And the 2018 CMA for Musician of the Year goes to ... Mac McAnally! The category's contenders this year were Dann Huff, Jerry Douglas, Paul Franklin, McAnally and Derek Wells -- quite the talented bunch.

McAnally's Musician of the Year honor was announced during the 2018 CMA Awards telecast on Wednesday night (Nov. 14). One of the night's co-hosts, Carrie Underwood, revealed the news during a break between performances. His 2018 win makes McAnally the musician with the most CMA Musician of the Year wins in the awards show's history; he was previously tied at nine with Chet Atkins.

McAnally is holding strong to his title of CMA Musician of the Year -- one he has fairly consistently won since 2008. From 2008 to 2015, McAnally nabbed the award eight years in a row; he lost to Huff in 2016, reclaimed the title in 2017 and won this year once again.

Not only has McAnally released his own personal work, resulting in a couple of Billboard Hot 100 hits, as well as several on the Hot Country Songs chart, he's also one of the most well-respected musicians Nashville has ever known. From George Jones and Roy Orbison to Alabama and Reba McEntire, McAnally's played on legendary albums, written with iconic artists and been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

See All the Looks From the 2018 CMA Awards Red Carpet

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