2020 SPBGMA award nominees announced

The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America has announced the nominees for their 2020 Bluegrass Music Awards, to be awarded during their annual convention in Nashville on February 2.

The 46th annual SPBGMA convention will be held at the Sheraton Music City hotel from January 30 through February 2, which will include their International Band Championship, always a highly contested event. All the details on registering for the convention or the contest, plus room rates at the Sheraton, can be found online.

And the 2020 nominees are:

Bluegrass Promotor of the Year

  • Norman Adams
  • D.A. Callaway
  • Calvin Mickey
  • Ryan Frankhouser
  • Cindy Pinion
  • Gloria Niehart

Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year

  • WDVX-FM – Knoxville, TN
  • Sirius XM 062
  • WBRF-FM – Galax, VA
  • WSM-AM – Nashville, TN
  • WFPK-FM – Louisville KY
  • WPAQ-AM – Mt. Airy, NC

Bluegrass DJ of the Year

  • Bob Mitchell – WCHQ-FM
  • Kyle Cantrell – Sirius XM
  • Tim Frye – WPAQ-AM
  • Michelle Lee – WOBL
  • Chris Jones – Sirius XM 062
  • Ned Luberecki – Sirius XM

Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year

  • Donna Ulisse
  • Larry Cordle
  • Irene Kelley
  • Jerry Salley
  • Chris Jones
  • Johnny Williams

Bluegrass Album of the Year

  • Benny’s TV Repair – Irene Kelley on Mountain Fever
  • I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me – Carolina Blue on Pinecastle
  • Mountains, Mamas and Memories – Big Country Bluegrass on Rebel Records
  • The Hard Way – Dale Ann Bradley on Pinecastle Records
  • For The Record – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers on Billy Blue
  • Straighten The Curves – The Grascals on Mountain Home Music

Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year

  • Mickey Harris
  • Reece Combs
  • Terry Smith
  • Mike Bub
  • Zak McLamb
  • Frances Mooney

Dobro Performer of the Year

  • Rob Ickes
  • Jerry Douglas
  • Fred Travers
  • Josh Swift
  • Phil Leadbetter
  • Brent Burke

Guitar Performer of the Year

  • Josh Williams
  • Bobby Powell
  • Keith Tew
  • David Parmley
  • Johnny Williams
  • Larry Sparks

Mandolin Performer of the Year

  • Wayne Benson
  • Alan Bibey
  • Ronnie McCoury
  • Larry Stephenson
  • David Davis
  • Adam Steffey

Banjo Performer of the Year

  • Sammy Shelor
  • Don Hill
  • Aaron McDaris
  • Kristin Scott-Benson
  • Greg Cahill
  • Kelsey Crews

Fiddle Performer of the Year

  • Hunter Berry
  • Tim Laughlin
  • Steve Thomas
  • Michael Cleveland
  • Steve Day
  • Becky Buller

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Irene Kelley
  • Dale Ann Bradley
  • Lorraine Jordan
  • Frances Mooney
  • Rhonda Vincent
  • Jeanette Williams

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Russell Moore
  • David Parmley
  • Josh Williams
  • Larry Stephenson
  • Timmy Jones
  • Junior Sisk

Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year

  • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  • The Isaacs
  • Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
  • The Farm Hands
  • Remington Ryde
  • Carolina Blue

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Dailey & Vincent
  • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  • Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
  • The Farm Hands
  • Carolina Blue
  • Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year

  • Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
  • Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
  • The Grascals
  • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
  • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  • The Farm Hands

Bluegrass Band of the Year

  • Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
  • Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
  • Del McCoury Band
  • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  • The Farm Hands
  • Carolina Blue

Entertainer(s) of the Year

  • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  • The Farm Hands
  • Carolina Blue
  • Rhonda Vincent
  • Little Roy
  • The Grascals

Song of the Year

  • Country Boy, Banjo and Flat Top Guitar – Big Country Bluegrass on Rebel Records
  • Bluegrass Radio – Irene Kelley on Mountain Fever
  • Next Train South – Po’Ramblin’ Boys on Rounder Records
  • Rusty Rails – Carolina Blue on Pinecastle Records
  • Hard Way Every Time – Dale Ann Bradley on Pinecastle Records
  • Something About A Train Sound – Irene Kelley on Mountain Fever

Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees!

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.