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1976 CMA Entertainer of the Year: Mel Tillis

10th Annual CMA Awards

Host: Johnny Cash and Roy Clark
Venue: Grand Ole Opry House
City: Nashville, Tenn.
Date: Oct. 11, 1976

Entertainer of the Year: Mel Tillis

10th Annual CMA Awards Summary

Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson are named vocal duo of the year and win single of the year for "Good Hearted Women." Wanted! The Outlaws earns album of the year honors for Jennings, Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter. Johnny Cash co-hosts the show with instrumental group of the year winner Roy Clark. Singer-songwriter Mel Tillis is crowned entertainer of the year while Dolly Parton and Ronnie Milsap win the female and male vocalist categories. Piano player Hargus "Pig" Robbins is named instrumentalist of the year, and the hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" gives writer Larry Weiss the song of the year honor. Record executive Paul Cohen and honky-tonk angel singer Kitty Wells are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Instrumental Group of the Year

Winners: Roy Clark and Buck Trent
Nominees:

Instrumentalist of the Year

Winner: Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

Winner: Mel Tillis
Nominees:

Male Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Ronnie Milsap
Nominees:

Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:

Album of the Year

Winners: Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Album Title: Wanted! The Outlaws
Nominees:

Song of the Year

Winner: Larry Weiss
Song Title: "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Nominees:
  • "The Door Is Always Open" - Dickey Lee and Bob McDill
  • "I'll Get Over You" - Richard Leigh
  • "Till I Can Make It on My Own" - George Richey, Billy Sherrill and Tammy Wynette
  • "The Blind Man in the Bleachers" - Sterling Whipple

Single of the Year

Winners: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Song Title: "Good Hearted Woman"
Nominees:
  • "The Door Is Always Open" - Dave & Sugar
  • "Convoy" - C. W. McCall
  • "Teddy Bear" - Red Sovine
  • "The Blind Man in the Bleachers" - Kenny Starr