All the Collaborations That Have Received CMA Noms for Single of the Year
73
Willie Nelson has received single of the year nominations for collaborations with Waylon Jennings, The Highwaymen, Merle Haggard, Julio Iglesias & Toby Keith.
When the 53rd annual CMA Awards are presented on Nov. 13, Dierks Bentley's "Burning Man" with Brothers Osborne will compete for single of the year with Maren Morris' "GIRL," Blake Shelton's "God's Country," Chris Stapleton's "Millionaire" and Dan + Shay's "Speechless." "Burning Man" is the 22nd collaboration to receive a CMA nom in that top category.
Two classic pairs — Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson and Tim McGraw & Faith Hill — have each been nominated twice for single of the year. The highly adaptable Nelson has also received noms for collaborations with Merle Haggard, Julio Iglesias, Highwaymen and Toby Keith.
Here are all the collaborations that have received CMA nominations for single of the year, together with their peak positions on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
1974: "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone," Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty (No. 1).
1976: "Good Hearted Woman," Waylon & Willie. This was the first collaboration to win single of the year (No. 1).
1978: "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," Waylon & Willie (No. 1).
1983: "Pancho and Lefty," Nelson & Haggard (No. 1).
1984: "Islands in the Stream," Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (No. 1). This smash also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary chart.
1984: "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," Iglesias & Nelson. This marked the first time a non-country artist teamed with a country artist and wound up with a single of the year nom. (No. 1).
1986: "Highwayman," Highwaymen (Jennings/Nelson/Johnny Cash/Kris Kristofferson). This marked the only time four artists — legends all — have joined forces on a single of the year nominee (No. 1).
1994: "Does He Love You," Reba McEntire with Linda Davis. This is the only all-female collab to receive a single of the year nomination (No. 1).
1997: "It's Your Love," McGraw with Hill. They are the only married couple to receive a single of the year nom. (No. 1).
1998: "You Don't Seem to Miss Me," Patty Loveless with George Jones (No. 14).
2000: "I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack (backing vocals by Sons of the Desert). Even though Sons of the Desert didn't have official billing on the single, the CMA attributes the single to both artists. This was the second collaboration to win single of the year (No. 1).
2000: "Buy Me a Rose," Rogers with Alison Krauss & Billy Dean. The CMA attributes this single solely to Rogers, even though Krauss and Dean had featured billing (No. 1).
2003: "Beer for My Horses," Keith with Nelson (No. 1).
2004: "Whiskey Lullabye," Brad Paisley & Krauss (No. 3).
2006: "When I Get Where I'm Going," Paisley with Parton (No. 1).
2010: "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins (No. 1).
2011: "Don't You Wanna Stay," Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson. This marked the second time a non-country artist teamed with a country artist and wound up with a single of the year nom (No. 1).
2013: "Highway Don't Care," McGraw & Taylor Swift with Keith Urban. The single was billed to just McGraw & Swift, but the CMA also gave a nomination and an award to featured guitarist Urban. This was the third collaboration to win single of the year (No. 4).
2014: "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," McGraw with Hill (No. 7).
2018: "Drowns the Whiskey," Aldean with Miranda Lambert (No. 3).
2018: "Meant to Be," Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line. This marked the third time a non-country artist teamed with a country artist and wound up with a single of the year nom (No. 1).
2019: "Burning Man," Bentley with Brothers Osborne (No. 5).
