Founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee, it originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre.

CMA membership is composed of those persons or organizations that are involved in Country Music, directly and substantially.

In 1968, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans hosted the awards, which were presented at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Annual awards are given in the following twelve categories: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, New Artist of the Year (formerly the Horizon Award), Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, Music Event, Music Video, and Musician.

In honor of the CMA Awards 50th anniversary, MCA Nashville released a song called "Forever Country".

The CMA Fest, the longest-running Country Music festival in the world, takes place in downtown Nashville, TN every summer.

The four days of events are later re-edited into a three-hour TV special, also aired on ABC during the summer months.