We’re ranking all the CMA Album of the Year winners since 2000, giving you the ultimate list of all the records that you should revisit during quarantine.
21. O Brother Where Art Thou – Various Artists (2001)
Stand-Out Track: Man of Constant Sorrow
Upon the backdrop of the tumultuous events of 2001, the Coen brothers released their hit comedy film O Brother Where Art Thou that marked a modern-folk musical revival opening up country to a wider audience, though it was perhaps a curious choice for a CMA Album of the Year the record is full of tracks that are now embedded in the country consciousness.
20. When The Sun Goes Down – Kenny Chesney (2004)
Stand-Out Track: There Goes My Life
The same year, Chesney also won the Entertainer of the Year Award. When The Sun Goes Down showed Chesney truly finding his groove and confidence in his sound and legacy as an artist, making it a record that will permanently be Chesney’s legacy.
19. Troubadour – George Strait (2008)
Stand-Out Track: I Saw God Today
Troubadour is the twenty-fifth studio album by George Strait. Like Jackson’s Drive, it is traditional country at its finest, including themes of religion and blue collar life that made you realise the power of country music in its most traditional form.
18. Drive – Alan Jackson (2002)
Stand-Out Track: Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?
Drive marked the peak of Jackson’s commercial success as a confident singer and songwriter. It’s traditional country through and through at a time when there was a burgeoning movement toward crossover success, marking it out.
17. My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean (2011)
Stand-Out Track: Dirt Road Anthem
Aldean stamped his trademark sound on this record as a big hooks, big production artist. This does not mask the clever lyrics on this record and the thoughtful sequencing of the record that made it such a mammoth hit and one that really elevated Aldean’s stardom.
16. Chief – Eric Church (2012)
Stand-Out Track: Springsteen
On Chief, Church showcased his status as a sharp, acerbic songwriter in Nashville. It’s rough and ready, rock n’ roll country replete with Jack Daniels and beer references, with big hooks and bombastic production.
15. American IV: The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash (2003)
Stand-Out Track: Hurt
This marked the last record that was released before Cash’s death. The record is a vision of the American West and is a thoughtfully tragic yet not despondent portrait of the artist. A phenomenal work that was elevated given that it ended up being Cash’s last record.
14. Time Well Wasted – Brad Paisley (2006)
Stand-Out Track: Alcohol
Paisley truly hit his stride on this record that includes some phenomenal collaborations – including with Dolly Parton no less. The record is full of Paisley’s signature party songs full of humour and love songs, including ‘She’s Everything.’
13. Based On A True Story... – Blake Shelton (2013)
Stand-Out Track: Mine Would Be You
Shelton’s 2013 record was full of heavy hitters, sweet but not saccharine the record revealed a more romantic and vulnerable side to Shelton, alongside some swaggering bigger hits, including ‘Boys ‘Round Here.’
12. It Just Comes Natural – George Strait (2007)
Stand-Out Track: Give It Away
After such an illustrious career, Strait had two phenomenal back to back years of records that were no huge departure from his usual sound and content. However, the record was almost more thoughtful and poised than his most contemporary releases prior to 2007.
11. Revolution – Miranda Lambert (2010)
Stand-Out Track: The House That Built Me
Lambert’s first win for CMA Album of the Year and her third studio album – Revolution showed a more mature side to Lambert and her songwriting, marking a shift to a full realisation of her true sound and powers as an artist and songwriter.
10. From A Room: Volume I – Chris Stapleton (2017)
Stand-Out Track: Either Way
Stapleton continued his ascendancy on his second studio album, a moving record about the highs and lows of relationships, apologies, misunderstandings and more. Stapleton’s vocal and lyricism were (as usual) faultless on this second project.
Get From A Room: Volume I on vinyl here.
9. Mr Misunderstood – Eric Church (2016)
Stand-Out Track: Record Year
On Mr Misunderstood, Eric Church became far more introspective and thoughtful in his songwriting, moving beyond his bad-boy of country image to reveal a more vulnerable side. The record was full of that theme of being ‘misunderstood,’ creating a powerfully moving moment.
8. GIRL – Maren Morris (2019)
Stand-Out Track: The Bones
Morris had big shoes to fill after her huge debut record Hero, but GIRL did just that, reinvigorating Morris’ sound with a fresh RnB-edged country feel, thanks to late producer Busbee. As ever, Morris was thoughtful in the detailed sequencing of this record (down to Side A and B), creating a record full of love, joy, inclusivity and female empowerment.
7. There’s More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack (2005)
Stand-Out Track: I May Hate Myself In the Morning
Lee Ann Womack’s 2005 record marked a return to country after a brief flirtation with pop, with a new producer and sound, the record did what she set out to do and established Womack once again in a class of her own with her stunning vocal and thoughtfully poignant lyrics.
6. What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs (2020)
Stand-Out Track: Beer Never Broke My Heart
Combs’ bombastic second studio record made him a superstar. Following on from This One’s For You, this record focussed on his blue collar roots, showing Combs as a man of the people, despite his superstar tag. As ever, his songwriting was clever, twisting ideas and sayings on their head to make you stand up and take note.
Get What You See Is What You Get on vinyl here.
5. Platinum – Miranda Lambert (2014)
Stand-Out Track: Automatic
This marked Lambert’s 2nd CMA win for Album of the Year. It’s a swaggering, sassy record, full of rebellion and focussing on the humble, dirty truths of real life – from ‘Babies Makin’ Babies’ to ‘Gravity Is A B**ch.’ Lambert is defiant but also contemplative and thoughtful.
4. Fearless – Taylor Swift (2009)
Stand-Out Track: Love Story
This was arguably the tipping point for Taylor Swift as she made her swift ascent to superstardom. The youngest winner of the CMA Album of the Year award, Fearless is packed with iconic hits that have stood the test of time and showed Swift as a songwriter mature beyond her years.
3. Fly – The Dixie Chicks (2000)
Stand-Out Track: Cowboy Take Me Away
The Chicks trademark harmonies are phenomenal on their fifth studio record that earned them four Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Country Song. Years on it has been an influence on the likes of Carly Pearce and Taylor Swift – to name a few.
2. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2018)
Stand-Out Track: Rainbow
The Grammy award winning record, Golden Hour marked a sonic transition for Musgraves to a more ethereal sound under the guidance of Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. Musgraves takes her sassy and no BS lyricism and softens it, providing anthems for the marginalised and the persecuted in society.
1. Traveller – Chris Stapleton (2015)
Stand-Out Track: Tennessee Whiskey
The record that started it all for Stapleton in his transition from songwriter to artist and one that will stand the test of time. Stapleton delves deep into this record that deals with addiction, faith, loss and more in this intensely vulnerable, magnificent project.
