Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year
The following list shows the recipients of the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year .[ 1] This Award goes to the songwriter(s) and is for artistic achievement in songwriting. Any Country Music song with original words and music is eligible based upon the song's Country singles chart activity during the eligibility period.[ 2] It is the sister category to the Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year , which recognizes the artist, producer and engineer.
It was first handed out at the inaugural 1967 CMA Awards to Dallas Frazier for his song "There Goes My Everything " which had been popularised at that time by Jack Greene . K. T. Oslin became the first woman to win the award in 1988 for her hit "80's Ladies ". Vince Gill is the most awarded songwriter in the category, with four wins, while two—time winner Alan Jackson and 2014 recipient Shane McAnally hold the record for most nominations, with ten each. Bob McDill and Brad Paisley are the most nominated writers not to win, with six nominations. The current holder of the award is Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson , who wrote Stapleton's hit "White Horse ", which won at the 58th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2024.
To date, thirteen men: Dallas Frazier (1967), Bobby Russell (1968), Bob Ferguson (1969), Kris Kristofferson (1970), Freddie Hart (1971—2), Kenny O'Dell (1973), Don Wayne (1974), John Denver (1975), Larry Weiss (1976), Richard Leigh (1978), Don Schlitz (1979), Lee Greenwood (1985) and Vince Gill (1996) and seven women: K.T. Oslin (1988), Gretchen Peters (1995), Jennifer Nettles (2008), Kimberly Perry (2011), Lori McKenna (2016), Taylor Swift (2017) and Tracy Chapman (2023) have won the Song of the Year award with a solo composition.
To date, only three songs, "Easy Loving ", "Always on My Mind " and "He Stopped Loving Her Today ", have received the award in consecutive years and only Freddie Hart , Don Schlitz , Vince Gill and Lori McKenna have won in consecutive years.
Recipients
Tracy Chapman became the first black woman to win a CMA award when Luke Combs ' cover of her 1988 hit "Fast Car " won Song of the Year.
Two—time recipient Chris Stapleton .
Lori McKenna won the award in consecutive years (2015—16) and also received Grammy Awards for the same songs.
2012 winner Blake Shelton wrote "Over You " about the death of his brother.
Jennifer Nettles is one of seven women to receive the award for a solo composition.
Two—time winner Jamey Johnson .
Renowned songwriter Bill Anderson received the award in 2005 and 2007.
Four—time honoree Vince Gill .
1970 recipient Kris Kristofferson won for his classic hit "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down ".
2020s
Year
Songwriter(s)
Title
Nominees
2024
Chris Stapleton Dan Wilson
"White Horse "
“Burn It Down ” — Hillary Lindsey , Parker McCollum , Lori McKenna and Liz Rose
“Dirt Cheap — Josh Phillips
“I Had Some Help ” — Louis Bell , Ashley Gorley , Charlie Handsome , Jonathan Hoskins, Post Malone , Ernest Keith Smith , Morgan Wallen and Chandler Paul Walters
"“The Painter ” — Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
2023
Tracy Chapman
"Fast Car "
"Heart Like a Truck " — Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
"Next Thing You Know " — Jordan Davis , Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
"Tennessee Orange " — David Fanning , Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney , Ben Williams
"Wait in the Truck " — Renee Blair, Michael Hardy , Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
2022
Jacob Davis Jordan Davis Josh Jenkins Matt Jenkins
"Buy Dirt "
2021
Mike Henderson Chris Stapleton
"Starting Over "
2020
Maren Morris Jimmy Robbins Laura Veltz
"The Bones "
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Writers with multiple wins
Writers with multiple nominations
10 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations
References
Awards ceremonies Categories Related articles
1967−1970 1971−1980 1981−1990 1991−2000 2001−2010
"Murder on Music Row " - Larry Cordle , Larry Shell (2001)
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) " - Alan Jackson (2002)
"Three Wooden Crosses " - Doug Johnson , Kim Williams (2003)
"Live Like You Were Dying " - Tim Nichols , Craig Wiseman (2004)
"Whiskey Lullaby " - Bill Anderson , Jon Randall (2005)
"Believe " - Ronnie Dunn , Craig Wiseman (2006)
"Give It Away " - Bill Anderson , Buddy Cannon , Jamey Johnson (2007)
"Stay " - Jennifer Nettles (2008)
"In Color " - Jamey Johnson , Lee Thomas Miller , James Otto (2009)
"The House That Built Me " - Tom Douglas , Allen Shamblin (2010)
2011−2020
"If I Die Young " - Kimberly Perry (2011)
"Over You " - Miranda Lambert , Blake Shelton (2012)
"I Drive Your Truck " - Jessi Alexander , Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary (2013)
"Follow Your Arrow " - Brandy Clark , Shane McAnally , Kacey Musgraves (2014)
"Girl Crush " - Hillary Lindsey , Lori McKenna , Liz Rose (2015)
"Humble and Kind " - Lori McKenna (2016)
"Better Man " - Taylor Swift (2017)
"Broken Halos " - Mike Henderson , Chris Stapleton (2018)
"Beautiful Crazy " - Luke Combs , Wyatt Durrette , Robert Williford (2019)
2021−2030