It’s always at the end of the CMA Awards ceremony. The audience full of fans and the country stars alike wait with eager anticipation to hear the name called for the evening’s highest honor: Entertainer of the Year.
Since the CMA Awards’ inception in 1967, when Eddy Arnold nabbed the first-ever Entertainer of the Year trophy, there have been many deserving country singers awarded the title. In 1972, Loretta Lynn became the first woman to be named Entertainer of the Year; after more than five decades, Barbara Mandrell and Taylor Swift are the only women who have won it twice.
Names such as as Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Alabama have all been called following that excruciating pause before the big reveal. Garth Brooks won twice in the early 1990s, and he is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, after regaining his crown in 2016.
Brooks will also have a chance to defend his crown this year. Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban are also in the running for Entertainer of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards.
The 2017 CMA Awards are scheduled to air on ABC on Nov. 8, at 8PM ET; the ceremony will take place live at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the ceremony for the 10th year in a row.
The Boot will be staying up late covering the most buzzed-about winners, fashion and moments at the 2017 CMA Awards. Readers can watch along with us by checking back to TheBoot.com for the latest CMAs headlines, liking The Boot on Facebook and following The Boot on Twitter.
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