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• The Country Music Association Awards is a televised award show, honoring members of the country music scene. The CMA's were founded in 1958 and they are the first organization to promote a certain type of music. The organization started with 233 members and today has more than 6,000 members in 41 countries.CMA World: The History of the CMA's

• Fast Facts

  1. The 42nd CMA Awards airs on November 12, 8/7c on ABC
  2. The 41st CMA Awards aired on November 7, 9/8c on ABC
  3. Very first show in 1968 was untelevised
  4. 1969: First aired NBC
  5. 1972: Changed to CBS
  6. 2006: Changed to ABC

• 41 Years of History Highlights

  • 1967: The first CMA Awards; not televised
  • 1968: The awards were taped by NBC
  • 1969: First live television broadcast
  • 1970: Merle Haggard nominated for nine awards
  • 1971: Charley Pride won both "Male Vocalist" and "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 1972: Loretta Lynn first female to be named "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 1973: Roy Clark named "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 1974: Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn won "Vocal Duo of the Year"
  • 1975: Dolly Parton wins her first "Female Vocalist"
  • 1976: The broadcast expanded from 60 to 90 minutes
  • 1977: Ronnie Milsap won three awards
  • 1978: The awards were simulcast on radio for the first time
  • 1979: Kenny Rogers hosted the broadcast
  • 1980: Johnny Cash inducted into the "Country Music Hall of Fame"
  • 1981: "The Horizon Award" was presented for the first time
  • 1982: Alabama became the first group to win "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 1983: Little Jimmy Dickens was inducted into the "Country Music Hall of Fame"
  • 1984: Reba McEntire won her first "Female Vocalist of the Year"
  • 1985: Hank Williams, Jr. wins "Music Video of the Year Award"
  • 1986: Hosted by Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson
  • 1987: The awards were first broadcast in Canada
  • 1988: Marked the first two-hour broadcast on the CBS
  • 1989: The broadcast won its time slot in the ratings raceOfficial Site: History of the CMS's
  • 1990: Garth Brooks won the "Horizon Award"
  • 1991: President and Mrs. George Bush attend the broadcast
  • 1992: More than 48 million viewers watched all or part of the gala eventOfficial Site: History of the CMS's
  • 1993: Reba McEntire wore her infamous red dress with its plunging neckline
  • 1994: Highest-rated entertainment special on CBSOfficial Site: History of the CMS's
  • 1995: Alan Jackson won his first "Entertainer of the Year Award"
  • 1996: Brooks & Dunn become the first duo in history to win "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 1997: Shania Twain made her first public performance
  • 1998: Elvis Presley entered the "Country Music Hall of Fame"
  • 1999: Vince Gill hosts for the eighth consecutive year
  • 2000: Montgomery Gentry end Brooks & Dunn’s eight-year winning streak
  • 2001: Tim McGraw named "Entertainer of the Year"
  • 2002: Alan Jackson made history when he was nominated for 10 awards
  • 2003: Martina McBride picked up her third "Female Vocalist of the Year"
  • 2004: Kenny Chesney picked up his first two CMA awards
  • 2005: Garth Brooks came out of retirement to perform
  • 2006: Show moved to ABC
  • 2007: Brad Paisley wins "Male Vocalist of the Year"

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  CMA Awards 2008 | CMA Winners 2008 | Toby Keith CMA Awards | CMA 2007 Winners | CMA Music Festival | CMA Nominations | Academy of Country Music | Carrie Underwood | Country Music Awards Fashion | Country Music Awards Performances 2009 | Watch Country Music Awards Online | Country Music Awards Winners 2009 | CMT Music Award Nominees 2009

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