The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for

bluegrass music Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music The term American folk music encompasses numerous music genres, variously known as ''traditional music'', ''traditional folk music'', ''contemporary folk music'', ''vernacular music,'' or ...

presented by the

International Bluegrass Music Association The International Bluegrass Music Association, or IBMA, is a trade association to promote bluegrass music. Formed in 1985, IBMA established its first headquarters in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 1988 they announced plans to create the International ...

(IBMA). Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA.

Award winners

2021 award winners

The awards ceremony was held September 30 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the List of North Carolina county seats, seat of Wake County, North Carolina, Wake County in the United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most ...

. The inductees into the

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Induction to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, called the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor from its creation in 1991 through 2006, is managed by the International Bluegrass Music Association, and the Hall itself is mainta ...

were recognized during the awards. These included

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (1954–2017) was a Christian fiction author. She was the daughter of Gilbert Morris and co-wrote with him on most of her books. Books by Lynn Morris Cheney Duvall, M.D. Series This series was co-written with her father, Gil ...

, and The Stoneman Family. * Album of the Year -- Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southern Ohio's Musical Legacy, Various Artists, Joe Mullins (producer), Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (label) * Banjo Player of the Year --

Scott Vestal Scott Vestal is an American banjoist, songwriter and luthier, known for his innovative approach to playing and designing the banjo. Biography Early years The older of two children, Scott Vestal was raised in Duncan, Oklahoma in a musical fam ...

* Bass Player of the Year --

Missy Raines Missy Raines (born April 6, 1962) is an American bassist, singer, teacher, and songwriter. She has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Awards for Bass Player of the Year. Missy Raines was the first woman to win IBMA Bass Player of the Year awa ...

* Collaborative Recording of the Year (formerly Recorded Event of the Year) -- "White Line Fever" featuring

Bobby Osborne Bobby Osborne (born December 7, 1931) is an American bluegrass musician. He is the co-founder (with his brother Sonny Osborne) of the Osborne Brothers and a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. He also ...

with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley,

Sierra Hull Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist, and guitarist. Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13 and released her debut vocal album, ''Secrets'', in 2008 at the age of 16. ...

Stuart Duncan Stuart Duncan (born April 14, 1964) is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and banjo. Life Duncan was born in Quantico, Virginia, and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band. He ...

Todd Phillips Todd Phillips (né Bunzl, born December 20, 1970) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He began his career in 1993 and directed films in the 2000s such as ''Road Trip (film), Road Trip'', ''Old School (film), Old School'', ...

Alison Brown Alison Brown (born August 7, 1962) is an American banjo player, guitarist, composer, and producer. She has won and has been nominated for several Grammy awards and is often compared to another banjo prodigy, Béla Fleck, for her unique style o ...

* Entertainer of the Year --

Billy Strings Billy Strings (born William Lee Apostol, October 3, 1992) is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He won a Grammy Award in 2021. Early life Billy Strings was born William Lee Apostol on October 3, 1992, in Lansing, Michigan. His fath ...

* Female Vocalist of the Year --

Dale Ann Bradley Dale Ann Bradley is an American bluegrass musician. She is a six-time (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2021) Female Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year, a distinction given by the International Bluegrass Music Association. She has released music bo ...

* Fiddle Player of the Year -- Bronwyn Keith-Hynes * Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year -- "In the Resurrection Morning" by Sacred Reunion featuring

Doyle Lawson Doyle Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted into ...

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...

, Barry Abernathy,

Tim Stafford Blue Highway is an American contemporary bluegrass band formed in 1994 and based in Tennessee. The band's albums include ''Wondrous Love'' (2003), ''Marbletown'' (2005), and '' Original Traditional'' (2016). Background After helping found t ...

, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore and "After While" by

* Guitar Player of the Year -- Billy Strings * Instrumental Group of the Year -- Appalachian Road Show * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year -- Ground Speed by Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, and Darren Nicholson * Male Vocalist of the Year --

Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo respec ...

and Danny Paisley * Mandolin Player of the Year -- Sierra Hull * New Artist of the Year (formerly Emerging Artist of the Year) -- Appalachian Road Show * Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year -- Justin Moses * Song of the Year -- "Richest Man" by

Balsam Range Balsam Range is a bluegrass and acoustic music group founded in 2007 in Haywood County, North Carolina. They are the 2014 and 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA) Entertainer of the Year recipients. Their other accolades include ...

, songwriters Jim Beavers, Jimmy Yeary, and Connie Harrington * Vocal Group of the Year -- Sister Sadie

2020 award winners

The 2020 award show was presented virtually on October 1, 2020. * Entertainer of the Year –

Sister Sadie "Sister Sadie" is a jazz standard written in 1959 by Horace Silver, and first recorded for his 1959 Blue Note Records album, ''Blowin' the Blues Away''. Covers *1960: Hank Crawford – ''More Soul'' ( Atlantic Records) *1960: Gil Evans – '' O ...

* Male Vocalist of the Year – Danny Paisley * Female Vocalist of the Year – Brooke Aldridge * Vocal Group of the Year –

* Instrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper * New Artist of the Year – Mile Twelve * Guitar Player of the Year – Jake Workman * Banjo Player of the Year –

* Mandolin Player of the Year –

Alan Bibey Alan Bibey (born August 24, 1964) is a mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and band leader in the bluegrass tradition. Biography Early years Bibey was raised in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. His dad and his mother's brothers were bluegrass musici ...

* Fiddle Player of the Year – Deanie Richardson * Bass Player of the Year –

* Dobro Player of the Year – Justin Moses * Album of the Year – ''Live in Prague'' (

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Doyle Lawson (born April 20, 1944) is an American traditional bluegrass and Southern gospel musician. He is best known as a mandolin player, vocalist, producer, and leader of the 6-man group Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Lawson was inducted in ...

) * Song of the Year – "Chicago Barn Dance" (

, Becky Buller,

) * Collaborative Recording of the Year – "The Barber's Fiddle" ( Becky Buller with Shawn Camp, Jason Carter,

Laurie Lewis Laurie Lewis is an innovative American singer, musician, and songwriter in the genre of bluegrass music. History Laurie Lewis was born in Long Beach, California on September 28, 1950. Her family moved regularly from place to place until she w ...

, Kati Penn,

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. ...

Michael Cleveland Michael Cleveland (born September 18, 1980) is an American bluegrass fiddle player. Early life Cleveland was born in Henryville, Indiana. He was born completely blind and a childhood ear infection caused him to lose 80% of his hearing in one ...

, Johnny Warren,

, Deanie Richardson, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Jason Barie, Fred Carpenter, Tyler Andal, Nate Lee, Dan Boner, Brian Christianson, and Laura Orshaw * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – "Tall Fidler" (

and

Tommy Emmanuel William Thomas Emmanuel (born 31 May 1955) is an Australian guitarist. Regarded as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists of all time, he is known for his complex fingerstyle technique, energetic performances and use of percussive effects on ...

) * Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – "Gonna Rise and Shine" ( Alan Bibey and Grasstowne)

2015 award winners

The 2015 award show was held on October 1, 2015 in

. Actor and banjo player

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominated ...

was presented with a distinguished achievement award by the IBMA. The show included induction of both Bill Keith and

Larry Sparks Larry Sparks (born September 25, 1947) is an American Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Year and Re ...

into the

. * Entertainer of the Year – The Earls of Leicester * Vocal Group of the Year –

* Instrumental Group of the Year – The Earls of Leicester * Song of the Year – Balsam Range ("Moon Over Memphis") * Album of the Year – The Earls of Leicester (''The Earls of Leicester'') * Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – The Earls of Leicester ("Who Will Sing for Me") * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year –

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. Career In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he has ...

Mike Auldridge Mike Auldridge (December 30, 1938 – December 29, 2012) was an American Dobro player and a founding member of the bluegrass group The Seldom Scene. The ''New York Times'' described Auldridge as "one of the most distinctive dobro players in the ...

Rob Ickes Rob Ickes hymes with "bikes"is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player, born 1967 in San Francisco, California, United States. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in ...

("The Three Bells") * Recorded Event of the Year – Becky Buller ("Southern Flavor") * Emerging Artist of the Year – Becky Buller * Male Vocalist of the Year – Shawn Camp * Female Vocalist of the Year –

Rhonda Vincent Rhonda Lea Vincent (born July 13, 1962) is an American bluegrass singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Vincent's music career began when she was a child in her family's band The Sally Mountain Show, and it has spanned more than four de ...

* Instrumental Performers of the Year –

Rob McCoury Rob McCoury is an American bluegrass musician who plays banjo. He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band and the Travelin' McCourys. Biography Rob McCoury was born in York County, ...

(Banjo),

Bryan Sutton Bryan Sutton is an American musician. Primarily known as a flatpicking acoustic guitar player, Sutton also plays mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and electric guitar. He also sings and writes songs. Biography Early career Sutton's grandfather and ...

(Guitar),

(Fiddle), Tim Surrett (Bass),

(Resophonic Guitar), Jesse Brock (Mandolin)

2014 award winners

The 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards were held at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, North Carolina Performances at the show included Neil Rosenberge and

Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gra ...

, both of whom were also inducted into the

at the show. The show was hosted by

Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack Liddell (; born August 19, 1966) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Her 2000 single, "I Hope You Dance" was a major crossover music hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and the Top 15 ...

and

, winner of more than two dozen previous IBMA awards. The show streamed live from the IBMA website as well as broadcast live on

Bluegrass Junction Bluegrass Junction is a bluegrass music channel on Sirius XM Radio. It is billed as "America's Bluegrass Home", and primarily airs complete versions of music from many bluegrass artists. Some of those are Bill Monroe, Seldom Scene, Flatt & Scr ...

. It also aired in Spring 2015 on

American Public Television American Public Television (APT) is an American nonprofit organization and syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States. It distributes public television programs nationwide for PBS member stations and independ ...

's ''Music City Roots'' television series. * Entertainer of the Year –

* Vocal Group of the Year – Balsam Range * Instrumental Group of the Year –

Frank Solivan Frank Solivan is an American mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and leader of the progressive bluegrass band Dirty Kitchen. Biography Early life Solivan grew up near Modesto, California. His grandmother on his father’s side played mandoli ...

& Dirty Kitchen * Song of the Year –

Claire Lynch Claire Lynch (born February 20, 1954) is an American bluegrass musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. She is a three-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year honors. She is considered one o ...

("Dear Sister") * Album of the Year –

Noam Pikelny Noam Pikelny (born February 27, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American banjoist. He is a member of the group Punch Brothers and was previously in Leftover Salmon as well as the John Cowan Band. Pikelny is a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, win ...

(''Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe'') * Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year –

Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent is an American bluegrass music group composed of Jamie Dailey (guitar, bass, vocals), Darrin Vincent (mandolin, guitar, bass, vocals), Aaron McCune (guitar, bass vocals), Wesley Smith (vocals), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle), Shaun R ...

("Won't It Be Wonderful There") * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – The Special Consensus ("Thank God I'm a Country Boy") * Recorded Event of the Year – The Special Consensus with Claire Lynch and

("Wild Mountain Skies") * Emerging Artist of the Year – Flatt Lonesome * Male Vocalist of the Year – Buddy Melton * Female Vocalist of the Year – Amanda Smith * Instrumental Performers of the Year –

(Banjo),

Barry Bales Barry Turner Bales (born August 23, 1969 in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States) is an American musician best known as the long time bass player and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has been in the band for around 25 years. ...

(Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle),

Phil Leadbetter Phil Leadbetter (March 31, 1962 – October 14, 2021) was an American resonator guitar player. Life Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Leadbetter began playing the resonator guitar at age 12. He was a 1980 graduate of Gibbs High School in Corryton, ...

(Dobro), Bryan Sutton (Guitar),

Adam Steffey Adam Steffey (born November 24, 1965) is an American mandolin player, best known for playing in the bluegrass and old-time styles. He spent time as a member of bands such as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Mountain Heart, Lonesome River Band, ...

(Mandolin)

2013 award winners

The awards were held in Raleigh, North Carolina, the first time the show was hosted by the city. The show moved from

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

to separate itself from country music.

The Gibson Brothers The Gibson Brothers are a French musical group, originally from Martinique, who had their greatest success during the disco boom of the late 1970s. Their best known hit singles included "Cuba" and " Que Sera Mi Vida". Career The three brothe ...

had the most nominations individually and as a group, winning Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year (Eric Gibson). During the show, Paul Warren and

Tony Rice David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020), known professionally as Tony Rice, was an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and a ...

were inducted into the

. * Entertainer of the Year –

* Vocal Group of the Year – The Gibson Brothers * Instrumental Group of the Year –

The Boxcars The Boxcars were an American bluegrass band. In addition to being Grammy-nominated, the band has received numerous International Bluegrass Music Awards both as a group and individually. History The Boxcars were founded by Adam Steffey, Ron S ...

* Song of the Year – The Gibson Brothers ("They Called It Music") * Album of the Year – Balsam Range (''Papertown'') * Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year –

Marty Raybon Marty Raybon (born December 8, 1959) is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of the country band Shenandoah, a role which he held from 1985 to 1997, until he rejoined the band in 2014. He reco ...

("Beulah Land") * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – Tom Adams,

Ron Block Ronald Franklin Block (born July 30, 1964) is an American banjo player, guitarist, and singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the bluegrass band Alison Krauss & Union Station. He has won 14 Grammy Awards, 6 International Bluegrass Music A ...

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and bluegrass band leader. He first became known during his four-year stint with Jimmy Martin in the 1950s. Crowe led the bluegrass group New South from 1971 until ...

, Charlie Cushman, Kenny Ingram, Jim Mills, Joe Mullins, Larry Perkins, Craig Smith,

Ron Stewart Ronald George Stewart (July 11, 1932 – March 17, 2012) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1952 to 1973, as well as a coach. He spent the first half of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

, David Talbot, &

Tony Trischka Anthony Cattell Trischka (born January 16, 1949) is an American five-string banjo player. Sandra Brennan wrote of him in 2021: "One of the most influential modern banjoists, both in several forms of bluegrass music and occasionally in jazz and ...

("Foggy Mountain Rock") * Recorded Event of the Year –

Terry Baucom Terry Baucom is an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader. He is nicknamed "The Duke of Drive" for his propelling banjo style. He leads his band, The Dukes of Drive, and was a founding member of Boone Creek, Doyle Lawson and Qu ...

("What'll I Do?") * Emerging Artist of the Year – Della Mae * Male Vocalist of the Year – Junior Sisk * Female Vocalist of the Year – Claire Lynch * Instrumental Performers of the Year – Mike Munford (Banjo),

(Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Adam Steffey (Mandolin)

1999 award winners

*Entertainer of the Year –

Del McCoury Band The Del McCoury Band is a Grammy award-winning American bluegrass band. History Originally the band was called Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals with Del on guitar and his brother Jerry on bass. The band went through a number of changes in personn ...

*Fiddle player of the Year – Randy Howard''Bluegrass Awards Crown McCory'', *Mandolin Player of the Year –

Ronnie McCoury Ronnie McCoury is an American mandolin player, singer, and songwriter (born March 16, 1967). He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band and the Travelin' McCourys. Biography Ronnie Mc ...

*Vocal Group of the Year –

IIIrd Tyme Out Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (formerly known as IIIrd Tyme Out) is a bluegrass band formed in 1991 in Cumming, Georgia. Consisting of Russell Moore (lead vocals and guitar), Keith McKinnon (vocals and banjo), Nathan Aldridge (vocals and fid ...

References

External links

official website
{{Bluegrass music Award ceremonies Bluegrass music