Entertainer Of The Year – This award is for a performing act who displayed the greatest competence in all aspects of the entertainment field. Voters should give consideration to recorded and in-person performance, public acceptance, attitude, leadership, and over-all contributions to the bluegrass music image. The award goes to member(s) of the performing act.
The nominees for Entertainer Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Dailey & Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
| The Grascals | web site | bio | audio |
| Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | web site | bio | audio |
| The Del McCoury Band | web site | bio | audio |
| Rhonda Vincent & The Rage | web site | bio | audio |
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Vocal Group Of The Year – The award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of vocal performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform vocally. The award goes to each group member.
The nominees for Vocal Group Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Blue Highway | web site | bio | audio |
| The Isaacs | web site | bio | audio |
| Dailey & Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
| Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | web site | bio | audio |
| Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass | web site | bio | audio |
| The Grascals | web site | bio | audio |
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Instrumental Group Of The Year – The award for a group who regularly performs together that has shown outstanding recorded and in-person performance in the area of instrumental performance. It is not limited to groups which only perform instrumentals. The award goes to each group member.
The nominees for Instrumental Group Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Blue Highway | web site | bio | audio |
| Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper | web site | bio | audio |
| The Infamous Stringdusters | web site | bio | audio |
| The Dan Tyminski Band | web site | bio | audio |
| Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder | web site | bio | audio |
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Male Vocalist Of The Year – Award for the outstanding male vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.
The nominees for Male Vocalist Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Jamie Dailey | web site | bio | audio |
| Russell Moore | web site | bio | audio |
| Tim O’Brien | web site | bio | audio |
| Danny Paisley | web site | bio | audio |
| Dan Tyminski | web site | bio | audio |
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Female Vocalist Of The Year – The award for the outstanding female vocalist based on recorded and in-person performance. The award goes to the individual.
The nominees for Female Vocalist Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Dale Ann Bradley | web site | bio | audio |
| Sonya Isaacs | web site | bio | audio |
| Alison Krauss | web site | bio | audio |
| Claire Lynch | web site | bio | audio |
| Rhonda Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
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Song Of The Year – This award is for any song, new or old, which was released or showed significant chart action within the eligibility period. Any song which has been nominated for this award in previous years is ineligible. The award goes to the songwriter and artist.
The nominees for Song Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Song Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Songwriter(s) links to writer(s) |
| Alison’s Band | Charlie Sizemore Band | Charlie Sizemore & Buddy Cannon |
| By The Mark | Dailey & Vincent | David Rawlings & Gillian Welch |
| Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey | The SteelDrivers | Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton |
| More Than A Name On A Wall | Dailey & Vincent | Jimmy Fortune & John Rimel |
| Through The Window Of A Train | Blue Highway | Tim Stafford & Steve Gulley |
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Album Of The Year – Award for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists, first commercially released during the specified time period (Award to artist(s), producer, and label).
The nominees for Album Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Album Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Dailey & Vincent | Dailey & Vincent | Rounder Records |
| Honoring The Fathers of Bluegrass | Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder | Skaggs Family Records |
| Lovin’ Pretty Women | Steep Canyon Rangers | Rebel Records |
| The SteelDrivers | The SteelDrivers | Rounder Records |
| Through The Window Of A Train | Blue Highway | Rounder Records |
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Instrumental Album Of The Year – This award is for an outstanding recorded performance by an artist or artists featuring instrumental music, new or old, first commercially released during the eligibility period. An album project is eligible when 50% or more of its songs are instrumental performances. (Award to featured artist(s), producer, and label).
The nominees for Instrumental Album Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Album Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Live At The Linda | David Grier | Dreadnought Records |
| Sound of the Slide Guitar | Andy Hall | Sugar Hill Records |
| Stepping Out | Jason Davis | Pinecastle Records |
| The Past Is Present | Jason Barie | Pinecastle Records |
| Whan At Last | Russ Barenberg | Compass Records |
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Recorded Event Of The Year – This award is for a recorded album performance on which 50% or more of the songs represent special collaboration between two or more featured artists (individuals or groups) who do not regularly record together and who are known primarily for their contributions and public performances separate from one another. These acts must have performed together, as a unit, on a musical recording released during the eligibility period with each separate act receiving special billing on the record label and/or songs on which they are featured. (Award to featured acts, producer and label).
The nominees for Recorded Event Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Album Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Christmas Grass, Vol 3 | Various | KOCH Records |
| Everett Lilly & Everybody and Their Brother | Various | Swift River Music |
| Salt of the Earth | Ricky Skaggs & The Whites | Skaggs Family Records |
| Standard Songs for Average People | John Prine & Mac Wiseman | Oh Boy Records |
| We Are Family | Jeff & Sheri Easter | Daywind Records |
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Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year – This award is for an outstanding gospel recorded performance, of one or more songs, new or old, first commercially released or showed significant chart action during the eligibility period. Recorded performance may be vocal, instrumental, or a combination of both. The award goes to the featured artist(s), producer, and label.
The nominees for Gospel Recorded Performance Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Song Title links to audio | Artist(s) links to artist(s) | Label links to label |
| Be Still Moses | Steep Canyon Rangers | Rebel Records |
| By The Mark | Dailey & Vincent | Rounder Records |
| Help Is On The Way | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver | Horizon Records |
| Salt Of The Earth | Ricky Skaggs & The Whites | Skaggs Family Records |
| Where No One Stands Alone | Paul Williams & The Victory Trio | Rebel Records |
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Emerging Artist Of The Year – Award for a group or individual, new to the national bluegrass scene, which has made considerable advances artistically and/or commercially during the eligibility period. The band or individual should be performing under its/his/her name on a regular basis and not have more than two previous finalist nominations for this award. (Award to each group member or individual).
The nominees for Emerging Artist Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Cadillac Sky | web site | bio | audio |
| Dailey & Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
| Grasstowne | web site | bio | audio |
| Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass | web site | bio | audio |
| The SteelDrivers | web site | bio | audio |
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Instrumental Performers Of The Year – The awards for artists who, on recorded and/or in-person performance during the specified time period, have shown an extraordinary mastery of their instruments. Nominations and awards will be made in six (6) sub-categories: Banjo, Bass, Dobro, Fiddle, Guitar and Mandolin.
The awards go to the artists.
The nominees for Banjo Player Of The Year for 2008 are:| Kristin Scott Benson | web site | bio | audio |
| J.D. Crowe | web site | bio | audio |
| Jim Mills | web site | bio | audio |
| Earl Scruggs | web site | bio | audio |
| Ron Stewart | web site | bio | audio |
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The nominees for Bass Player Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Barry Bales | web site | bio | audio |
| Mike Bub | web site | bio | audio |
| Darrin Vincent | web site | bio | audio |
| Missy Raines | web site | bio | audio |
| Marshall Wilborn | web site | bio | audio |
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The nominees for Fiddle Player Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Hunter Berry | web site | bio | audio |
| Jason Carter | web site | bio | audio |
| Michael Cleveland | web site | bio | audio |
| Stuart Duncan | web site | bio | audio |
| Ron Stewart | web site | bio | audio |
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The nominees for Dobro Player Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Mike Auldridge | web site | bio | audio |
| Jerry Douglas | web site | bio | audio |
| Rob Ickes | web site | bio | audio |
| Randy Kohrs | web site | bio | audio |
| Phil Leadbetter | web site | bio | audio |
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The nominees for Guitar Player Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Cody Kilby | web site | bio | audio |
| Tony Rice | web site | bio | audio |
| Tim Stafford | web site | bio | audio |
| Bryan Sutton | web site | bio | audio |
| Josh Williams | web site | bio | audio |
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The nominees for Mandolin Player Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Sam Bush | web site | bio | audio |
| Sierra Hull | web site | bio | audio |
| Doyle Lawson | web site | bio | audio |
| Ronnie McCoury | web site | bio | audio |
| Adam Steffey | web site | bio | audio |
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The following awards are determined by special procedures and committees are enlisted to review recommendations, consider nominations related to the criteria and determine recipients. Finalists will be recognized and winners will be announced at the Special Awards Luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, October 4 at The Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
The nominees for Bluegrass Broadcaster Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Kyle Cantrell | Bluegrass Junction XM Satellite Radio, Nashville, TN | web site |
| Katy Daley | WAMU’s bluegrasscountry.org | web site |
| Terry Herd | Into The Blue, Bluegrass Radio Network | web site |
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The nominees for Bluegrass Event Of The Year for 2008 are:
| The River City Bluegrass Festival | Portland, OR – January 2008 | web site |
| The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival | Ancramdale, NY – July 2007 | web site |
| 29th Annual Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival | Thomas Point Beach, ME August 2007 | web site |
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The nominees for Print Media Person Of The Year for 2008 are:
| Stephanie P. Ledgin | freelance writer & author | web site |
| Craig Shelburne | freelance writer & reviewer | web site |
| Chris Stuart | freelance writer for Bluegrass Unlimited | web site |
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The nominees for Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project for 2008 are:
| G. Carr & S. Holman (designers) | Pete Wernick & Flexigrass, What The, Niwot Records | web site |
| Smay Vision Graphic Design (designer) | The Stanley Brothers, The Stanley Brothers: The Definitive Collection (1947-1966), Time Life | web site |
| Loren Witcher (designer) | The Punch Brothers, Punch, Nonesuch | web site |
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The nominees for Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project for 2008 are:
| Frank & Marty Godbey | J.D. Crowe , Bluegrass Holiday , Rebel Records | web site |
| Gary Reid | The Stanley Brothers, The Stanley Brothers: The Definitive Collection (1947-1966), Time Life | web site |
| Ron Thomason | The Charlie Sizemore Band, Good News, Rounder Records | web site |
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Distinguished Achievement Awards
| Bill Harrell | web site | bio |
| Banjo NewsLetter | web site | bio |
| Ernest Tubb Records Shop | web site | bio |
| Art Menius | web site | bio |
| Alan Munde & Joe Carr | web site – Alan web site – Joe | bio – Alan bio – Joe |
Hall of Fame Inductees
| Bill Clifton | performing | bio | audio |
| Charles K. Wolfe | non-performing | bio | author |
