If country/rock musician Stephen Wilson Jr. wins the Country Music Association Award for new artist of the year on Nov. 19, he’ll make history as the oldest winner in that category to date. Wilson is 46.

The CMA has presented the award for new artist of the year (known as the Horizon Award through 2007) 44 times. As the years have gone by, the winners have gotten appreciably older. Of the first 10 winners (1981-1990), just two were 30 or older (or had a lead singer over 30). Of the last 10 winners (2015-2024), six were 30 or older (or had a lead singer over 30).

It used to be, if an artist was 30, certainly 35, and hadn’t made it yet in country music, their prospects were not looking good. Now, an artist in that age range, or even a bit older, might still break through. Jelly Roll was 38 when he won two years ago. Ashley McBryde and Jimmie Allen were both 36 when they won in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

All but seven of the 44 winners to date are solo artists. One duo, The Judds, has won the award, as have six groups – Sawyer Brown, The Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Zac Brown Band and The Band Perry. Of these seven acts, just two – Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band – had a lead singer who had reached 30 by the time they won.

Wilson is a long-shot in this year’s best new artist race. The other nominees are Tucker Wetmore, 25; Ella Langley, 26; Zach Top, 27; and Shaboozey, 30 – three of whom have been nominated in marquee categories at the CMA Awards. Top is up for album, single and song of the year. Langley is up for single and song of the year. Shaboozey was up for single of the year last year.

Here, we look back at every solo artist, or lead vocalist for a duo or group, who had reached 30 by the time they won the CMA Award for new artist of the year (or the predecessor Horizon Award). We show their age when they won (rounded off to the nearest month). They are listed in ascending order.



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