Source: George Strait performs onstage at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 11, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. Strait has been nominated for the CMA’s “Single of the Year” award more than any other artist. (Tony R. Phipps/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
The “Single of the Year” award at the Country Music Association Awards has been a staple since the inaugural ceremony back in 1967. The “Single of the Year” award recognizes the artist on the nominated track, while its sister award, “Song of the Year,” recognizes the songwriters.
To qualify for the award, the song must have reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart or Country Aircheck Chart for the first time during the qualifying period, whether released prior to or during said period.
For the 58th Annual CMA Awards, Shaboozey and A Bar Song (Tipsy), Lainey Wilson and Watermelon Moonshine, Cody Johnson and Dirt Cheap, Post Malone and I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen) and Christ Stapleton and White Horse were all nominated.
The nominations mark the first time Shaboozey, Johnson and Malone have been nominated for the award, while Wilson earns her second nomination in the category. Stapleton, who has won the award twice before, has the chance to make CMA history if White Horse wins, which would give the musician the most wins for the award. In honor of the “Single of the Year” award, here’s a look at which artists have received the most nominations in the category:
1. George Strait – nine nominations
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Strait leads all artists nominated for the category with nine. He won the award in 1996 for Check Yes or No and in 2008 for I Saw God Today. “King George” is one of eight artists to have won the award multiple times, tied for first with the other seven as of 2023.
2. Miranda Lambert – eight nominations
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Lambert has the most nominations for the award from any female artist, winning it in 2014 for her song Automatic.
3. Brad Paisley – eight nominations
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Despite eight nominations for the award, Paisley has never won it; the most nominations without a win by any artist.
4. Willie Nelson – seven nominations
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Nelson has won the award twice; in 1976 for his song with Waylon Jennings, Good Hearted Woman, and in 1982 for Always on My Mind.
5. Alan Jackson – seven nominations
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Jackson is a two-time winner of the award, first winning in 1993 for Chattahoochee and again in 2002 for Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).
6. Tim McGraw – seven nominations
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McGraw won the award in 2004 for Live Like You Were Dying.
7. George Jones – six nominations
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Jones won the award in 1980 for He Stopped Loving Her Today.
8. Johnny Cash – five nominations
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Cash won the award twice, with 33 years between wins. He first won in 1969 for A Boy Named Sue, and again in 2003 for his cover of Nine Inch Nail’s Hurt.
9. Chris Stapleton – five nominations
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Stapleton has won the award twice, with the opportunity win a third time in 2024. He won in 2018 for Broken Halos and again in 2021 for Starting Over.
10. Waylon Jennings – five nominations
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Jennings won the award with Nelson in 1976 for Good Hearted Woman.
11. Kenny Rogers – five nominations
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Rogers won the award in 1977 for Lucille.
12. Vince Gill – five nominations
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Gill won the award in 1990 for When I Call Your Name.
13. Blake Shelton – five nominations
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Shelton won the award in 2019 for God’s Country.
14. Eric Church – five nominations
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Church was last nominated for the award in 2021 for Hell of a View.
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16. Toby Keith – five nominations
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Keith was last nominated for the award in 2005 for As Good as I Once Was.
17. Randy Travis – four nominations
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Travis won the award in 1987 for Forever and Ever, Amen.
18. Faith Hill – four nominations
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Hill has the most nominations for the award by any female artist without winning.
19. Glen Campbell – four nominations
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Campbell was last nominated for the award in 1977 for Southern Nights.
20. Kenny Chesney – four nominations
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Chesney was last nominated for the award in 2015 for American Kids.
21. Little Big Town – three nominations
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 Little Big Town have won the award twice, first winning in 2012 for Pontoon. The group won again in 2015 for Girl Crush.
22. The Judds – three nominations
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The Judds won the award in 1985 for Why Not Me.
23. Kathy Mattea – three nominations
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Mattea won the award in 1988 for Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses.
24. Brooks & Dunn – three nominations
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Brooks & Dunn won the award in 2006 for Believe.
25. Keith Urban – three nominations
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Urban won the award in 2017 for Blue Ain’t Your Color.
26. Maren Morris – three nominations
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Morris won the award in 2020 for The Bones.
27. Charlie Pride – three nominations
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Pride was last nominated for the award in 1972 for Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.
28. Dan + Shay – three nominations
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Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney had three consecutive nominations for the award from 2018 to 2020.
29. Dierks Bentley – three nominations
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Bentley was last nominated for the award in 2019 for Burning Man.
30. Dolly Parton – three nominations
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Parton was last nominated for the award in 2006 when she featured on Paisley’s When I Get Where I’m Going.
31. Jason Aldean – three nominations
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Aldean was last nominated for the award in 2018 for Drowns the Whiskey.
32. Martina McBride – three nominations
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McBride was last nominated for the award in 2007 for Anyway.
33. Pam Tillis – three nominations
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Tillis was last nominated for the award in 1997 for All the Good Ones Are Gone.
34. Ricky Skaggs – three nominations
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Skaggs was last nominated for the award in 1985 for Country Boy.
35. Lee Ann Womack – two nominations
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Womack won the award both times she was nominated: She first won in 2000 for I Hope You Dance with Sons of the Desert, and again in 2005 for I May Hate Myself in the Morning.
36. Lady A – two nominations
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Lady A won the award both times they were nominated; in 2009 for I Run to You and in 2010 for Need You Now.
37. Charlie Rich – two nominations
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Rich won the award in 1973 for Behind Closed Doors.
38. Cal Smith – two nominations
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Smith won the award in 1974 for Country Bumpkin.
39. Charlie Daniels Band – two nominations
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The Charlie Daniels Band won the award in 1979 for The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
40. Anne Murray – two nominations
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Murray won the award in 1984 for A Little Good News.
41. Garth Brooks – two nominations
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Brooks won the award in 1991 for Friends in Low Places.Â
42. Alison Krauss – two nominations
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Krauss won the award with Union Station in 1995 for When You Say Nothing at All.
43. Carrie Underwood – two nominations
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Underwood won the award in 2007 for Before He Cheats.
44. Florida Georgia Line – two nominations
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Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line won the award in 2013 for Cruise.
45. Luke Combs – two nominations
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Combs won the award in 2023 for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.
46. Alabama – two nominations
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Alabama was nominated for the award in 1981 and 1982.
47. Barbara Mandrell – two nominations
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Mandrell was nominated for the award in 1979 and 1981.
48. Clint Black – two nominations
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Black was nominated for the award in 1989 and 1990.
49. Conway Twitty – two nominations
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Twitty was nominated for the award in 1970 and 1974.
50. Don Williams – two nominations
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Williams was nominated for the award in 1980 and 1981.
51. Jerry Reed – two nominations
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Reed was nominated twice in 1971.
52. Kris Kristofferson – two nominations
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Kristofferson was nominated in 1973 as a solo artist and in 1985 with the Highwaymen.
53. Lainey Wilson – two nominations
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Wilson was nominated in 2023, with a chance to win the award in 2024.
54. Lee Greenwood – two nominations
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Greenwood was nominated for the award in 1982 and 1983.
55. Lonestar – two nominations
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Lonestar was nominated for the award in 1999 and 2001.
56. Loretta Lynn – two nominations
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Lynn was nominated for the award in 1972 and 1974.
57. Mary Chapin Carpenter – two nominations
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Carpenter was nominated for the award in 1992 and 1994.
58. Merle Haggard – two nominations
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Haggard won the award in 1970 for Okie Muskogee.
59. Patty Loveless – two nominations
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Loveless was nominated for the award in 1994 and 1998.
60. Reba McEntire – two nominations
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McEntire was nominated for the award in 1986 and 1994.
61. Ricky Van Shelton – two nominations
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Van Shelton was nominated for the award in 1988 and 1989.
62. Sam Hunt – two nominations
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Hunt was nominated for the award in 2015 and 2017.
63. Sara Evans – two nominations
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Evans was nominated for the award in 2001 and 2011.
64. Sugarland – two nominations
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Sugarland was nominated for the award in 2005 and 2008.
65. Trace Adkins – two nominations
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Adkins was nominated for the award in 2008 and 2010.
66. Zac Brown Band – two nominations
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The Zac Brown Band was nominated for the award in 2009 and 2011.
