This article lists the winners and nominees for the Academy of Country Music's Male Artist of the Year. The award was first given in 1966, entitled Top Male Vocalist. The following is the list of winners, with the year representing the nominated work.
Winners and nominees YearWinnerNominees2026 Cody Johnson Luke Combs Riley Green Chris Stapleton Zach Top2025 Chris Stapleton Luke Combs Cody Johnson Jelly Roll Morgan Wallen2024 Chris Stapleton Luke Combs Jelly Roll Cody Johnson Morgan Wallen2023 Morgan Wallen Kane Brown Luke Combs Jordan Davis Chris Stapleton2022 Chris Stapleton Jimmie Allen Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Morgan Wallen2021 Thomas Rhett Dierks Bentley Eric Church Luke Combs Chris Stapleton2020 Luke Combs Dierks Bentley Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2019 Thomas Rhett Dierks Bentley Luke Combs Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2018 Chris Stapleton Jason Aldean Thomas Rhett Keith Urban Chris Young2017 Thomas Rhett Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Chris Stapleton Keith Urban2016 Chris Stapleton Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Eric Church Brett Eldredge2015 Jason Aldean Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Brad Paisley Blake Shelton2014 Jason Aldean Lee Brice Luke Bryan Blake Shelton Keith Urban2013 Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Eric Church Blake Shelton Toby Keith2012 Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Chris Young2011 Brad Paisley Jason Aldean Blake Shelton George Strait Keith Urban2010 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney Darius Rucker George Strait Keith Urban2009 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney Toby Keith George Strait Keith Urban2008 Brad Paisley Rodney Atkins Kenny Chesney George Strait Keith Urban2007 Brad Paisley Kenny Chesney Toby Keith George Strait Keith Urban2006 Keith Urban Dierks Bentley Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley George Strait2005 Keith Urban Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Toby Keith Tim McGraw2004 Toby Keith Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Tim McGraw Keith Urban2003 Kenny Chesney Alan Jackson Toby Keith Tim McGraw George Strait2002 Alan Jackson Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGraw Travis Tritt2001 Toby Keith Kenny Chesney Tim McGraw Brad Paisley George Strait2000 Tim McGraw Alan Jackson Toby Keith Collin Raye George Strait1999 Tim McGraw Garth Brooks Vince Gill Collin Raye George Strait1998 George Strait Alan Jackson Tim McGraw Collin Raye Bryan White1997 George Strait Vince Gill Alan Jackson Collin Raye Bryan White1996 Alan Jackson John Berry Vince Gill Tim McGraw George Strait1995 Alan Jackson Garth Brooks Joe Diffie Vince Gill George Strait1994 Vince Gill Clint Black Garth Brooks Billy Ray Cyrus Alan Jackson1993 Vince Gill Garth Brooks Billy Dean Alan Jackson Doug Stone1992 Garth Brooks Clint Black Vince Gill Alan Jackson Doug Stone1991 Garth Brooks Clint Black Vince Gill George Strait Ricky Van Shelton1990 Clint Black Rodney Crowell George Strait Randy Travis Ricky Van Shelton1989 George Strait Randy Travis Ricky Van Shelton Hank Williams Jr. Dwight Yoakam1988 Randy Travis Ronnie Milsap George Strait Steve Wariner Hank Williams Jr.1987 Randy Travis Earl Thomas Conley George Strait George Jones Hank Williams Jr.1986 George Strait Earl Thomas Conley Gary Morris Ricky Skaggs Hank Williams Jr.1985 George Strait Lee Greenwood Gary Morris Kenny Rogers Ricky Skaggs1984 Lee Greenwood John Anderson Earl Thomas Conley Merle Haggard Ricky Skaggs1983 Ronnie Milsap Merle Haggard Willie Nelson Ricky Skaggs Hank Williams Jr.1982 Merle Haggard Ronnie Milsap George Jones Kenny Rogers Hank Williams Jr.1981 George Jones Ronnie Milsap Eddie Rabbitt Kenny Rogers Don Williams1980 Larry Gatlin Moe Bandy Waylon Jennings Kenny Rogers Don Williams1979 Kenny Rogers Larry Gatlin Merle Haggard Eddie Rabbitt Don Williams1978 Kenny Rogers Mickey Gilley Ronnie Milsap Mel Tillis Conway Twitty1977 Mickey Gilley Tom Bresh Marty Robbins Mel Tillis Conway Twitty1976 Conway Twitty Glen Campbell Mickey Gilley Merle Haggard Willie Nelson1975 Merle Haggard John Denver Ronnie Milsap Cal Smith Conway Twitty1974 Charlie Rich Merle Haggard Marty Robbins Johnny Rodriguez Conway Twitty1973 Merle Haggard Tony Booth Freddie Hart Ray Price Charley Pride Conway Twitty1972 Freddie Hart Merle Haggard Charley Pride Marty Robbins Conway Twitty1971 Merle Haggard Glen Campbell Ray Price Charley Pride Marty Robbins1970 Merle Haggard Glen Campbell Johnny Cash Billy Mize Charley Pride1969 Glen Campbell Merle Haggard Roger Miller Billy Mize Jerry Wallace1968 Glen Campbell Merle Haggard Dean Martin Billy Mize Buck Owens1967 Merle Haggard Buck Owens Glen Campbell Roger Miller Tex Williams Wynn Stewart1966 Buck Owens Glen Campbell Johnny Cash Freddie Hart Roger Miller Jerry Wallace
Category records
Wins Most wins — Merle Haggard (6). Most wins from the 1960s — Glen Campbell (2). Most wins from the 1970s — Merle Haggard (4). Most wins from the 1980s — George Strait (3). Most wins from the 1990s — Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, George Strait (2). Most wins from the 2000s — Brad Paisley (3). Most wins from the 2010s — Jason Aldean (3). Most wins from the 2020s — Chris Stapleton (3).
Nominations Most nominated — George Strait (21). Most nominated from the 1960s — Glen Campbell (4). Most nominated from the 1970s — Merle Haggard (8). Most nominated from the 1980s — Hank Williams Jr. (6) Most nominated from the 1990s — Vince Gill (8). Most nominated from the 2000s — Kenny Chesney (9). Most nominated from the 2010s — Jason Aldean (8). Most nominated from the 2020s — Luke Combs (7), Chris Stapleton (7).
References