The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for

bluegrass music Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the Appalachian region of the United States. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Bluegrass has roots in African America ...

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 List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...

. The inductees into the

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame For a professional in the bluegrass music field, election to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor the genre can bestow. An invitation can be extended to performers, songwriters, promoters, broadcasters, musicians, a ...

were recognized during the awards. These included

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

Lynn Morris Lynn Morris (April 21, 1954 – December 14, 2016) 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-writte ...

, 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 fami ...

* 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 aw ...

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

Bobby Osborne Bobby Van Osborne (December 7, 1931 – June 27, 2023) was an American bluegrass musician. He was the co-founder (with his brother Sonny) of the Osborne Brothers, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fa ...

with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley,

Sierra Hull Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American Bluegrass music, 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 ...

Stuart Duncan Stuart Ian 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 ...

Todd Phillips Todd Phillips (born Todd Philip Bunzl; December 19, 1970) is an American filmmaker. Phillips began his career in 1993 and directed films in the 2000s such as ''Road Trip'', '' Old School'', ''Starsky & Hutch'', and '' School for Scoundrels''. ...

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 of ...

* Entertainer of the Year --

Billy Strings Billy Strings (born William Lee Apostol, October 3, 1992) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and Bluegrass music, bluegrass musician. He has released four studio albums, with his album Home (Billy Strings album), ''Home'' winning the ...

* 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 Wayne 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 inducte ...

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He played in a number of local bluegrass music, bluegrass bands in the 1970s, and from 1978 to 1982, he achieved his first mainstream attention after ta ...

, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, 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 resp ...

and

Danny Paisley Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass is an American bluegrass band dedicated to the traditional style. The band was originally called "Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass", but was renamed after the death of Bob Paisley in 2004. History Originally ...

* 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, 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''. In 1961, Silver commented on Hank Crawford's version presented on the album '' More Soul'': " ...

* Male Vocalist of the Year –

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

Becky Buller Becky Buller (born January 31, 1979) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass and roots singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist most known for her songwriting and fiddling. Early life Becky Buller was born January 31, 1979, in St. Jame ...

) * Collaborative Recording of the Year – "The Barber's Fiddle" (

with Shawn Camp, Jason Carter,

Laurie Lewis Laurie Alexis Lewis (born September 28, 1950) is an American bluegrass singer, musician, and songwriter. 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 Charles 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 ...

, 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. Originally a session player in many bands, he has released many award-winning recordings as a solo artist. In June 2010, Emmanuel was appointed a Member of the Order of Aus ...

) * 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 comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. Known for Steve Martin filmography, his work in comedy films, television, and #Discography, recording, he has received List of awards a ...

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

Larry Sparks Larry Eugene 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 Yea ...

into the

. * Entertainer of the Year – The Earls of Leicester * Vocal Group of the Year – Balsam Range * 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 Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. He is widely regarded as "perhaps the finest Dobro player in contemporary acoustic music, and certainly the most celebrated and prol ...

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 th ...

Rob Ickes Rob Ickes (; born 1967) is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player in San Francisco, California. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in 1994. He currently collaborate ...

("The Three Bells") * Recorded Event of the Year –

("Southern Flavor") * Emerging Artist of the Year –

* 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 music, 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 spanne ...

* 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 James Bryan Sutton (born 1973) 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 gr ...

(Guitar),

(Fiddle), Tim Surrett (Bass),

(Resophonic Guitar),

Jesse Brock Jesse Davis Brock (born July 18, 1972, in Decatur, Illinois) is an American Bluegrass music, bluegrass artist who plays the mandolin and sings both lead vocals, lead and supporting vocals. He records and tours with the East Tennessee based Authe ...

(Mandolin)

2014 award winners

The 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards were held at the

Duke Energy Center 550 South Tryon (formerly the Duke Energy Center) is a tall, 48-floor (54 floors including mechanical floors) skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. When completed in 2010, it was the largest building in Charlotte (in square footage), seco ...

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 ...

, both of whom were also inducted into the

at the show. The show was hosted by

Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack (; born August 19, 1966) is an American singer and songwriter. She has charted 23 times on the American ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts; her highest peaking single there is her crossover signature song, " I Hope You Dance" ...

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 The following is a list of channels on Sirius XM and Sirius XM Canada. There are over 150 full-time channels on Sirius XM, over 140 of which are on Sirius XM Canada. Not included are channels that are specifically used for live sports programmin ...

. 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 indepen ...

's ''Music City Roots'' television series. * Entertainer of the Year – Balsam Range * Vocal Group of the Year – Balsam Range * Instrumental Group of the Year – Frank Solivan & 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 of ...

("Dear Sister") * Album of the Year –

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

(''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 ...

("Won't It Be Wonderful There") * Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year –

The Special Consensus The Special Consensus is an acoustic bluegrass group led by banjoist Greg Cahill. Biography History In 1973, graduate student Cahill jammed with other bluegrass musicians at the University of Chicago Folk Festival. They began playing house part ...

("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) is an American musician best known as the long time bass player and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss, Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has been in the band since 1990. The 2012 Grammy was awarded as ...

(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 Carter 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 Riv ...

(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, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

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 brother ...

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) was an American bluegrass guitarist and singer. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. He was inducted into the In ...

were inducted into the

. * Entertainer of the Year –

* Vocal Group of the Year – The Gibson Brothers * Instrumental Group of the Year – The Boxcars * 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 Marlon "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 ...

("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 ...

J. D. Crowe James Dee Crowe (August 27, 1937December 24, 2021) was an American banjo player and Bluegrass music, 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 ...

, 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 2020: "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 (October 6, 1952 – December 7, 2023) was an American bluegrass banjo player, fiddle player, vocalist and band leader. He was nicknamed "The Duke of Drive" for his propelling, driving banjo style. He led his band, The Dukes of Drive ...

("What'll I Do?") * Emerging Artist of the Year – Della Mae * Male Vocalist of the Year –

Junior Sisk Harry Carpenter "Junior" Sisk Jr. is an American guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition, best known for his work with his band Rambler's Choice. He cites the hard-driving bluegrass of the Stanley Brothers as a major influence on his ap ...

* 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 person ...

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

Ronnie McCoury Ronald Delano McCoury, known as Ronnie McCoury, (born March 16, 1967) is an American mandolin player, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of bluegrass musician Del McCoury, and is best known for his work with the Del McCoury Band and the Trave ...

*Vocal Group of the Year –

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

References

External links

official website
{{Bluegrass music Award ceremonies Bluegrass music