Garth Brooks performs at the 2005 CMA Awards Show.
Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association

• Reba McEntire and Randy Travis hosted the CMA Awards.

• A then-unknown Mary Chapin Carpenter received a standing ovation for her tongue-in-cheek performance of "Opening Act."

• Roy Rogers joined Randy Travis, George Jones and Tammy Wynette for "Heroes."

• A tearful Tennessee Ernie Ford was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Garth Brooks won the Horizon Award, foreshadowing the start of one of the most successful solo artist careers in music history.

• The Judds, named Vocal Duo, claimed their seventh consecutive Award since winning Horizon Award in 1984.

• Tennessee Ernie Ford was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1991

• President and Mrs. George Bush attend the broadcast, hosted by Reba McEntire.

• The broadcast won the night in ratings and was the second highest-rated special of the 1991-1992-television season with 33 million viewers.

• Garth Brooks won the first of two consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards.

• Boudleaux and Felice Bryant were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

George Jones photo courtesy of Bandit Records

• Reba McEntire and Vince Gill hosted the CMA Awards, which again placed first in the ratings.

• Don Henley was a surprise addition to Trisha Yearwood's performance of "Walkaway Joe."

• George Jones and BMI's Frances Preston were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Brooks & Dunn unseated The Judds as Vocal Duo of the Year.

• More than 48 million viewers watched all or part of the gala event.

• George Jones and Frances William Preston are named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• For the first time, UK Channel 4 telecast an edited version of the CMA Awards in the UK.

1993

• "The 27th Annual CMA Awards" marked the show's expansion to a three-hour broadcast. It was the highest rated music special of the 1993-94 television season.

• Vince Gill and Clint Black co-hosted, and Gill took home five Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

• Reba McEntire received headlines around the world for her infamous red dress with its plunging neckline.

• Liza Minnelli led a standing ovation for McEntire's performance with Linda Davis of "Does He Love You."

• Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette performed "Silver Threads and Golden Needles."

• Willie Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Merle Haggard photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

• Two collaborative efforts – Rhythm, Country & Blues and Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles – were featured in nominations and performances.

• Little Richard honored Mary Chapin Carpenter's request to "Shut Up and Kiss Me." He also performed with Tanya Tucker.

• Lyle Lovett and then-wife, Julia Roberts, attended. Lovett performed with Asleep At The Wheel.

• Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Merle Haggard was saluted with a star-studded performance of "Workin' Man Blues."

• The CMA Awards was the highest-rated entertainment special on CBS, ranking seventh out of 107 entertainment specials overall.

Alan Jackson Photo Courtesy of Arista Records

• First-time CMA Award nominee Alison Krauss won all four Awards for which she was nominated, including the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year.

• Vince Gill, who hosted the live broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House, took home a record fifth consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award. With 15 CMA Awards to his credit, the MCA singer retained his title as the leading CMA Award winner of all time, an accomplishment that continues through 2003.

• The late Roger Miller and former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Once again the CMA Awards won the night in the ratings.

• Alison Krauss, a first-time CMA Award nominee, won all four Awards she was nominated for including Female Vocalist and Horizon.

• Alan Jackson won his first Entertainer of the Year Award.

George Strait photo courtesy of MCA Records

• "The 30th Annual CMA Awards" was the second highest rated special out of 212 aired during the 1996-1997 television season, ranking only behind the Oscars.

• The broadcast earned CBS Television its highest-rated Wednesday night in two years, propelling CBS to a first-place rating for the night and for the week.

• Brooks & Dunn become the first duo in history to win Entertainer of the Year.

• George Strait won Male Vocalist of the Year, an honor he last received 10 years prior. He also took home Awards for Album and Single of the Year.

• Patsy Montana, Buck Owens and Ray Price were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Hosted by Vince Gill, the broadcast was opened by newcomer LeAnn Rimes with her breakout hit "Blue."

• Wynonna was joined by pop star Michael Bolton for a duet.

• For the first time, a retail campaign was launched in the UK, and the CMA Awards were broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

1997

• "The 31st Annual CMA Awards" marked the sixth consecutive time that Vince Gill charmed the audience as host.

• Going head-to-head against premiere night on NBC and ABC, the CMA Awards placed first for the night in households, viewers and all adult demographics.

• Harlan Howard, Brenda Lee and Cindy Walker were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Shania Twain made her first public performance with her new single "Love Gets Me Everytime;" Clint Black and Martina McBride came together for their first televised performance of "Still Holdin' On;" and Rock star Sting and Toby Keith teamed up for the Stingpenned "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying."

• For the first time, a CMA Awards Collection CD was offered to readers of Radio Times, the UK's largest TV/radio and entertainment listings magazine with a circulation of 1.4 million.

• Garth Brooks won his third Entertainer of the Year Award.

Vince Gill Photo Courtesy of MCA Records

• "The 32nd Annual CMA Awards" gave CBS its best Wednesday ratings in households and demographics since the Grammy Awards earlier that year.

• George Morgan, Elvis Presley, E.W. "Bud" Wendell and Tammy Wynette became the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• The Dixie Chicks not only made their debut performance on the broadcast, but also took home their first two CMA Awards – Horizon and Vocal Group of the Year – making history as the first all-female group to win the Vocal Group category.

• Reba McEntire gave her first television performance of "Forever Love."

• Garth Brooks won his fourth Entertainer of the Year Award.

• The program was televised via tape around the world, including the UK by BBC 2 and Australia by the NINE NETWORK.

Shania Twain Photo Courtesy of Mercury Nashville

Photo Courtesy of Mercury Nashville

• An estimated 37 million people watched "The 33rd Annual CMA Awards" on CBS Television during the 1999-2000 season premiere week. The broadcast won in households, viewers and all key demographics. The broadcast also struck a chord with younger viewers, delivering the highest adult 18 – 34 demos since October 1996.

• Johnny Bond, Dolly Parton and Conway Twitty were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• For the eighth consecutive year, Vince Gill hosted the broadcast which featured more than 40 Country luminaries from a broad spectrum of the industry including Alabama teaming up with pop-sensation 'N Sync on "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You;" and multi-Platinum artist Jewel singing with Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard on his
classic "That's The Way Love Goes."

• Shania Twain took home the evening's highest honor: Entertainer of the Year. It marked the first time in 13 years a female artist won that category. She also received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.