IBMA Reveals 2021 Bluegrass Music Award Nominees, Hall Of Fame Inductees

The nominees for the 32nd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards have been revealed, in addition to the 2021 Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees.

The five nominees for this year’s Entertainer of the Year include Balsam Range, Billy Strings, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury Band, and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. View the full list of nominees below.

The awards, presented by Yamaha, are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Winners will be revealed at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will also include the induction of three artists who were announced as the newest inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, including one of the most acclaimed artists in the history of bluegrass, Alison Krauss; trailblazing bandleader/banjoist Lynn Morris; and early bluegrass influencers the Stoneman Family.

Additionally, those who have made significant contributions to bluegrass music were named as recipients of the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award. The five honorees are industry leader Nancy Cardwell Webster, broadcaster Lee Michael Demsey, Czech luthier/performer Jaroslav Prucha, musician/performer Cliff Waldron, and Boston Bluegrass Union’s Stan Zdonik. The recipients will be who also be honored on Sept. 30 during a luncheon at the IBMA Business Conference.

2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Balsam Range
Billy Strings
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The 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 sponsored by Ron & Nancy McFarlane
Appalachian Road Show
Carolina Blue
Gina Furtado Project
High Fidelity
Merle Monroe

Song of the Year
“Banjo Player’s Blues” by High Fidelity
“Hitchhiking to California” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne
“Just Load the Wagon” by Junior Sisk
“Leaving on Her Mind” by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
“Richest Man” by Balsam Range

Album of the Year
Bluegrass 2020 – Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
Distance and Time – Becky Buller
Fall Like Rain – Justin Moses
Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various Artists
Load the Wagon – Junior Sisk
Still Here – Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford

Gospel Recording of the Year
“After Awhile” by Dale Ann Bradley
“Grit and Grace” by Balsam Range
“Hear Jerusalem Calling” by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore
“When He Calls My Name” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne

Instrumental Recording of the Year
“The Appalachian Road” by Appalachian Road Show
“Foggy Mountain Chimes” by Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
“Ground Speed” by Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
“Mountain Strings” by Sierra Hull
“Taxland” by Justin Moses with Sierra Hull

Collaborative Recording of the Year
“Birmingham Jail” by Barry Abernathy with Vince Gill
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason
“My Baby’s Gone” by Justin Moses with Del McCoury
“Tears of Regret” by High Fidelity with Jesse McReynolds
“White Line Fever” by Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull,

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

Banjo Player of the Year
Gena Britt
Gina Furtado
Rob McCoury
Kristin Scott Benson
Scott Vestal

Bass Player of the Year
Mike Bub
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Player of the Year
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Deanie Richardson

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Justin Moses

Guitar Player of the Year sponsored by Yamaha
Trey Hensley
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Jake Workman

Mandolin Player of the Year
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Tristan Scroggins