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Widely hailed as "Country Music's Biggest Night," the CMA Awards recognize outstanding achievement in Country Music for artists, musicians, producers, publishers, songwriters, video directors and industry executives. CMA Award winners are chosen by their peers, through a vote by CMA members who are professionals in the Country Music industry. The televised ceremony is a gala event, anticipated by Country Music professionals and fans all year long!


-		Barbara Mandrell and Mac Davis began a three-year run as hosts.
-		Barbara Mandrell named Entertainer of the Year.
-		Burt Reynolds joined Jerry Reed in announcing the Male Vocalist Award.


-		The Horizon Award was presented for the first time, with Terri Gibbs taking the honor.
-		Barbara Mandrell became the first performer to repeat as Entertainer of the Year.
-		Alabama made the group's first appearance on the CMA Awards.
-		Willie Nelson's "Always On My Mind" captured Single, Song and Album of the Year.


-		Alabama became the first group to win Entertainer of the Year.
-		Single, Song and Album of the Year trophies were captured for the second straight year by Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind."


-		Kris Kristofferson honored by his friends with a medley of his self-penned songs.
-		Two duet performances took place that still stand as memorable CMA Awards highlights: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton singing "Islands in the Stream," and Willie Nelson joined by Julio Iglesias to perform "To All the Girls I've Loved Before."
-		The Irving Waugh Award of Excellence was presented for the first time to the man for whom it is named. Waugh served as executive producer of the CMA Awards for more than 25 years.


-		Alabama named Entertainer of the Year an unprecedented third time.
-		Lionel Richie was a surprise duet partner with Kenny Rogers on "Lady."
-		Ray Charles, who was nominated for the Horizon Award, performed a medley from his Friendship album.


-		Anne Murray and Kris Kristofferson hosted "The 19th Annual CMA Awards" gala.
-		The Video of the Year Award presented for the first time to Hank Williams Jr. for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin' Over Tonight."
-		Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price and Juice Newton paid tribute to songwriter Willie Nelson.
-		New traditionalist Ricky Skaggs won Entertainer of the Year.


-		Hosted by Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.
-		Amy Grant joined Ricky Skaggs for "Walking in Jerusalem."
-		Alabama and Lionel Richie joined forces on "Deep River Woman."
-		Anita Pointer and Earl Thomas Conley reprised their "Too Many Times."
-		The Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris) performed.
-		Songwriters Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet earned Song of the Year honors for Randy Travis' "On the Other Hand."


-		Kenny Rogers hosted.
-		· Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet repeated as winners of Song of the Year for the Randy Travis classic, "Forever and Ever, Amen."
-		The CMA Awards first broadcast in Canada.
-		Hank Williams Jr.'s anthem "Young Country" spotlighted emerging talents Lyle Lovett, Nancy Griffith, K.T. Oslin and others.
-		Williams won his first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.
-		Reba McEntire won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year Award.


-		Dolly Parton hosted the gala for the first time.
-		Vocal Event of the Year Award introduced for the first time to recognize the collaboration of two or more individual acts. It was presented to The Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris). k.d. Lang was joined by Kitty Wells, Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn to reprise their "Honky Tonk Angels."
-		K.T. Oslin ended Reba's four-year reign as Female Vocalist of the Year. Her self-penned anthem, "80's Ladies," also won Song of the Year.


-		Anne Murray and Kenny Rogers hosted the gala event.
-		Dolly Parton electrified the audience with "He's Alive," backed by a 100-voice choir.
-		Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. II captured Album of the Year honors, and many of the participants, including Roy Acuff and John Hiatt, joined The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in the performance.
-		George Strait won the first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.
-		Hank Thompson inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.