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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Country Solo.

14 ceremonies, 2012–2025. 8 different winners. The longest run belongs to Chris Stapleton, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Chris Stapleton in 2025 for It Takes a Woman.
Who has won the most?
Chris Stapleton, 5 wins (2016, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025).
  1. It Takes a WomanChris Stapleton
  2. White HorseChris Stapleton
  3. Live ForeverWillie Nelson
  4. You Should Probably LeaveChris Stapleton
  5. When My Amy PraysVince Gill
  6. Ride Me Back HomeWillie Nelson
Years explored
2012–2025
Different winners
8
Category leader
Chris Stapleton · 5
About this record

Best Country Solo Performance was first awarded in 2012, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It took over from Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Instrumental Performance.

2012–2025

14 ceremonies

20122025

01 / The reigns

Chris Stapleton set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2012–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Chris Stapleton5 wins
  2. 02
    Carrie Underwood2 wins
  3. 03
    Willie Nelson2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Taylor Swift'12
Carrie Underwood'13
Darius Rucker'14
Carrie Underwood'15
Chris Stapleton'16
Maren Morris'17
Chris Stapleton'18
Kacey Musgraves'19
Willie Nelson'20
Vince Gill'21
Chris Stapleton'22
Willie Nelson'23
Chris Stapleton'24–'25×2

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Universal leads the recorded label credits with 8 wins, 2012–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Universal8 wins
Sony4 wins
Independent1 win
New West1 win
Wins by label
  1. Universal857%
  2. Sony429%
  3. Independent17%
  4. New West17%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2012–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Miranda Lambert
    6 noms
  2. 02
    Blake Shelton
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Keith Urban
    4 noms
  4. 04
    Brandy Clark
    3 noms
  5. 05
    Eric Church
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Hunter Hayes
    3 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Miranda Lambert
    6L · 0W
  2. 02
    Blake Shelton
    4L · 0W
  3. 03
    Keith Urban
    4L · 0W
  4. 04
    Brandy Clark
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    Carrie Underwood
    3L · 2W
  6. 06
    Eric Church
    3L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2012–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Chris Stapleton (It Takes a Woman)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Beyoncé (16 Carriages)
  • Jelly Roll (I Am Not Okay)
  • Kacey Musgraves (The Architect)
  • Shaboozey (A Bar Song (Tipsy))
Mercury Nashville
2024Chris Stapleton (White Horse)
beat 4 others
  • Tyler Childers (In Your Love)
  • Brandy Clark (Buried)
  • Luke Combs (Fast Car)
  • Dolly Parton (The Last Thing on My Mind)
Mercury Nashville
2023Willie Nelson (Live Forever)
beat 4 others
  • Kelsea Ballerini (Heartfirst)
  • Zach Bryan (Something in the Orange)
  • Miranda Lambert (In His Arms)
  • Maren Morris (Circles Around This Town)
New West
2022Chris Stapleton (You Should Probably Leave)
beat 4 others
  • Luke Combs (Forever After All)
  • Mickey Guyton (Remember Her Name)
  • Jason Isbell (All I Do Is Drive)
  • Kacey Musgraves (Camera Roll)
Mercury Nashville
2021Vince Gill (When My Amy Prays)
beat 4 others
  • Eric Church (Stick That in Your Country Song)
  • Brandy Clark (Who You Thought I Was)
  • Miranda Lambert (Bluebird)
  • Mickey Guyton (Black Like Me)
MCA Nashville
2020Willie Nelson (Ride Me Back Home)
beat 4 others
  • Ashley McBryde (Girl Goin' Nowhere)
  • Tyler Childers (All Your'n)
  • Blake Shelton (God's Country)
  • Tanya Tucker (Bring My Flowers Now)
Legacy
2019Kacey Musgraves (Butterflies)
beat 4 others
  • Loretta Lynn (Wouldn't It Be Great?)
  • Maren Morris (Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters)
  • Chris Stapleton (Millionaire)
  • Keith Urban (Parallel Line)
MCA Nashville
2018Chris Stapleton (Either Way)
beat 4 others
  • Sam Hunt (Body Like a Back Road)
  • Alison Krauss (Losing You)
  • Miranda Lambert (Tin Man)
  • Maren Morris (I Could Use a Love Song)
Mercury Nashville
2017Maren Morris (My Church)
beat 4 others
  • Brandy Clark (Love Can Go to Hell)
  • Carrie Underwood (Church Bells)
  • Keith Urban (Blue Ain't Your Color)
  • Miranda Lambert (Vice)
Columbia Nashville
2016Chris Stapleton (Traveller)
beat 4 others
  • Cam (Burning House)
  • Carrie Underwood (Little Toy Guns)
  • Keith Urban (John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16)
  • Lee Ann Womack (Chances Are)
Mercury Nashville
2015Carrie Underwood (Something in the Water)
beat 4 others
  • Eric Church (Give Me Back My Hometown)
  • Hunter Hayes (Invisible)
  • Miranda Lambert (Automatic)
  • Keith Urban (Cop Car)
Arista Nashville
2014Darius Rucker (Wagon Wheel)
beat 4 others
  • Lee Brice (I Drive Your Truck)
  • Hunter Hayes (I Want Crazy)
  • Miranda Lambert (Mama's Broken Heart)
  • Blake Shelton (Mine Would Be You)
Capitol Nashville
2013Carrie Underwood (Blown Away)
beat 5 others
  • Dierks Bentley (Home)
  • Eric Church (Springsteen)
  • Ronnie Dunn (Cost of Livin')
  • Hunter Hayes (Wanted)
  • Blake Shelton (Over)
Arista Nashville
2012Taylor Swift (Mean)
beat 4 others
  • Jason Aldean (Dirt Road Anthem)
  • Martina McBride (I'm Gonna Love You Through It)
  • Blake Shelton (Honey Bee)
  • Carrie Underwood (Mama's Song)
Big Machine