Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year

The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. The award is based on individual musical performance on a solo country single or album release, as well as the artist's overall contribution to country music during the eligibility period.

The inaugural recipient of the award was Loretta Lynn in 1967. Miranda Lambert holds the record for most wins in the category, with seven, while she and four-time recipient Reba McEntire share a leading eighteen nominations. Anne Murray holds the record for most nominations without a win, with six. The current holder of the award is Lainey Wilson, who won at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2022.

Won on First nomination
In CMA history only nine women have won Female Vocalist of the Year the very first time they were nominated. They are:


 * Loretta Lynn (1967)
 * Olivia Newton-John (1974)
 * K.T. Oslin (1988)
 * Mary Chapin Carpenter (1992)
 * Alison Krauss (1995)
 * Gretchen Wilson (2005)
 * Carrie Underwood (2006)
 * Carly Pearce (2021)
 * Lainey Wilson (2022)

Artists with multiple nominations

 * 18 nominations
 * Reba McEntire


 * 17 nominations
 * Miranda Lambert
 * Martina McBride


 * 16 nominations
 * Carrie Underwood


 * 12 nominations


 * Dolly Parton
 * Emmylou Harris
 * Loretta Lynn


 * 9 nominations
 * Barbara Mandrell
 * Tanya Tucker


 * 8 nominations


 * Patty Loveless
 * Tammy Wynette
 * Trisha Yearwood


 * 7 nominations


 * Alison Krauss
 * Anne Murray
 * Janie Frickie
 * Kacey Musgraves
 * Taylor Swift


 * 6 nominations


 * Faith Hill
 * Kelsea Ballerini
 * Lee Ann Womack
 * Maren Morris
 * Rosanne Cash
 * Sara Evans


 * 5 nominations


 * Ashley McBryde
 * Crystal Gayle
 * Kathy Mattea
 * Lynn Anderson
 * Pam Tillis


 * 4 nominations
 * Carly Pearce
 * Mary Chapin Carpenter


 * 3 nominations


 * Connie Smith
 * Wynonna Judd


 * 2 nominations


 * Donna Fargo
 * Gretchen Wilson
 * Jeannie C. Riley
 * Jo Dee Messina
 * Kelly Clarkson
 * Lainey Wilson
 * Lorrie Morgan
 * Shania Twain
 * Terri Clark