What Is 1985 Country Music Association Awards

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1985 Country Music Association Awards were held on October 14, 1985, in Nashville, Tennessee, honoring achievements in country music for that year, with Ronnie Milsap winning Entertainer of the Year.

Key Facts

The 1985 CMA Awards took place on October 14, 1985, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.
Ronnie Milsap won Entertainer of the Year, becoming the first artist to win the award twice in the 1980s.
Kenny Rogers received the CMA Award for Album of the Year for 'Eyes That See in the Dark'.
Reba McEntire won Female Vocalist of the Year, her first CMA win in that category.
The ceremony was hosted by Anne Murray and Kenny Rogers.

Overview

The 1985 Country Music Association Awards marked the 19th annual ceremony honoring excellence in country music. Held on October 14, 1985, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, the event celebrated the year's top artists, albums, and performances. This ceremony was notable for recognizing a transitional era in country music, blending traditional sounds with emerging pop-country crossovers.

Hosted by Canadian pop-country star Anne Murray and American superstar Kenny Rogers, the show attracted widespread attention for its high-profile collaborations and emotional acceptance speeches. The awards reflected a shift in industry dynamics, with artists like Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap solidifying their dominance in the genre.

Entertainer of the Year: Ronnie Milsap won the night’s top honor, becoming the first artist to win the award twice during the 1980s, having previously won in 1982.
Album of the Year: Kenny Rogers took home the award for Eyes That See in the Dark, a crossover album featuring production by the Bee Gees.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Steve Wariner won the award, marking his first CMA win in a major category after years of rising prominence.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Reba McEntire earned her first win in this category, launching a record-setting streak of future accolades.
Single of the Year: The award went to Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That by Dolly Parton, a song that blended humor and vocal flair.

Key Categories and Winners

The 1985 CMA Awards featured a competitive lineup across major categories, showcasing the genre’s evolving sound and star power. Each award highlighted both commercial success and artistic merit, with several winners emerging as defining figures of 1980s country music.

Entertainer of the Year: Ronnie Milsap’s win underscored his consistent chart dominance and appeal across country and pop audiences, with seven Top 10 singles in 1984–1985.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Steve Wariner triumphed over legends like George Strait and Hank Williams Jr., signaling a generational shift in vocal styles.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Reba McEntire’s victory marked a turning point, as she began to redefine female artistry in country with her dynamic stage presence and vocal control.
Vocal Group of the Year: The Statler Brothers won for the fifth time, cementing their status as one of country’s most enduring harmony acts.
Vocal Duo of the Year: Dan + Shay had not yet formed; the award went to The Judds, who were in their breakout era with hits like Mama He's Crazy.
Horizon Award (now Best New Artist): This award was given to Randy Travis, whose debut album later revolutionized neotraditional country music.

Comparison at a Glance

Award categories and winners from the 1985 CMAs compared to previous years reveal trends in genre evolution and artist recognition:

Category	1985 Winner	Prior Year Winner (1984)	Significance
Entertainer of the Year	Ronnie Milsap	Lee Greenwood	Milsap became the first two-time winner of the decade.
Female Vocalist	Reba McEntire	Janie Fricke	Marked the start of McEntire’s dominance in the 1980s.
Male Vocalist	Steve Wariner	Earl Thomas Conley	Wariner’s win reflected growing pop-country crossover appeal.
Album of the Year	Eyes That See in the Dark – Kenny Rogers	Don't Close Your Eyes – Keith Whitley	Rogers’ album featured Bee Gees production, highlighting genre blending.
Horizon Award	Randy Travis	Keith Whitley	Travis later became a neotraditional country pioneer.

The table illustrates how the 1985 awards balanced commercial success with artistic innovation. While pop-influenced acts like Kenny Rogers won major awards, the recognition of Randy Travis signaled a return to traditional country values in the coming years. This duality defined much of the mid-1980s CMA landscape.

Why It Matters

The 1985 CMA Awards were pivotal in shaping the future of country music, recognizing both established stars and emerging talent. The ceremony captured a moment of transition, as country began to incorporate pop elements while laying the groundwork for a traditional revival.

Ronnie Milsap’s Entertainer win highlighted the peak of country-pop fusion, with his 12 consecutive No. 1 hits between 1980 and 1985.
Reba McEntire’s first major CMA signaled a new era for women in country, leading to her becoming the most-awarded female artist in CMA history.
Randy Travis winning Horizon Award was prophetic, as his 1986 debut album Storms of Life redefined country authenticity.
The dominance of crossover artists like Kenny Rogers reflected Nashville’s push toward broader mainstream appeal.
The awards showcased collaborative performances, including a duet between Rogers and Murray that drew over 32 million viewers.
This ceremony preserved the CMA’s role as a cultural barometer, tracking shifts in taste, technology, and audience demographics.

Ultimately, the 1985 CMA Awards served as both a celebration of the present and a predictor of the genre’s future direction, balancing pop accessibility with traditional roots.