Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year

The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year. While its sister category, Song of the Year recognizes the songwriters, Single of the Year is awarded to the artist. Starting in 1989 and 2016 respectively, the producer and mix engineer of the track also received an award. Rules state the track must have reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, or Country Aircheck Chart for the first time during the eligibility period. If the single charted in the Top 10 on the above charts and was released prior to the eligibility period but achieved its highest chart position during the eligibility period, it is eligible.

The inaugural recipient of the award was "There Goes My Everything" by Jack Greene in 1967, with Jeannie C. Riley becoming the first female winner the following year, and Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson being the first group awarded in 1976. To date, there are eight artists who have won the award twice. George Strait has the most nominations in this category, with nine, while eight—time nominee Brad Paisley holds the record for most nominations without a win. The current holder of the award is Ella Langley and Riley Green for "You Look Like You Love Me", which won at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2024.

Recipients

YearWinnerWorkNominees2026 TBATBA "Be Her” — Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas” — Ella Langley "I Knew It, I Knew You” — Taylor Swift “Somewhere Over Laredo” — Lainey Wilson “The Fall” — Cody Johnson2025 Ella Langley Riley Green“You Look Like You Love Me” “4x4xU” — Lainey Wilson “Ain't No Love In Oklahoma” — Luke Combs ”Am I Okay?” — Megan Moroney “I Never Lie” — Zach Top2024 Chris Stapleton"White Horse" "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" — Shaboozey "Watermelon Moonshine” — Lainey Wilson "Dirt Cheap" — Cody Johnson "I Had Some Help" — Post Malone (ft. Morgan Wallen)2023 Luke Combs"Fast Car" "Heart Like a Truck" — Lainey Wilson "Need a Favor" — Jelly Roll "Next Thing You Know" — Jordan Davis "Wait in the Truck — HARDY (ft. Lainey Wilson)2022 Cody Johnson"'Til You Can't" "Buy Dirt" — Jordan Davis (ft. Luke Bryan) "Half of My Hometown" — Kelsea Ballerini (ft. Kenny Chesney) "Never Wanted to Be That Girl" — Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde "You Should Probably Leave" — Chris Stapleton2021 Chris Stapleton"Starting Over" "Famous Friends" — Chris Young (ft. Kane Brown) "The Good Ones" — Gabby Barrett "Hell of a View" — Eric Church "One Night Standards" — Ashley McBryde 2020 Maren Morris "The Bones" "10,000 Hours" — Dan + Shay (ft. Justin Bieber) "Beer Never Broke My Heart" — Luke Combs "Bluebird" — Miranda Lambert "I Hope" — Gabby Barrett 2019 Blake Shelton "God's Country" "Burning Man" — Dierks Bentley (ft. Brothers Osborne) "Girl" — Maren Morris "Millionaire" — Chris Stapleton "Speechless" — Dan + Shay2018 Chris Stapleton "Broken Halos" "Drinkin' Problem" — Midland "Drowns the Whiskey" — Jason Aldean (ft. Miranda Lambert) "Meant to Be" — Bebe Rexha (ft. Florida Georgia Line) "Tequila" — Dan + Shay2017 Keith Urban "Blue Ain't Your Color" "Better Man" — Little Big Town "Body Like a Back Road" — Sam Hunt "Dirt on My Boots" — Jon Pardi "Tin Man" — Miranda Lambert2016 Thomas Rhett "Die a Happy Man" "Humble and Kind" — Tim McGraw "My Church" — Maren Morris "Nobody to Blame" — Chris Stapleton "Record Year" — Eric Church2015 Little Big Town "Girl Crush" "American Kids — Kenny Chesney "I Don't Dance" — Lee Brice "Take Your Time" — Sam Hunt "Talladega" — Eric Church2014 Miranda Lambert "Automatic" "Drunk on a Plane" — Dierks Bentley "Give Me Back My Hometown" — Eric Church "Meanwhile Back at Mama's" — Tim McGraw (ft. Faith Hill) "Mine Would Be You" — Blake Shelton2013 Florida Georgia Line "Cruise" "Highway Don't Care" — Tim McGraw (ft. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban) "Mama's Broken Heart" — Miranda Lambert "Merry Go 'Round" — Kacey Musgraves "Wagon Wheel" — Darius Rucker2012 Little Big Town "Pontoon" "Dirt Road Anthem" — Jason Aldean "God Gave Me You" — Blake Shelton "Home" — Dierks Bentley "Springsteen" — Eric Church2011 The Band Perry "If I Die Young" "A Little Bit Stronger" — Sara Evans "Colder Weather" — Zac Brown Band "Don't You Wanna Stay" — Jason Aldean (ft. Kelly Clarkson) "Honey Bee" — Blake Shelton2010 Lady Antebellum "Need You Now" "A Little More Country Than That" — Easton Corbin "Hillbilly Bone" — Blake Shelton (ft. Trace Adkins) "The House That Built Me" — Miranda Lambert "White Liar" — Miranda Lambert2009 Lady Antebellum "I Run to You" "Chicken Fried" — Zac Brown Band "In Color" — Jamey Johnson "People Are Crazy" — Billy Currington "Then" — Brad Paisley2008 George Strait "I Saw God Today" "Don't Blink" — Kenny Chesney "Gunpowder & Lead — Miranda Lambert "Stay" — Sugarland "You're Gonna Miss This" — Trace Adkins2007 Carrie Underwood "Before He Cheats" "Anyway" — Martina McBride "Lost in This Moment" — Big & Rich "Ticks" — Brad Paisley "Wrapped" — George Strait2006 Brooks & Dunn "Believe" "Better Life — Keith Urban "Jesus, Take the Wheel" — Carrie Underwood "Summertime" — Kenny Chesney "When I Get Where I'm Going" — Brad Paisley (ft. Dolly Parton)2005 Lee Ann Womack "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" "Alcohol — Brad Paisley "As Good as I Once Was" — Toby Keith "Baby Girl" — Sugarland "Bless the Broken Road" — Rascal Flatts2004 Tim McGraw "Live Like You Were Dying" "I Love This Bar" — Toby Keith "Redneck Woman" — Gretchen Wilson "Remember When" — Alan Jackson "Whiskey Lullaby" — Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss2003 Johnny Cash "Hurt" "Beer for My Horses" — Toby Keith (ft. Willie Nelson) "Celebrity — Brad Paisley "Have You Forgotten?" — Darryl Worley "Three Wooden Crosses" — Randy Travis2002 Alan Jackson "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" "Blessed" — Martina McBride "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" — Toby Keith "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" — Alan Jackson "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" — Brad Paisley2001 The Soggy Bottom Boys "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" — Brooks & Dunn "Born to Fly" — Sara Evans "I'm Already There" — Lone Star "One More Day" — Diamond Rio2000 Lee Ann Womack Sons of the Desert "I Hope You Dance" "Breathe" — Faith Hill "Buy Me a Rose" — Kenny Rogers "He Didn't Have to Be" — Brad Paisley "How Do You Like Me Now?!" — Toby Keith1999 Dixie Chicks "Wide Open Spaces" "Amazed" — Lonestar "Choices" — George Jones "Don't Laugh at Me" — Mark Wills "Please Remember Me" — Tim McGraw1998 Steve Wariner "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" "A Broken Wing" — Martina McBride "I Just Want to Dance with You" — George Strait "This Kiss" — Faith Hill "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" — Patty Loveless (ft. George Jones)1997 Deana Carter "Strawberry Wine" "All the Good Ones Are Gone" — Pam Tillis "Carried Away" — George Strait "It's Your Love" — Tim McGraw (ft. Faith Hill) "One Night at a Time" — George Strait1996 George Strait "Check Yes or No" "Blue" — LeAnn Rimes "Go Rest High on That Mountain" — Vince Gill "My Maria" — Brooks & Dunn "Time Marches On" — Tracy Lawrence1995 Alison Krauss & Union Station "When You Say Nothing at All" "Any Man of Mine" — Shania Twain "Baby Likes to Rock It" — The Tractors "Gone Country" — Alan Jackson "The Keeper of the Stars" — Tracy Byrd1994 John Michael Montgomery "I Swear" "Does He Love You" — Reba McEntire and Linda Davis "Don't Take the Girl" — Tim McGraw "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" — Mary Chapin Carpenter "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" — Patty Loveless1993 Alan Jackson "Chattahoochee" "Ain't That Lonely Yet" — Dwight Yoakam "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" — Vince Gill "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" — George Jones "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane" — Tanya Tucker1992 Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart" "I Feel Lucky" — Mary Chapin Carpenter "Look at Us" — Vince Gill "Love, Me" — Collin Raye "Maybe It Was Memphis" — Pam Tillis1991 Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" "Don't Rock the Jukebox" — Alan Jackson "Don't Tell Me What to Do" — Pam Tillis "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" — Travis Tritt "Pocket Full of Gold" — Vince Gill1990 Vince Gill "When I Call Your Name" "Here in the Real World" — Alan Jackson "If Tomorrow Never Comes" — Garth Brooks "Killin' Time" — Clint Black "Where've You Been" — Kathy Mattea1989 Keith Whitley "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" "A Better Man" — Clint Black "After All This Time" — Rodney Crowell "Chiseled in Stone" — Vern Gosdin "I'll Leave This World Loving You" — Ricky Van Shelton1988 Kathy Mattea "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" "Do Ya" — K. T. Oslin "I Told You So" — Randy Travis "Somebody Lied" — Ricky Van Shelton "Tennessee Flat Top Box" — Rosanne Cash1987 Randy Travis "Forever and Ever, Amen" "All My Ex's Live in Texas" — George Strait "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You" — The O'Kanes "The Right Left Hand" — George Jones "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" — Kathy Mattea1986 Dan Seals "Bop" "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)" — The Judds "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her" — George Strait "On the Other Hand" — Randy Travis "Whoever's in New England" — Reba McEntire1985 The Judds "Why Not Me" "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" — Mel McDaniel "Country Boy" — Ricky Skaggs "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" — George Strait "Highwayman" — The Highwaymen1984 Anne Murray "A Little Good News" "Holding Her and Loving You" — Earl Thomas Conley "Islands in the Stream" — Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton "Mama He's Crazy" — The Judds "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" — Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson1983 John Anderson "Swingin'" "Heartbroke" — Ricky Skaggs "I Always Get Lucky with You" — George Jones "I.O.U." — Lee Greenwood "Pancho and Lefty" — Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson1982 Willie Nelson "Always on My Mind" "Crying My Heart Out Over You" — Ricky Skaggs "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" — David Frizzell "It Turns Me Inside Out" — Lee Greenwood "Love in the First Degree" — Alabama1981 Oak Ridge Boys "Elvira" "I Believe in You" — Don Williams "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" — Barbara Mandrell "Old Flame" — Alabama "Somebody's Knockin'" — Terri Gibbs1980 George Jones "He Stopped Loving Her Today" "All the Gold in California" — Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers "Coward of the County" — Kenny Rogers "Good Ole Boys Like Me" — Don Williams "In America" — Charlie Daniels Band1979 Charlie Daniels Band "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" "Amanda" — Waylon Jennings "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)" — Barbara Mandrell "The Gambler" — Kenny Rogers "You Needed Me" — Anne Murray1978 The Kendalls "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" "Blue Bayou" — Linda Ronstadt "Here You Come Again" — Dolly Parton "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" — Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson "Take This Job and Shove It" — Johnny Paycheck1977 Kenny Rogers "Lucille" "It Was Almost Like a Song" — Ronnie Milsap "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" — Waylon Jennings "Margaritaville" — Jimmy Buffett "Southern Nights" — Glen Campbell1976 Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson "Good Hearted Woman" "Convoy" — C. W. McCall "Teddy Bear" — Red Sovine "The Blind Man in the Bleachers" — Kenny Starr "The Door Is Always Open" — Dave and Sugar1975 Freddy Fender "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" — B. J. Thomas "I'm Not Lisa" — Jessi Colter "Rhinestone Cowboy" — Glen Campbell "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" — John Denver1974 Cal Smith "Country Bumpkin" "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" — Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" — Olivia Newton—John "The Most Beautiful Girl" — Charlie Rich "The Streak" — Ray Stevens1973 Charlie Rich "Behind Closed Doors" "(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine" — Tom T. Hall "Satin Sheets" — Jeanne Pruett "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" — Cal Smith