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The “Album of the Year” award has been a part of every Country Music Association Awards since the first ceremony in 1967, recognizing the artists, producers and mix engineers for what the CMA views as the best album of that year.
In 2024, Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well, Luke Combs’ Fathers & Sons, Chris Stapleton’s Higher, Cody Johnson’s Leather and Jelly Roll’s Whitsitt Chapel were all nominated for “Album of the Year.”
In honor of the award, here’s a look at the most nominations in the category by artists who’ve been nominated multiple times.
1. George Strait – 18 nominations
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Like many of these categories, Strait leads all other artists in nominations for the “Album of the Year” award, winning it a record five times in 1985, 1996, 1997, 2007 and 2008.
2. Alan Jackson – 12 nominations
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Jackson has won the award twice; once as part of the ensemble album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles in 1994, and again for his album Drive in 2002.
3. Merle Haggard – 11 nominations
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Haggard won the award in 1970 for Okie from Muskogee and in 1972 for Let Me Tell You About a Song.
4. Vince Gill – eight nominations
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Gill won the award twice; in 1993 for I Still Believe in You, and again in 1994 for the ensemble album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
5. Brooks & Dunn – eight nominations
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Brooks & Dunn hold the record for the most nominations without a win, last being nominated in 2008 for Cowboy Town.
6. Ronnie Milsap – six nominations
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Milsap is second only Strait for the most wins in the category. He won the award in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1986. He held the record until “King George” tied him in 2007 and then broke the record the following year.
7. Willie Nelson – six nominations
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Nelson won the award twice; in 1976 for Wanted! The Outlaws and in 1982 for Always on My Mind.
8. Miranda Lambert – six nominations
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Lambert holds the record for the most wins in the category by any female artist, winning in 2010 for Revolution and again in 2014 for Platinum. She shares the record for most nominations for a female artist with Reba McEntire.
9. Brad Paisley – six nominations
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Paisley won the award in 2006 for Time Well Wasted.
10. Conway Twitty – six nomination
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Twitty was last nominated for the award in 1975 for Feelins’.
11. Dierks Bentley – six nominations
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Bentley was last nominated in 2018 for The Mountain.
12. Keith Urban – six nominations
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Urban was last nominated for the award in 2018 for Graffiti U.
13. Reba McEntire – six nominations
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While sharing the record with Lambert for the most nominations for a female artist, McEntire also holds the record for most nominations for a female artist without a win.
14. Tim McGraw – five nominations
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McGraw won the award in back-to-back years; in 1998 for Everywhere and 1999 for A Place in the Sun.
15. Eric Church – five nominations
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Church has won the award twice; in 2012 for Chief and in 2016 for Mr. Misunderstood.
16. Alabama – five nominations
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Alabama became the first group to win the award in 1983, for their album The Closer You Get.
17. Kenny Chesney – five nominations
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Chesney won the award in 2004 for When the Sun Goes Down.
18. Carrie Underwood – five nominations
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Underwood was last nominated for the award in 2019 for Cry Pretty.
19. Loretta Lynn – five nominations
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Lynn was last nominated in 1977 for her album I Remember Patsy.
20. Johnny Cash – four nominations
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Cash won three times; in 1968, 1969 and posthumously in 2003.
21. Garth Brooks – four nominations
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Brooks won the award twice; in 1991 for No Fences and in 1992 for Ropin’ the Wind.
22. Waylon Jennings – four nominations
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Jennings won the award in 1976 for Wanted! The Outlaws.
23. Trisha Yearwood – four nominations
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Yearwood won the award in 1994 for her part on Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
24. Charley Pride – four nominations
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Pride was last nominated for the award in 1980 for There’s a Little Bit of Hank in Me.
25. Dolly Parton – four nominations
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Parton was last nominated in 1987 for Trio.
26. Glen Campbell – four nominations
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Campbell was nominated twice in 1968 for By the Time I Get to Phoenix and Gentle on My Mind.
27. George Jones – four nominations
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 Jones was last nominated by himself in 1987 for Wine Colored Roses.Â
28. Luke Combs – three nominations
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Combs won the award twice; in 2020 for What You See Is What You Get and in 2022 for Growin’ Up.
29. Kenny Rogers – three nominations
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Rogers won the award in 1979 for The Gambler.
30. Randy Travis – three nominations
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Travis won the award in 1987 for Always And Forever.
31. Clint Black – three nominations
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Black won the award in 1994 for his part on Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
32. Tanya Tucker – three nominations
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Tucker won the award in 1994 for her part on Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
33. Patty Loveless – three nominations
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Loveless won the award in 1995 for When Fallen Angels Fly.
34. Emmylou Harris – three nominations
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Harris won the award in 2001 for her part on O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
35. Taylor Swift – three nominations
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Swift won the award in 2009 for Fearless.
36. Kacey Musgraves – three nominations
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Musgraves won the award in 2018 for Golden Hour.
37. Lady A – three nominations
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Lady A was last nominated in 2017 for Heart Break.
38. Little Big Town – three nominations
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Little Big Town was last nominated in 2017 for The Breaker.
39. Maren Morris – three nominations
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Morris was last nominated for the award in 2022 for Humble Quest.
40. Ricky Skaggs – three nominations
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Skaggs was nominated three consecutive years from 1983 to 1985.
41. Toby Keith – three nominations
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Keith was nominated three consecutive years from 2002 to 2004.
42. Wynonna Judd – three nominations
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Judd’s solo record, Wynonna, was nominated in 1992.
43. Ray Price – two nominations
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Price won the award in 1971 for I Won’t Mention It Again.
44. Don Williams – two nominations
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Williams won the award in 1981 for I Believe in You.
45. John Anderson – two nominations
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Anderson won the award in 1994 for his part on Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
46. Travis Tritt – two nominations
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Tritt won the award in 1994 for Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
47. The Chicks – two nominations
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The Chicks won the award in 2000 for Fly.
48. Alison Krauss – two nominations
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Krauss won the award in 2001 for her part on O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
49. Lee Ann Womack – two nominations
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Womack won the award in 2005 for There’s More Where That Came From.
50. Jason Aldean – two nominations
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Aldean won the award in 2011 for My Kinda Party.
51. Lainey Wilson – two nominations
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Wilson won the award in 2023 for Bell Bottom Country.
52. Ashley McBryde – two nominations
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McBryde was nominated in 2023 for Ashley McBryde presents: Lindeville.
53. Kathy Mattea – two nominations
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Mattea was nominated for the award in 1988 and 1989.
54. Luke Bryan – two nominations
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Bryan was last nominated for the award in 2014 for Crash My Party.
55. Morgan Wallen – two nominations
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Wallen was last nominated in 2023 for One Thing at a Time.
56. Old Dominion – two nominations
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Old Dominion was last nominated in 2022 for Time, Tequila & Therapy.
57. Rascal Flatts – two nominations
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Rascal Flatts was nominated for the award in 2005 and 2006.
58. Rickie Van Shelton – two nominations
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Van Shelton was nominated for the award in 1989 and 1990.
59. Sonny James – two nominations
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James was last nominated in 1976 for 200 Years of Country Music.
60. Tammy Wynette – two nominations
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Wynette was nominated for the award in 1968 and 1969.
61. The Judds – two nominations
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The Judds were nominated for the award in 1985 and 1986.
62. Thomas Rhett – two nominations
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Rhett was nominated for the award in 2018 and 2019.
