With current stars like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban winning the CMA's Entertainer of the Year award, I thought it would be fun to remember the first stars of Country Music to win the CMA's Entertainer Of The Year Award.

The CMA Awards were introduced in 1967 with the first Entertainer of the Year award going to Eddy Arnold. Arnold was more than deserving as he had been making hit records since before the Billboard charts opened in 1944. Twenty-plus years into his career he was still having massive crossover hits like 'Make The World Go Away' and 'What's He Doing In My World' in 1965. Glen Campbell (1968), Johnny Cash (1969), Merle Haggard (1970), and Charley Pride (1971) would all follow as the first few artists to claim Country Music's top prize.

The picture above shows CMA Awards show hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood honoring Eddy Arnold at the 2008 awards, after his passing at the age of 89 in May of 2008.

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