Rewind 1972: Donna Fargo was Certainly Happy, Loretta Lynn Made CMA History

The Country Music Association Awards for 1972 were handed out at the Ryman Auditorium with future Country Music Hall of Famer Glen Campbell hosting.

And what a night it was for 'The Coal Miner's Daughter'.

Loretta Lynn captured three awards that night, including Female Vocalist of the Year and, along with the legendary Conway Twitty, Vocal Duo of the Year.  But it was that third award that vaulted Loretta into Country Music history.

Loretta Lynn, in 1972, became the first woman in CMA history to win the most coveted award of the night, the Entertainer of the Year.  She won against a field that included Merle Haggard, Freddie Hart, Jerry Reed and Charley Pride.

Speaking of Freddie Hart, he did mighty fine for himself that night too, winning Song of the Year (an award for the writer) for his self-penned all-time classic 'Easy Loving'.

But perhaps the happiest girl in the auditorium (if not the whole USA!) was Donna Fargo, who won Single of the Year for her classic that had all of us singing!