What Is 1999 Country Music Association Awards

Overview

The 1999 Country Music Association Awards marked the 33rd annual ceremony honoring excellence in country music. Held on October 6, 1999, the event took place at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, a traditional venue for the CMA Awards. The ceremony celebrated achievements from the eligibility period covering the previous year’s music releases and performances.

Hosted once again by Vince Gill, who had become a staple of the event, the night featured live performances, tributes, and high-profile awards. The broadcast aired on ABC, reaching millions of viewers nationwide and reinforcing country music’s mainstream appeal at the turn of the millennium.

• George Strait won Entertainer of the Year, marking his second win in the category after first claiming it in 1989.
• Faith Hill took home Female Vocalist of the Year, solidifying her status as a leading voice in late-1990s country music.
• Brad Paisley earned his first CMA nomination for Horizon Award, now known as New Artist of the Year.
• The Male Vocalist of the Year award went to Tim McGraw, beating out strong competition from peers like Strait and Toby Keith.
• "Just to See You Smile" by Tim McGraw was named Single of the Year, a track that spent six weeks atop the Billboard country charts.

How It Works

The CMA Awards are determined through a voting process involving members of the Country Music Association, which includes industry professionals such as artists, broadcasters, and executives. Nominations are announced in early September, with winners revealed during the live October broadcast.

• Voting Process: Over 6,000 CMA members vote in the final round after a preliminary nomination ballot is distributed in August.
• Eligibility Period: For the 1999 awards, music released between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 1999 was considered.
• Categories: Major awards include Entertainer of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist, Album, Song, and Single of the Year.
• Horizon Award: Introduced in 1981, this award recognized emerging talent and was renamed New Artist of the Year in 2005.
• Host Role:Vince Gill hosted the 1999 show for the 11th straight year, a record for consecutive hosting duties at the time.
• Viewership: The 1999 broadcast attracted approximately 12.5 million viewers, reflecting country music’s broad national appeal.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1999 CMA Awards can be compared to previous and subsequent years to understand trends in genre popularity, artist recognition, and audience engagement.

The table highlights a gradual decline in viewership from 1997 to 2001, possibly due to shifting media consumption habits. However, the diversity of winners—spanning traditionalists like George Strait and genre-blenders like Shania Twain—reflects the evolving identity of country music during this era.

Why It Matters

The 1999 CMA Awards serve as a cultural snapshot of country music at the end of the 20th century, showcasing both established legends and rising stars. The awards not only recognize artistic achievement but also influence record sales, concert bookings, and radio play.

• George Strait’s win reaffirmed the enduring appeal of traditional country sounds amid the genre’s pop crossover trends.
• Faith Hill’s success highlighted the growing prominence of female artists in a historically male-dominated industry.
• The recognition of Tim McGraw’s "Just to See You Smile" underscored the commercial power of emotionally resonant storytelling in country music.
• Brad Paisley’s nomination signaled the arrival of a new generation of guitar-driven country artists.
• The ABC broadcast helped expand country music’s reach to urban and younger audiences nationwide.
• The 1999 ceremony preserved live performance authenticity, a hallmark that distinguishes the CMAs from other televised music awards.

Ultimately, the 1999 CMA Awards reinforced Nashville’s role as the epicenter of country music and demonstrated the genre’s ability to balance tradition with innovation.