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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Female Country Vocal.

47 ceremonies, 1965–2011. 31 different winners. The longest run belongs to Mary Chapin Carpenter, with 4 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Miranda Lambert in 2011 for The House That Built Me.
Who has won the most?
Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter, tied on 4 wins each.
  1. The House That Built MeMiranda Lambert
  2. White HorseTaylor Swift
  3. Last NameCarrie Underwood
  4. Before He CheatsCarrie Underwood
  5. Jesus, Take the WheelCarrie Underwood
  6. The ConnectionEmmylou Harris
Years explored
1965–2011
Different winners
31
Category leader
Emmylou Harris · 4
About this record

Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Country Solo Performance instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19652011

01 / The reigns

Carrie Underwood set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Carrie Underwood3 wins
  2. 02
    Faith Hill2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Shania Twain'00
Faith Hill'01
Dolly Parton'02
Faith Hill'03
June Carter Cash'04
Gretchen Wilson'05
Emmylou Harris'06
Carrie Underwood'07–'09×3
Taylor Swift'10
Miranda Lambert'11

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 5 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony5 wins
Warner3 wins
Dualtone1 win
Independent1 win
Sanctuary1 win
Universal1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony542%
  2. Warner325%
  3. Dualtone18%
  4. Independent18%
  5. Sanctuary18%
  6. Universal18%

03 / The near misses

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

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Martina McBride
    7 noms
  2. 02
    Lee Ann Womack
    5 noms
  3. 03
    Trisha Yearwood
    5 noms
  4. 04
    LeAnn Rimes
    4 noms
  5. 05
    Alison Krauss
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Lucinda Williams
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Martina McBride
    7L · 0W
  2. 02
    Lee Ann Womack
    5L · 0W
  3. 03
    Trisha Yearwood
    5L · 0W
  4. 04
    LeAnn Rimes
    4L · 0W
  5. 05
    Alison Krauss
    3L · 0W
  6. 06
    Dolly Parton
    3L · 1W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Miranda Lambert (The House That Built Me)
beat 4 others
  • Jewel (Satisfied)
  • LeAnn Rimes (Swingin')
  • Carrie Underwood (Temporary Home)
  • Gretchen Wilson (I'd Love to Be Your Last)
Columbia Nashville
2010Taylor Swift (White Horse)
beat 4 others
  • Miranda Lambert (Dead Flowers)
  • Martina McBride (I Just Call You Mine)
  • Carrie Underwood (Just a Dream)
  • Lee Ann Womack (Solitary Thinkin')
Big Machine
2009Carrie Underwood (Last Name)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Martina McBride (For These Times)
  • LeAnn Rimes (What I Cannot Change)
  • Lee Ann Womack (Last Call)
  • Trisha Yearwood (This Is Me You're Talking To)
Arista Nashville
2008Carrie Underwood (Before He Cheats)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Alison Krauss (Simple Love)
  • Miranda Lambert (Famous in a Small Town)
  • LeAnn Rimes (Nothin' Better to Do)
  • Trisha Yearwood (Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love)
Arista Nashville
2007Carrie Underwood (Jesus, Take the Wheel)
beat 4 others
  • Miranda Lambert (Kerosene)
  • Martina McBride (I Still Miss Someone)
  • LeAnn Rimes (Something's Gotta Give)
  • Gretchen Wilson (I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today)
Arista Nashville
2006Emmylou Harris (The Connection)
beat 4 others
  • Faith Hill (Mississippi Girl)
  • Gretchen Wilson (All Jacked Up)
  • Lee Ann Womack (I May Hate Myself in the Morning)
  • Trisha Yearwood (Georgia Rain)
Rhino
2005Gretchen Wilson (Redneck Woman)
beat 4 others
  • Alison Krauss (You Will Be My Ain True Love)
  • Loretta Lynn (Miss Being Mrs.)
  • Martina McBride (In My Daughter's Eyes)
  • Shania Twain (She's Not Just a Pretty Face)
Epic
2004June Carter Cash (Keep on the Sunny Side)
beat 4 others
  • Patty Loveless (On Your Way Home)
  • Martina McBride (This One's for the Girls)
  • Dolly Parton (I'm Gone)
  • Shania Twain (Forever and for Always)
Dualtone
2003Faith Hill (Cry)
beat 4 others
  • Martina McBride (Blessed)
  • Dolly Parton (Dagger Through the Heart)
  • Lucinda Williams (Lately)
  • Lee Ann Womack (Something Worth Leaving Behind)
Warner Bros. Nashville
2002Dolly Parton (Shine)
beat 4 others
  • Sheryl Crow (Long Gone Lonesome Blues)
  • Jamie O'Neal (There Is No Arizona)
  • Lucinda Williams (Cold, Cold Heart)
  • Trisha Yearwood (I Would've Loved You Anyway)
Sanctuary
2001Faith Hill (Breathe)
beat 4 others
  • Jo Dee Messina (That's the Way)
  • Dolly Parton (Travelin' Prayer)
  • Lee Ann Womack (I Hope You Dance)
  • Trisha Yearwood (Real Live Woman)
Warner Bros. Nashville
2000Shania Twain (Man! I Feel Like a Woman!)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Emmylou Harris (Ordinary Heart)
  • Faith Hill (Let Me Let Go)
  • Alison Krauss (Forget About It)
  • Martina McBride (I Love You)
Mercury Nashville