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1978 CMA Entertainer of the Year: Dolly Parton

12th Annual CMA Awards

Host: Johnny Cash
Venue: Grand Ole Opry House
City: Nashville, Tenn.
Date: Oct. 9, 1978

Entertainer of the Year: Dolly Parton

12th Annual CMA Awards Summary

For the first time, the CMA Awards show is simulcast on radio. Listeners and viewers witness Dolly Parton's first win as entertainer of the year. Crystal Gayle is once again named female vocalist of the year, and her hit single, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," gives song of the year honors to writer Richard Leigh. Crooner Don Williams wins his first male vocalist trophy, and the Oak Ridge Boys unseat the Statler Brothers as vocal group. Ronnie Milsap's record, It Was Almost Like a Song, earns the album trophy while the Kendalls' "Heaven Is Just a Sin Away" takes home single of the year. Comedian and Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Instrumentalist of the Year

Winner: Roy Clark
Nominees:

Entertainer of the Year

Winner: Dolly Parton
Nominees:

Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Crystal Gayle
Nominees:

Vocal Group of the Year

Winner: Oak Ridge Boys
Nominees:

Album of the Year

Winner: Ronnie Milsap
Album Title: It Was Almost Like a Song
Nominees:

Song of the Year

Winner: Richard Leigh
Song Title: "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"
Nominees:
  • "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" - Ed Bruce and Patsy Bruce
  • "Take This Job and Shove It" - David Allan Coe
  • "It Was Almost Like a Song" - Hal David and Archie Jordan
  • "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" - Jerry Gillespie

Single of the Year

Winner: The Kendalls
Song Title: "Heaven's Just a Sin Away"
Nominees: