James has won 7 Country Music Awards. Here is a list of his nominations and awards. The * indicates the winner.

1968 Best Lead Guitar
Al Bruno
Glen Campbell
James Burton
*Jimmy Bryant
Phil Baugh

1970 Lead Guitar
*Al Bruno
Chet Atkins
James Burton
Jerry Reed
Roy Clark

1972 Lead Guitar
*Al Bruno
Don Rich
Harold Bradley
James Burton
Roy Nichols

1973 Lead Guitar
*Al Bruno
Danny Michaels
Don Rich
James Burton
Roy Nichols

1974 Lead Guitar
*Al Bruno
Danny Michaels
Dave Thornhill
Grady Martin
James Burton

1975 Lead Guitar
Al Bruno
Danny Michaels
James Burton
Johnny Blankenship
Ronnie Truhett
*Russ Hansen

1976 Lead Guitar
Al Bruno
*Danny Michaels
James Burton
John Blankenship
Russ Hansen

1978 Guitar
Al Bruno
Billy Walker
Dave Thornhill
*James Burton
Johnny Blakenship

1979 Guitar
*Al Bruno
Billy Walker
Dan Miller
Jack Daniels
James Burton

1981 Guitar
Grady Martin
Phil Bauch
Roy Nichols
Thumbs Carlisle
*James Burton

1982 Guitar
*Al Bruno
Billy Walker
James Burton
Reggie Young
Thumbs Carlisle

1982 Speciality Instrument
*James Burton - dobro
Neil LeVang - mandolin
Don Markham - saxophone
Charlie McCoy - harmonica
Terry McMillian - harmonica

1983 Guitar
Al Bruno
Billy Walker
James Burton
Johnny Blankenship
*Reggie Young

1983 Speciality Instrument
*Charlie McCoy
James Burton
Jerry Douglas
Larry McNeely
Tiny Moore

1984 Guitar
Al Bruno
Chet Atkins
Danny Michaels
*James Burton
Johnny Blankenship

1985 Guitar
Al Bruno
Billy Walker
Bret Rowan
Chet Atkins
Danny Michaels
Jack Daniels
*James Burton

1985 Speciality Instrument
Carl Jackson - banjo
*James Burton - dobro
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Ricky Skaggs - mandolin
Charlie McCoy - harmonica

1986 Speciality Instrument
Max McGuire - banjo
*James Burton - dobro
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Charlie McCoy - harmonica
Ricky Skaggs - mandolin
Jerry McKinney - saxophone