Remember When Taylor Swift Won her First CMA Award?

"This is definitely the highlight of my senior year," Swift said while accepting the honor. 

Written by Laura Hostelley
Remember When Taylor Swift Won her First CMA Award?
Taylor Swift arrives at the 41st Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center on November 7, 2007 in Nashville TN; Photo by Frank Mullen/WireImage

This year marks one decade since Taylor Swift won her very first CMA Award. A lot has changed since then, mainly which genre she identifies with her music, but country music will always remember the night Swift made her first of many marks on the hallowed CMA stage.

The then 17-year-old was nominated for the Horizon Award, an honor given to an up-and-coming artist who has shown promise and beginning successes in country music. Swift had some tough competition alongside her in 2007, including Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Kellie Pickler and Rodney Atkins.

Carrie Underwood, who won the award the year prior, ultimately granted the award to Swift who joyfully accepted it with tears in her eyes.

“I can’t even believe this is real,” Swift starts her speech. “And I want to thank God and my family for moving to Nashville so I can do this. And I want to thank country radio, I will never forget the chance you took on me.”

Swift held her own on the stage, clad in a shimmering gold ballgown. Her nomination and win was earned after the release of her self-titled debut album and two top-twenty singles, “Tim Mcgraw” and “Our Song.”

“And the fans, you have changed my life. I can’t even believe this,” the superstar continued. “This is definitely the highlight of my senior year.”

Since 2007, Swift has went on to win eight more CMA trophies, including two for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.

Ten years later, Swift is still accepting nominations in the country music world. At this year’s award show, “Better Man,” a song she penned for Little Big Town, is up for Song of the Year. Fans can catch the results live next Wednesday (Nov. 8) on ABC.