Alabama Revealed As Recipients Of Incredibly Rare Award In Nashville

Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen took the stage on the final night of the 50th CMA Fest over the weekend to accept a rare award that’s only gone to three other artists since it was created nearly two decades ago.

The Country Music Association enlisted Dierks Bentley to help present Alabama with the CMA Pinnacle Award during the Sunday night (June 11) show at Nissan Stadium in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The first artist to ever receive the award was Garth Brooks, when it was created in 2005 (the same year Alabama was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame). In nearly two decades since then, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney have also received the rare Pinnacle Award (in 2013 and 2016, respectively).

The legendary country band’s latest award “recognizes an artist or group who has undeniably redefined the pinnacle of success in the genre by achieving prominence through concert performances, consumption numbers, record sales and/or other significant industry achievements at levels unique for Country Music,” according to a CMA press release issued Monday morning (June 12). “They have also attained the highest degree of recognition within the broad expanse of music worldwide, and their talent and presence will have a long-term positive impact on the appreciation of Country Music for generations to come.”

Alabama — the trio of cousins, Gentry, Owen and Jeff Cook, who died in November 2022 at age 73 — is known for “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight,” “Tennessee River,” “I’m in a Hurry,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” “My Home’s in Alabama,” and many other country classics throughout their decades-long career. The group, is hailed “one of the most successful bands in Country Music history,” per the CMA.

The star-studded 50th CMA Fest — hosted by Bentley, Elle King and Lainey Wilson — is set to air on ABC on Wednesday, July 19 at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CT. Watch Alabama receive the award here: