1981 Country Music Association Awards

The 1981 Country Music Association Awards, 15th Ceremony, was held on October 12, 1981, at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by CMA Award winners Mac Davis and Barbara Mandrell.

1981 Country Music Association Awards
Date	October 12, 1981
Location	Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee
Hosted by	Mac Davis Barbara Mandrell
Most awards	Alabama Barbara Mandrell (2 each)
Most nominations	Alabama (5)
Television/radio coverage
Network	CBS

Winners and nominees

Winners in Bold.

Entertainer of the Year	Album of the Year
Barbara Mandrell Alabama George Jones The Oak Ridge Boys Kenny Rogers	I Believe in You — Don Williams 9 To 5 And Odd Jobs — Dolly Parton Feels So Right — Alabama I Am What I Am — George Jones Out Where The Bright Lights Are Glowing —Ronnie Milsap
Male Vocalist of the Year	Female Vocalist of the Year
George Jones Ronnie Milsap Willie Nelson Kenny Rogers Don Williams	Barbara Mandrell Terri Gibbs Emmylou Harris Loretta Lynn Anne Murray
Vocal Group of the Year	Vocal Duo of the Year
David Frizzell and Shelly West Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn George Jones and Tammy Wynette Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter	Alabama The Bellamy Brothers Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers The Oak Ridge Boys The Statler Brothers
Single of the Year	Song of the Year
"Elvira" — The Oak Ridge Boys "I Believe in You" — George Jones "I Was Country (When Country Wasn't Cool)" — Barbara Mandrell "Old Flame" — Alabama "Somebody's Knockin'" — Terri Gibbs	"He Stopped Loving Her Today" — Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman "Elvira" — Dallas Frazier "I Believe In You" — Roger Cook and Sam Hogin "I Was Country (When Country Wasn't Cool)" —Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan "I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal" — Billy Joe Shaver
Horizon Award	Instrumentalist of the Year
Terri Gibbs Rosanne Cash Boxcar Willie T.G. Sheppard David Frizzell and Shelly West	Chet Atkins Floyd Cramer Johnny Gimble Charlie McCoy Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Instrumental Group of the Year
Alabama Charlie Daniels Band Don Williams Band Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Oak Ridge Boys Band

Hall of Fame

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Vernon Dalhart Grant Turner