Billy Strings, Bela Fleck Win Big At 2022 IBMA Awards
Billy Strings was named Entertainer of the Year Award for the second year in a row, and also received Song of the Year honors at the 33rd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Presented by Yamaha on Thursday night (Sept. 29).
Béla Fleck cleaned up at the awards this year as well, taking home trophies for Album of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Instrumental Recording of the Year, and Banjo Player of the Year.
“In the Sweet By and By,” Dolly Parton’s recent rendition of the gospel classic featured on the 2021 Country Faith Bluegrass album, won Gospel Recording of the Year and Collaborative Recording of the Year honors.
Hosted by artists Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminski at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina, the show also honored previously announced inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame–multi instrumentalist/vocalist Norman Blake, broadcast pioneer and recording artist Paul “Moon” Mullins, and influential singer-songwriter Peter Rowan.
2022 IBMA Bluegrass Music Award Winners:
Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings
Vocal Group of the Year: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Instrumental Group of the Year: Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart
Song of the Year: “Red Daisy” – Billy Strings (Written by Jarrod Walker/Christian Ward)
Album of the Year: My Bluegrass Heart – Béla Fleck
Gospel Recording of the Year: “In the Sweet By and By” – Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley
Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Vertigo” – Béla Fleck featuring Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Bryan Sutton
New Artist of the Year: Rick Faris
Collaborative Recording of the Year: “In the Sweet By and By” – Dolly Parton with Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Bradley Walker, and Jerry Salley
Female Vocalist of the Year: Molly Tuttle
Male Vocalist of the Year: Del McCoury
Banjo Player of the Year: Béla Fleck
Bass Player of the Year: Jason Moore
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses
Fiddle Player of the Year: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Guitar Player of the Year: Cody Kilby
Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull
