It is the final award presented at the ceremony and recognizes the artist "displaying the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field", with consideration to not only recorded performance but also "in-person performance, public acceptance, leadership, and overall contribution to country music" they have exhibited throughout the eligibility period.

[1] It is generally considered the highest competitive honor presented at the CMA Awards.

Garth Brooks holds the record for most wins in the category, with seven, while three-time recipient George Strait has a leading nineteen nominations.

To date, Barbara Mandrell and Taylor Swift are the only women to have won twice.

Entries with a blue ribbon next to the artist's name have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.