The very first CMA Awards took place in 1967, which means this year, the Country Music Association will crown its 51st Entertainer of the Year. But which artist was the first to take home the prestigious award?
That honor belongs to Eddy Arnold, a pioneer of the “Nashville Sound.” Nicknamed the “Tennessee Plowboy,” Arnold had 145 songs make the country charts during his 60-year career, 28 of which went to No. 1; that feat puts him second only to George Jones for number of songs to appear on the charts. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966 and passed away in 2008.
Loretta Lynn was the first woman to win the CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year, in 1972. Only six other female performers have won the award in the history of the show — seven if you count the Dixie Chicks — but Taylor Swift has won twice, in 2009 and 2011.
Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney have the most Entertainer of the Year trophies to their names. Brooks took the award home in 1991 and 1992, and then again back to back in 1997 and 1998; Chesney won in 2004, and then three times in a row, in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Check out the video above — part of Taste of Country‘s You Think You Know Country? series — for even more CMA Awards trivia.
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.
Top 10 CMA Awards Moments
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