Tonight the 2025 Bluegrass Music Awards are being announced in Nashville at the Sheraton Music City hotel during the 41st annual SPBGMA National Convention & Band Championship.
Our SPBGMA correspondent, Nick Newlon, will be reporting the winners as they are announced. To see the list as it progresses, simply return to this page throughout the evening as we will add the information during the awards show.
And the winners are:
Bluegrass Promoter of the Year – Aaron McDaris
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year – SiriusXM 77
Bluegrass DJ of the Year – Chris Jones – SiriusXM
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year – Daryl Mosley
Bluegrass Album of the Year – If There’s A Will There’s A Way by Junior Sisk for Mountain Fever Records
Bluegrass Song of the Year – Tennessee Hound Dog by The Grascals for Mountain Home Music Company
Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year – Maddie Dalton
Dobro Performer of the Year – Matt Leadbetter
Guitar Performer of the Year – Kody Norris
Mandolin Performer of the Year – Alan Bibey
Banjo Performer of the Year – Kristin Scott Benson
Fiddle Performer of the Year – Mary Rachel Nalley Norris
Female Vocalist of the Year – Rhonda Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year – Kody Norris
Gospel Group of the Year – Authentic Unlimited
Vocal Group of the Year – The Kody Norris Show
Instrumental Group of the Year – East Nash Grass
Bluegrass Band (Overall) of the Year – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Bluegrass Entertainer(s) of the Year – Kody Norris
Thursday afternoon, time was spent with nominated artists prior to the awards program. Authentic Unlimited received two awards: New Artist of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year.
Prior to the event, AU fiddler Stephen Burwell shared his excitement of being nominated. “It feels incredible. It’s an extreme honor to be nominated for these awards. I’m grateful to be playing music with these guys that care so much about it and work really hard.”
AU banjoist Eli Johnston chimed in as well. “We’re just so excited to see it all grow. We can’t wait.”
Mandolinist Jesse Brock was up for Mandolin Player of the Year, and expressed his gratitude for the nomination. “It is quite an honor to be in the final five. I still feel like a winner.”
Greg Blake, Male Vocalist of the Year, was humbled and excited before the show. “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s really surreal to see my name in the same breath and place with the guys I learned to sing bluegrass from. I mean Del McCoury, Danny Paisley, Larry Sparks. That’s who I listened to as a teenager to learn how to sing bluegrass. To see my name listed in the same category as those guys, I’ve already won!”
Stephen Mougin of Dark Shadow recording stated, “I have two songs that I produced up for awards. Song of the Year with Rick Faris, The Power of Love. I also have Gospel Recorded Performance, Tell Me the Story of Jesus, with Becky Buller, Ricky Skaggs, and Vince Gill, and we have Hen House Prowlers up for New Artists of the Year. It’s very exciting. It’s really cool to have the industry looking at what we do, and liking it as much as we do.”
New Artist nominee, Hen House Prowlers’ founding member, banjo player Ben Wright, shared, “It’s a hugely exciting thing to be associated with the other acts on that nomination. I love every one of those bands and really thrilled to be mentioned in the same space as them. It’s nice to be walking the red carpet and be surrounded by our wonderful community.”
Entertainer of the Year nominee Appalachian Road Show’s Barry Abernathy confessed, “I probably feel unworthy of it with all the heroes involved in the same category. It is a great honor. It doesn’t matter, win or lose. It’s just a fun night, and good to be here.”
ARS fiddler Jim VanCleve wholeheartedly agreed. “It’s a ridiculous honor. It’s crazy to be four years into a band and have that happen. We’re excited as can be. We don’t expect anything, but we’re sure grateful.”
Abernathy and VanCleve’s song, Blue Ridge Mountain Baby, was also in the list of nominations for Song of the Year. VanCleve shared his inspiration. “We needed two more songs for the record. I knew we needed something fun, fast, and uplifting. I was driving and I had a hook, Blue Ridge Mountain Baby, that just kind of dropped down out of the sky into my head, and all of a sudden, the melody happened, too. I knew the song was almost written already. I had to find pencil and paper. Once I finally sat down, it probably took about 30 or 40 minutes. I knew what it needed to be, but I give the rest to the Lord. He delivered it to me.”
Female Vocalist nominee Jaelee Roberts of Sister Sadie said, “It is an honor to be nominated in the same category with all my heroes.”
Sister Sadie was also up for Song of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year. Their banjoist, Gena Britt, was thrilled to return to the red carpet. “It is just like a big family reunion. We debuted Diane at last year’s awards show, and to have it nominated for Song of the Year this year makes it extra special.”
Tennessee Bluegrass Band was nominated for New Artist, and fiddler Aynsley Porchak, expressed her excitement. “It’s a dream come true. It’s the result of a lot of hard work on all my band mates’ parts. I couldn’t be prouder of them for everything they’ve done to get us to this point. It’s a great group of musicians, and I feel so blessed to share the stage with them.”
Lincoln Hensley, TBB banjo picker, added, “It’s such an honor to be up there with such prestigious names, too. A lot of the guys up there with us, we really respect the music they’re putting out. We’d also like to say a thank you to Billy Blue (Records). Our record label has really helped us out and we really, really love what they’ve done for us. They’ve let us be ourselves and that’s all we ask.”
Bass Player of the Year nominee Mike Bub declared, “It’s always a thrill to be nominated with a bunch of people that I’ve known forever. They’re my heroes. It’s a class group of people. The real honor is just to be included with that group of people.”
Another Bass Player nominee Missy Raines tipped her hat and predicted the award selection. “Tonight’s going to be Vickie (Vaughn’s) night.”
Starlett & Big John got to walk the carpet after forming their band almost five years ago. Starlett Boswell Austin, nominated for Momentum Vocalist of the Year, expressed, “It is one of the greatest feelings that I have ever had. It’s something that I dreamed of since I was a child. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Lonesome River Band’s Jesse Smathers and Adam Miller were present since the group’s song, Heyday, was in the running for Song of the Year.
Guitarist Smathers stated, “It’s an honor. (Songwriters) Barry and Will Hutchens are both here. It’s a real treat. It is something we see in every small town we go to and play. It’s a little glimmer of hope when we see a downtown revitalized and built back up. Heyday really talks about all that.”
Mandolinist Miller stressed, “I’m just happy to be here and soak it all in.”
Tonight’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards was held tonight at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, NC.
Both nominees and winners were chosen by the professional voting membership of the IBMA.
And the winners are…
Mandolin Player of the Year – Sierra Hull
Bass Player of the Year – Jason Moore
Instrumental Recording of the Year – Vertigo – Béla Fleck featuring Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Bryan Sutton (artists); Béla Fleck (writer); Béla Fleck (producer); Renew Records (label)
Gospel Recording of the Year – In the Sweet By and By –Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley (artists); S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster (writers); Jerry Salley; (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Collaborative Recording of the Year – In the Sweet By and By –Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley (artists); S. Fillmore Bennett/Joseph Webster (writers); Jerry Salley; (producer), Billy Blue Records (label)
Fiddle Player of the Year – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Banjo Player of the Year – Béla Fleck
Guitar Player of the Year – Cody Kilby
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year – Justin Moses
Male Vocalist of the Year – Del McCoury
Female Vocalist of the Year – Molly Tuttle
Vocal Group of the Year – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Song of the Year – Red Daisy – Billy Strings (artist); Jarrod Walker/Christian Ward (writers); Rounder Records (label); Jonathan Wilson/Billy Strings (producers)
Instrumental Group of the Year – Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart
New Artist of the Year – Rick Faris
Album of the Year – Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart
The ‘Dusters will also appear as musical artists on the show, which will include additional performances from Sister Sadie, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, The Del McCoury Band, and Balsam Range.
This gala event is always held as the closing hurrah of the annual World of Bluegrass Business Conference, running September 28-30 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The Awards Show takes place at the adjacent Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, and is a separately ticketed event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendance is open to both IBMA members and the general public, and is bluegrass music’s big night to shine, where everyone enjoys dressing up and showing off for their peers in the industry.
The format is a familiar one to anyone who watches other arts organization’s awards show, with a bevy of well-known bluegrass artists and personalities serving as presenters of more than a dozen awards, similar to what you might see from the Country Music Association or the Recording Academy. The five members of The Infamous Stringdusters will function as overall hosts. Jeremy Garret plays fiddle, Chris Pandolfi banjo, Andy Falco guitar, Travis Book bass, and Andy Hall reso-guitar.
Pat Morris, Executive Director of IBMA, says that the entire organization is delighted to be back before a live audience after hosting the show virtually last year.
“We are so pleased to once again have a live IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Show, and have focused on delivering a safe return to live bluegrass at this year’s World of Bluegrass. It should prove to be a very exciting Awards show with the Infamous Stringdusters as our 2021 hosts, and we look forward to all of the performances and special Hall of Fame inductions.”
On top of the awards presentations, this show always functions as the official induction of several artists into the IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include Alison Krauss, Lynn Morris, and The Stoneman Family. Special tribute performances are scheduled for each of them during the program.
The ‘Dusters issued a joint statement sharing their excitement to be a part of the 2021 awards show.
“We’ve had a close relationship with IBMA since the inception of the Infamous Stringdusters. In many ways, it’s where we got our start. And now we’re honored to be the host for this year’s Awards show.”
Those who will be in Raleigh for World of Bluegrass, or anyone in the region or willing to make the trip, can get tickets for the 2021 Bluegrass Music Awards online. The show will be streamed online on Facebook and YouTube. The live audio will be broadcast on the Bluegrass Junction channel on SiriusXM. The live video stream will also be available as part of the free music pass through Swapcard.
Earlier today in Nashville, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced the final nominees for their 32nd annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Also announced were the 2021 inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall Of Fame, and recipients of the organization’s Distinguished Achievement Awards.
Prior to the balloting for the Hall of Fame this year, a document was prepared and circulated among the members of the elite voting class for this high honor, suggesting women in bluegrass deserving of induction. It seems that this proposal was well received, as all three honorees are female, or female centered.
These award nominees are selected in a three part process by the professional membership of the IBMA, consisting of artists, songwriters, label personnel, radio hosts, event producers, managers and agents, publicists, studio engineers, associations, manufacturers, retailers, and others who work in the bluegrass industry. These same voters will choose the actual winners as well.
2021 Hall Of Fame Inductees
Alison Krauss
Lynn Morris
The Stoneman Family
2021 Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients
Nancy Cardwell Webster
Lee Michael Demsey
Jaroslav Prucha
Cliff Waldron
Stan Zdonik
2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Award Nominations
Entertainer Of The Year (tie)
Balsam Range
Billy Strings
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Del McCoury Band
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Vocal Group Of The Year
Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Balsam Range
Blue Highway
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Sister Sadie
Instrumental Group Of The Year
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Travelin’ McCourys
New Artist Of The Year
Appalachian Road Show
Carolina Blue
Gina Furtado Project
High Fidelity
Merle Monroe
Song Of The Year
Banjo Player’s Blues – High Fidelity (artist), Charlie Monroe (writer), Jeremy Stephens, Brand Benge (producers), Rebel Records
Hitchhiking to California – Alan Bibey & Grasstowne (artist), Wes Golding/Alan Bibey/Jerry Salley (writers), Jerry Salley, Ron Stewart, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records
Just Load The Wagon – Junior Sisk (artist), J.R. Satterwhite (writer), Amanda Cook, Junior Sisk, Mark Hodges (producers), Mountain Fever Records
Leaving on Her Mind – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (artist), Jack Clement (writer), Rosta Capek (producer), Billy Blue Records
Richest Man – Balsam Range (artist), Jim Beavers/Jimmy Yeary/Connie Harrington (writers), Balsam Range (producers), Mountain Home Music Company
Album Of The Year (tie)
Bluegrass 2020 – Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal (artists), Scott Vestal, Ethan Burkhardt, Lonnie Lassiter (producers), Pinecastle Records
Distance and Time – Becky Buller (artist), Stephen Mougin (producer), Dark Shadow Recording
Fall Like Rain – Justin Moses (artist), Justin Moses (producer), Mountain Fever Records
Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various artists (artist), Joe Mullins (producer), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Load The Wagon – Junior Sisk (artist), Amanda Cook, Junior Sisk, Mark Hodges (producers), Mountain Fever Records
Still Here – Steve Gully & Tim Stafford (artists), Steve Gulley/Tim Stafford (producer), Mountain Home Music Company
Gospel Recording Of The Year
After Awhile – Dale Ann Bradley (artist), Public Domain (writer), Dale Ann Bradley (producer), Pinecastle records (label)
Grit and Grace – Balsam Range (artist), Ann Melton/Milan Miller/Beth Husband (writers), Balsam Range (producer), Mountain Home Music Company (label)
Hear Jerusalem Calling – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers (artist), Marty Stuart/Jerry Sullivan (writers), J oe Mullins, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
In the Resurrection Morning – Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore (artists), Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
When He Calls My Name – Alan Bibey & Grasstowne (artist), Alan Bibey/Ronnie Bowman (writers), Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, Ron Stewart, Jerry Salley, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
Instrumental Recording Of The Year
The Appalachian Road – Appalachian Road Show (artist), Jim VanCleve (writer), Jim VanCleve, Barry Abernathy, Appalachian Road Show, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
Foggy Mountain Chimes – Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal (artists), Earl Scruggs (writer), Scott Vestal (producer), Pincastle Records (label)
Groundspeed – Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson (artists), Earl Scruggs (writer), Jon Weisberger (producer), Mountain Home Music Company (label)
Mountain Strings – Sierra Hull (artist), Frank Wakefield/Red Allen (writers), Joe Mullins (producer), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (label)
Taxland – Justin Moses with Sierra Hull (artists), Justin Moses (writer), Justin Moses (producer), Mountain Fever Records (label)
Collaborative Recording Of The Year
Birmingham Jail – Barry Abernathy with Vince Gill (artists), Traditional (writer), Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
In the Resurrection Morning – Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore (artists), Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve, Dottie Leonard Miller (producers), Billy Blue Records (label)
My Baby’s Gone – Justin Moses with Del McCoury (artist), Dennis Linde (writer), Justin Moses (producer), Mountain Fever Records (label)
Tears of Regret – High Fidelity with Jesse McReynolds (artists), Jesse McReynolds/Lucille Hutton (writers), Jeremy Stephens, Corrina Rose Logston, Brad Benge (producers), Rebel Records (label)
White Line Fever – Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison Brown (artists), Merle Haggard/Jeff Tweedy (writers), Alison Brown, Garry West (producers), Compass Records (label)
Male Vocalist Of The Year
Ronnie Bowman
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley
Junior Sisk
Larry Sparks
Female Vocalist Of The Year
Brooke Aldridge
Dale Ann Bradley
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Rhonda Vincent
Instrumental Performers Of The Year
Banjo
Gena Britt
Gina Furtado
Rob McCoury
Kristin Scott Benson
Scott Vestal
Bass
Mike Bub
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
Marshall Wilborn
Fiddle
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Deanie Richardson
Resophonic Guitar
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Justin Moses
Guitar
Trey Hensley
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Jake Workman
Mandolin
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Tristan Scroggins
Congratulations and best of luck to all the 2021 nominees!
Winners will be announced during the 32nd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, to be held in Raleigh, NC on September 30. Tickets are available now online.
Chosen as co-hosts this year are Sierra Hull, Joe Newberry, Tim O’Brien, and Rhonda Vincent, who will hold down the central part of the program, throwing to pre-recorded live sets and award presentations on tape.
As is usually the case, live performances are on tap from all six Entertainer of the Year nominees, as well as special features celebrating 2020 as the 75th anniversary of the birth of bluegrass. These have been shot in advance on video, in various locations in Nashville and Raleigh.
Other show segments announced by IBMA include:
On stage at the Ryman, the Del McCoury Band will perform a classic Bill Monroe song in celebration of the 75th anniversary of bluegrass.
In a tribute to Doc Watson, his longtime band mate T. Michael Coleman is joined by all five Guitar Player of the Year nominees for a rousing Black Mountain Rag.
In a tribute to J.D. Crowe, his ex-band member Jerry Douglas has collected an amazing lineup of IBMA royalty, including all five banjo nominees, joined by Douglas, Sam Bush, Missy Raines and David Grier.
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper will perform a song from the fiddling virtuoso’s 2020 GRAMMY-winning album, Tall Fiddler.
Taj Mahal joins the fun virtually – from Northern California – when he joins Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley with nominated sidemen Mike Bub and Stuart Duncan, performing at the Ryman, for Sittin’ on Top of the World.
Becky Buller, Missy Raines, and Alison Brown will perform an original hymn by Buller, Take Me Over Jordan, for the In Memoriam segment.
To salute women in bluegrass history and the 20th anniversary of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, four female nominees (including host Rhonda Vincent) will sing the a cappella Down to the River to Pray from the groundbreaking project.
An opening number recreating that night 75 years ago when Flatt and Scruggs joined Bill Monroe on stage at the Ryman Auditorium.
Everything about this year’s show had to be reimagined on the fly, as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s shutdown orders would not allow for the convention or the awards show to go on as scheduled in Raleigh. So IBMA had to come up with a plan to host everything online, an entirely new experience with little time to consider options.
But show producer Joanne Gardner Lowell says that all hands have been willing to make adjustments as necessary.
“This show has been a pleasure to produce. When I started talking with the IBMA earlier this year, we were Raleigh bound. I’ve been so impressed by how eager all of the IBMA team and the performers have been to pivot and create an entirely new program with virtual aspects. It’s a testament to how the people in the bluegrass community are focused on pulling together to make lemonade out of the large crate of lemons we’ve all been handed this year.”
If you had watched any of the recent political convention coverage, you can get an idea of how the awards show will run, though with fewer flags and patriotic songs. Oh… and shorter speeches.
The best news for bluegrass lovers is that the online version of the IBMA Bluegrass Awards on October 1 will be free to all via the IBMA Facebook page and the World of Bluegrass web site starting at 8:00 p.m. (EDT). Please share the news with anyone who might enjoy a first class presentation of what bluegrass is all about, or invite them to join you for a watch party at your home.
