![Remember When Loretta Lynn Was Named the First Female CMA Entertainer of the Year?](https://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2020/10/loretta-lynn-cma-entertainer-of-the-year.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Remember When Loretta Lynn Was Named the First Female CMA Entertainer of the Year?
Loretta Lynn broke one of country music's highest glass ceilings on Oct. 16, 1972, when she became the first female artist to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards.
The country icon was up against Merle Haggard, Freddie Hart, Charley Pride and Jerry Reed in the EOTY category, and she gave a brief acceptance speech acknowledging the importance of her win.
"I'd like to say that I've won a lot of awards, and this is one that I have been nominated for, but I never did get. And this, I think, is the only one that I haven't gotten," Lynn said from the stage. "I'm real happy, but the only thing that I'm kind of sad about is my husband going hunting. He couldn't make it back in to share my happiness with me. Thank you."
Lynn's win came after a year that included the release of her 21st solo album, Here I Am Again. She had already scored a long string of hit singles that included the No. 1 hits "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "Don't Come Home a'Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)," and she titled her next album in 1973 Entertainer of the Year in honor of her win.
Lynn had previously won Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards in 1967, and she also took home that award in 1972. She was nominated for Entertainer of the Year every year from 1971 to 1975, but 1972 remains her sole win in the category. She would remain the only female ever to win in the category until 1978, when Dolly Parton took home the CMA's top honors.
Loretta Lynn Dies: Country Stars React to the Death of Country's Queen
See Inside Loretta Lynn's First Nashville Home:
Loretta Lynn's Former Mansion Is Pretty Amazing:
More From KFIL
![High School League Says ‘No’ to State Soccer Tournament](http://townsquare.media/site/687/files/2016/10/DSC06450-e1477260619698.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Remember MN’s Hilarious Response to the First Snowfall Last Year? [WATCH]](http://townsquare.media/site/68/files/2020/10/TikTok-Snow-Final.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Reports Records for COVID Testing and New Cases](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2020/07/GettyImages-1225250387.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Rochester Police Trap Man Known For Fleeing Law Enforcement](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2020/10/Brian-Rathbun.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![15 Country Stars Who Never Won CMA Awards New Artist of the Year](http://townsquare.media/site/623/files/2017/11/GettyImages-846257728.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota’s Biggest Fear is Being Alone](http://townsquare.media/site/341/files/2016/10/Scared.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tips To Properly Winterize Your Lawn Mower For Storage](http://townsquare.media/site/687/files/2020/10/shutterstock_452822464.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Rochester Public Schools Will Continue Hybrid and Distance Learning](http://townsquare.media/site/669/files/2019/09/9.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![That Time I Pranked My Dad On-the-Air About His Lawn Sprinklers](http://townsquare.media/site/719/files/2020/10/Sprinkler.jpg?w=980&q=75)