sorrow" — Carter Stanley "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" — Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers2001 Larry Cordle Larry Shell"Murder on Music Row" "Born to Fly" — Sara Evans, Marcus Hummon and Darrell Scott "How Do You Like Me Now?!" — Chuck Cannon and Toby Keith "I'm Already There" — Gary Baker, Frank J. Myers and Richie McDonald "One More Day" — Steven Dale Jones and Bobby Tomberlin2000 Mark D. Sanders Tia Sillers"I Hope You Dance" "Amazed" — Marv Green, Chris Lindsey and Aimee Mayo "Breathe" — Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar "He Didn't Have to Be" — Kelley Lovelace and Brad Paisley "Murder on Music Row" — Larry Cordle and Larry Shell

1990s YearSongwriter(s)TitleNominees1999 Beth Nielsen Chapman Robin Lerner Annie Roboff"This Kiss" "Don't Laugh at Me" — Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin "Husbands and Wives" — Roger Miller "If You Ever Have Forever in Mind" — Vince Gill and Troy Seals "Please Remember Me" — Rodney Crowell and Will Jennings1998 Billy Kirsch Steve Wariner"Holes in the Floor of Heaven" "A Broken Wing" — James House, Phil Barnhart and Sam Hogin "How Do I Live" — Diane Warren "I Just Want to Dance with You" — Roger Cook and John Prine "It's Your Love" — Stephony Smith1997 Matraca Berg Gary Harrison"Strawberry Wine" "All the Good Ones Are Gone" — Dean Dillon and Bob McGill "Blue" — Bill Mack "Butterfly Kisses" — Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas "Time Marches On" — Bobby Braddock1996 Vince Gill"Go Rest High on That Mountain" "Any Man of Mine" — Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain "Check Yes or No" — Dana Hunt and Danny Wells "The Keeper of the Stars" — Dickey Lee, Danny Mayo and Karen Staley "Time Marches On" — Bobby Braddock1995 Gretchen Peters"Independence Day" "Don't Take the Girl" — Larry Johnson and Craig Martin "Gone Country" — Bob McDill "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" — Burton Banks Collins and Karen Taylor—Good "Thinkin' Problem" — David Ball, Allen Shamblin and Stuart Ziff1994 Jim McBride Alan Jackson"Chattahoochee" "Don't Take the Girl" — Larry Johnson and Craig Martin "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" — Mary Chapin Carpenter and Don Schlitz "I Swear" — Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers "Little Rock" — Tom Douglas1993 Vince Gill John Barlow Jarvis"I Still Believe in You" "Ain't That Lonely Yet" — James House and Kostas Lazarides "Boot Scootin' Boogie" — Ronnie Dunn "Chattahoochee" — Jim McBride and Alan Jackson "Seminole Wind" — John Anderson1992 Max D. Barnes Vince Gill"Look at Us" "Achy Breaky Heart" — Don Von Tress "Don't Rock the Jukebox" — Alan Jackson, Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah "Down at the Twist and Shout" — Mary Chapin Carpenter