The following list shows the recipients for the Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year.^[1] While its sister category, Song of the Year recognizes the songwriters, Single of the Year is awarded to the artist. Starting in 1989 and 2016 respectively, the producer and mix engineer of the track also received an award. Rules state the track must have reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart, Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, or Country Aircheck Chart for the first time during the eligibility period.  If the single charted in the Top 10 on the above charts and was released prior to the eligibility period but achieved its highest chart position during the eligibility period, it is eligible.^[2]

The inaugural recipient of the award was "There Goes My Everything" by Jack Greene in 1967, with Jeannie C. Riley becoming the first female winner the following year, and Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson being the first group awarded in 1976. To date, there are eight artists who have won the award twice. George Strait has the most nominations in this category, with nine, while eight—time nominee Brad Paisley holds the record for most nominations without a win. The current holder of the award is Luke Combs for "Fast Car", which won at the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2023.

9 nominations

• George Strait

8 nominations

• Brad Paisley
• Miranda Lambert

7 nominations

• Alan Jackson
• Tim McGraw
• Willie Nelson^{[lower-alpha 1]}

6 nominations

• George Jones

5 nominations

4 nominations

3 nominations

2 nominations

Notes