IBMA Announces Nominees for 2024 Bluegrass Music Awards + Hall of Fame Inductees

The International Bluegrass Music Association announced its 2024 award nominees live today from the SiriusXM studios in Nashville.

The live announcement, helmed by SiriusXM host Joey Black and musicians Dailey & Vincent, also revealed the 2024 inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award honorees. Joining the Hall of Fame will be dobro legend Jerry Douglas, banjo master and educator Alan Munde, and broadcaster Katy Daley. And the Distinguished Achievement award winners are radio personality Cindy Baucom, California bluegrass pioneer Laurie Lewis, Bluegrass Omagh festival organizer Richard Hurst, music lesson platform ArtistWorks, and Texas’ Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.

The awards will be presented Sept. 26 at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards show in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the association’s annual World of Bluegrass gathering. Hosted by bluegrass bass legends Missy Raines and John Cowan, the show will feature a new award for 2024: Music Video of the Year. (Another new award, Photographer of the Year, will be bestowed earlier in the day at the Industry Awards luncheon.)

One piece of hotly anticipated news not revealed during today’s live event is the new home of World of Bluegrass. IBMA previously announced that 2024 would be the last time World of Bluegrass is held in Raleigh, where it has taken place since 2013. It will move to a new city in 2025, but IBMA has not yet announced the location.

Here are the nominees for the 2024 Bluegrass Music Awards:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Del McCoury Band
Sister Sadie
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Authentic Unlimited
Sister Sadie
Blue Highway
Del McCoury Band
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Travelin’ McCourys
East Nash Grass
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited (songwriters: John Meador and Bob Minner)
“Willow” – Sister Sadie (songwriter: Ashley McBryde)
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long” – Rick Faris with Del McCoury (songwriter: Rick Faris)
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster and Dolly Parton (songwriters: Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart)
“Kentucky Gold” – Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush (songwriters: Wayne Carson and Ronnie Reno)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Last Chance to Win – East Nash Grass
Jubilation – Appalachian Road Show
No Fear – Sister Sadie
So Much for Forever – Authentic Unlimited

GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR

“When I Get There” – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
“Thank You Lord for Grace” – Authentic Unlimited
“Just Beyond” – Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, Bradley Walker
“God Already Has” – Dale Ann Bradley
“Memories of Home” – Authentic Unlimited

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR

“Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” – Béla Fleck
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass” – Ashby Frank
“Panhandle Country” – Missy Raines & Allegheny
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock” – Alan Munde
“Behind the 8 Ball” – Andy Leftwich

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

East Nash Grass
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Wyatt Ellis
The Kody Norris Show

COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR

“Brown’s Ferry Blues” – Tony Trischka featuring Billy Strings
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster, Dolly Parton
“Bluegrass Radio” – Alison Brown and Steve Martin
“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne and CJ Lewandowski

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Dan Tyminski
Greg Blake
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley
Russell Moore

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Molly Tuttle
Jaelee Roberts
Dale Ann Bradley
AJ Lee
Rhonda Vincent

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kristin Scott Benson
Gena Britt
Alison Brown
Béla Fleck
Rob McCoury

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Missy Raines
Mike Bub
Vickie Vaughn
Todd Phillips
Mark Schatz

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jason Carter
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Deanie Richardson

RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Justin Moses
Rob Ickes
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Gaven Largent

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sierra Hull
Sam Bush
Ronnie McCoury
Jesse Brock
Alan Bibey

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

“Willow” – Sister Sadie
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited
“The City of New Orleans” – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
“I Call Her Sunshine” – The Kody Norris Show
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch