International Bluegrass Music Awards
Award winners
2025 award winners
Recording awards
Category Winner Work Songwriters
Album of the Year Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland Carter & Cleveland
Collaborative Recording of the Year Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts, Vince Gill “Outrun the Rain” Terry Herd, Jimmy Yeary
Gospel Recording of the Year Jaelee Roberts “He’s Gone” Kelsi Harrigill
Instrumental Recording of the Year Kristin Scott Benson , Gena Britt, Alison Brown “Ralph’s Banjo Special” Ralph Stanley
Music Video of the Year The Kody Norris Show “The Auctioneer”
Song of the Year Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts, Vince Gill “Outrun the Rain” Terry Herd, Jimmy Yeary
Source: IBMA website
Musician awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Kristin Scott Benson
Bass Player of the Year : Vickie Vaughn
Entertainer of the Year : Billy Strings
Female Vocalist of the Year : Alison Krauss
Fiddle Player of the Year : Maddie Denton
Guitar Player of the Year : Trey Hensley
Instrumental Group of the Year : The Travelin' McCourys
Male Vocalist of the Year : Greg Blake
Mandolin Player of the Year : Sierra Hull
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Justin Moses
Vocal Group of the Year : Authentic Unlimited
New Artist of the Year : Red Camel Collective
source: IBMA website
Industry awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Daniel Mullins (Industrial Strength Bluegrass - Southwestern's Ohio Musical Legacy)
Event of the Year : Earl Scruggs Music Festival (Mill Spring, North Carolina ))
Graphic Designer of the Year : Gina Dilg
Liner Notes of the Year : Neil V. Rosenberg (Earl Jam – Tony Trischka )
Photographer of the Year : Madison Thorn
Writer of the Year : Dan Miller
Sound Engineer of the Year : Stephen Mougin
Songwriter of the Year : Jon Weisberger
source: IBMA website
Momentum Awards
Ali Vance - Vocalist of the Year
Rick Lang - Mentor of the Year
Kyser George - Instrumentalist of the Year
Rainy Miatke - Instrumentalist of the Year
Austin Scelzo - Industry Involvement
Mountain Grass Unit - Band of the Year
Source: IBMA website
2024 award winners
Recording awards
Category Winner Work Songwriters
Album of the Year Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway City of Gold
Collaborative Recording of the Year Tony Trischka with Billy Strings "Brown's Ferry Blues" Alton & Rabon Delmore
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year Dale Ann Bradley "God Already Has" Mark “Brink” Brinkman & David Stewart
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year Ashby Frank "Knee Deep in Bluegrass" Terry Baucom
Music Video of the Year Special Consensus with Ray Legere , John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero , and Claire Lynch "Alberta Bound"
Music Video of the Year Authentic Unlimited "Fall in Tennessee"
Song of the Year Authentic Unlimited "Fall in Tennessee" John Meador & Bob Minner
Source: IBMA website
Musician awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Rob McCoury
Bass Player of the Year : Vickie Vaughn
Entertainer of the Year : The Del McCoury Band
Female Vocalist of the Year : Jaelee Roberts
Fiddle Player of the Year : Deanie Richardson
Guitar Player of the Year : Cody Kilby
Instrumental Group of the Year : The Travelin' McCourys
Male Vocalist of the Year : Danny Paisley
Mandolin Player of the Year : Jesse Brock
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Gaven Largent
Vocal Group of the Year : Authentic Unlimited
New Artist of the Year : East Nash Grass
Source: IBMA website
Industry awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Cindy Baucom
Event of the Year : Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival (Wilmington, Ohio )
Graphic Designer of the Year : Grace van't Hof
Liner Notes of the Year : Daniel Mullins (Industrial Strength Bluegrass - Southwestern's Ohio Musical Legacy)
Photographer of the Year : Jeromie Stephens
Writer of the Year : Craig Havighurst
Sound Engineer of the Year : Ben Surratt
Songwriter of the Year : Rick Faris
Momentum Awards
Heather Berry Mabe - Vocalist of the Year
Tony Watt - Mentor of the Year
Gibson Davis - Instrumentalist of the Year
Wyatt Ellis - Instrumentalist of the Year
Katie Kirchner - Industry Involvement
DownRiver Collective - Band of the Year
Distinguished Achievement Award
2023 award winners
Recording awards
Category Winner Work Songwriters
Album of the Year Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Crooked Tree
Collaborative Recording of the Year Special Consensus with Patrick Sauber, Ray Legere, John Reischman, Trisha Gagnon, Claire Lynch, Pharis & Jason Romero "Alberta Bound"
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year Larry Sparks "The Scarlet Red Lines"
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year Jason Carter "Kissimmee Kid"
Song of the Year Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway "Crooked Tree" Molly Tuttle/Melody Walker
Musician awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Kristin Scott Benson
Bass Player of the Year : Vickie Vaughn
Entertainer of the Year : Billy Strings
Female Vocalist of the Year : Molly Tuttle
Fiddle Player of the Year : Jason Carter
Guitar Player of the Year : Trey Hensley
Instrumental Group of the Year : The Travelin' McCourys
Male Vocalist of the Year : Greg Blake
Mandolin Player of the Year : Sierra Hull
New Artist of the Year : Authentic Unlimited
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Justin Moses
Vocal Group of the Year : Authentic Unlimited
Industry awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Ned Luberecki (SiriusXM )
Event of the Year : Blue Highway Fest (Big Stone Gap, Virginia )
Graphic Designer of the Year : Grace van’t Hof
Liner Notes of the Year : Sam Bush and Jon Weisberger (Radio John: The Songs of John Hartford)
Songwriter of the Year : Tim Stafford
Sound Engineer of the Year : Steve Chandler
Writer of the Year : Chris Jones
Momentum Awards
Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band - Band of the Year
Carley Arrowood-Thrailkill - Vocalist of the Year
Gaven Largent - Instrumentalist of the Year
Maddie Dalton - Instrumentalist of the Year
Dan Boner - Mentor of the Year
Matt Hutchinson - Industry Involvement
Distinguished Achievement Award
Red Wine
Carl Goldstein
Tom Ewing
Terry Baucom
The Bluegrass Situation
2022 award winners
Musician awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Béla Fleck
Bass Player of the Year : Jason Moore
Entertainer of the Year : Billy Strings
Female Vocalist of the Year : Molly Tuttle
Fiddle Player of the Year : Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Guitar Player of the Year : Cody Kilby
Instrumental Group of the Year : Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart
Male Vocalist of the Year : Del McCoury
Mandolin Player of the Year : Sierra Hull
New Artist of the Year : Rick Faris
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Justin Moses
Vocal Group of the Year : Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Industry awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Chris Jones (SiriusXM)
Event of the Year : Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival (Wilmington, Ohio)
Graphic Designer of the Year : Grace van’t Hof
Liner Notes of the Year : Ted Olson (Doc Watson - Life's Work: A Retrospective)
Songwriter of the Year : Ronnie Bowman
Sound Engineer of the Year : Steve Chandler
Writer of the Year : Akira Otsuka
Momentum Awards
Full Cord - Band of the Year
Rebekka Nilsson - Vocalist of the Year
Harry Clark - Instrumentalist of the Year
George Jackson - Instrumentalist of the Year
Kimber Ludiker - Mentor
Lillian Werbin - Momentum Industry Involvement of the Year
Distinguished Achievement Award
2021 award winners
The awards ceremony was held September 30 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina . The inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame were recognized during the awards. These included Alison Krauss , Lynn Morris , 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
Bass Player of the Year -- Missy Raines
Collaborative Recording of the Year (formerly Recorded Event of the Year) -- "White Line Fever" featuring Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien , Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips , Alison Brown
Entertainer of the Year -- Billy Strings
Female Vocalist of the Year -- Dale Ann Bradley
Fiddle Player of the Year -- Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year -- "In the Resurrection Morning" by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson , Vince Gill , Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford , Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter , Jason Moore
and "After While" by Dale Ann Bradley
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 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 , 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
Male Vocalist of the Year – Danny Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year – Brooke Aldridge
Vocal Group of the Year – Sister Sadie
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 – Scott Vestal
Mandolin Player of the Year – Alan Bibey
Fiddle Player of the Year – Deanie Richardson
Bass Player of the Year – Missy Raines
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" (Alison Brown , Becky Buller , Missy Raines )
Collaborative Recording of the Year – "The Barber's Fiddle" (Becky Buller with Shawn Camp , Jason Carter, Laurie Lewis , Kati Penn, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland , Johnny Warren, Stuart Duncan, 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" (Michael Cleveland and Tommy Emmanuel )
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – "Gonna Rise and Shine" (Alan Bibey and Grasstowne )
2019 award winners
Recording awards
Category Winner Work Songwriter Producers Label
Album of the Year The Del McCoury Band Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass Del and Ronnie McCoury McCoury Music
Collaborative Recording of the Year Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Del McCoury "The Guitar Song" Joe Mullins, Jerry Salley (associate) Billy Blue
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year Claire Lynch "Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout" Jerry Salley Billy Blue
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year Missy Raines with Alison Brown , Mike Bub , and Todd Phillips "Darlin' Pal(s) of Mine" Alison Brown Compass Records
Song of the Year Sideline "Thunder Dan" Josh Manning Tim Surrett Mountain Home Music Company
Musician awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Kristin Scott-Benson
Bass Player of the Year : Missy Raines
Entertainer of the Year : Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Female Vocalist of the Year : Brooke Aldridge
Fiddle Player of the Year : Michael Cleveland
Guitar Player of the Year : Billy Strings
Instrumental Group of the Year : Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Male Vocalist of the Year : Russell Moore
Mandolin Player of the Year : Alan Bibey
New Artist of the Year : Billy Strings
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Phil Leadbetter
Vocal Group of the Year : Sister Sadie
Industry awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Michelle Lee
Event of the Year : Blueberry Bluegrass Festival (Stony Plain, Alberta , Canada )
Graphic Designer of the Year : Michael Armistead
Liner Notes of the Year : Akira Otsuka, Dudley Connell , Jeff Place , Katy Daley (Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey)
Songwriter of the Year : Jerry Salley
Sound Engineer of the Year : Ben Surratt
Writer of the Year : David Morris
Momentum Awards
Cane Mill Road - Band of the Year
AJ Lee - Vocalist of the Year
Tray Wellington - (banjo), Instrumentalist of the Year
Daniel Amick - (mandolin), Instrumentalist of the Year
Anni Beach - Mentor
Bennett Sullivan - Industry Involvement
Distinguished Achievement Award
MoonShiner
Allen Mills
Dan Hays
Mickey Gamble
Katy Daley
2015 award winners
Actor Steve Martin (pictured above in 2010) presented with a distinguished achievement award at the 2015 award show.
The 2015 award show was held on October 1, 2015, in Raleigh, North Carolina . Actor and banjo player Steve Martin was presented with a distinguished achievement award by the IBMA. The show included induction of both Bill Keith and Larry Sparks into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame .
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 , Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes ("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
Instrumental Performers of the Year – Rob McCoury (Banjo), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Michael Cleveland (Fiddle), Tim Surrett (Bass), Jerry Douglas (Resophonic Guitar), Jesse Brock (Mandolin)
2014 award winners
Members of The Seldom Scene playing at the Rivercity Bluegrass Festival in 2008. The group was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame at the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards.
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 , both of whom were also inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame at the show. The show was hosted by Lee Ann Womack and Jerry Douglas, 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 . It also aired in Spring 2015 on American Public Television '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 ("Dear Sister")
Album of the Year – Noam Pikelny (Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe )
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – Dailey & Vincent ("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 Rob Ickes ("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 – Noam Pikelny (Banjo), Barry Bales (Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle), Phil Leadbetter (Dobro), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Adam Steffey (Mandolin)
2013 award winners
2013 Entertainer of the Year winners The Gibson Brothers performing at MerleFest in 2010.
The awards were held in Raleigh, North Carolina, the first time the show was hosted by the city. The show moved from Nashville, Tennessee to separate itself from country music. The Gibson Brothers 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 were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame .
Entertainer of the Year – The Gibson Brothers
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 ("Beulah Land")
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – Tom Adams , Ron Block , J. D. Crowe , Charlie Cushman, Kenny Ingram, Jim Mills , Joe Mullins, Larry Perkins, Craig Smith , Ron Stewart , David Talbot, & Tony Trischka ("Foggy Mountain Rock")
Recorded Event of the Year – Terry Baucom ("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), Barry Bales (Bass), Jason Carter (Fiddle), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Bryan Sutton (Guitar), Adam Steffey (Mandolin)
1990 award winners
Musician Awards
Banjo Player of the Year : Béla Fleck
Bass Player of the Year : Roy Huskey Jr.
Entertainer of the Year : Hot Rize
Female Vocalist of the Year : Alison Krauss
Fiddle Player of the Year : Stuart Duncan
Guitar Player of the Year : Tony Rice
Instrumental Group of the Year : The Bluegrass Album Band
Male Vocalist of the Year : Del McCoury
Mandolin Player of the Year : Sam Bush
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year : Jerry Douglas
Vocal Group of the Year : The Nashville Bluegrass Band
Industry Awards
Broadcaster of the Year : Orin Friesen
Writer of the Year : Art Menius
Distinguished Achievement Award
1989 award winners
Distinguished Achievement Award
1988 award winners
Distinguished Achievement Award
1987 award winners
Distinguished Achievement Award
1986 award winners
Distinguished Achievement Award
References
↑ Dauphin, Chuck (14 August 2013). "Gibson Brothers, Balsam Range Lead Bluegrass Awards Nominations" . Billboard. Retrieved 13 October 2015 .
1 2 "Billy Strings Named Entertainer of the Year at the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards presented by Get It Played" . IBMA . October 9, 2024.
↑ "Recipients Announced for 2025 IBMA Industry Awards presented by Benwood Foundation" . IBMA . September 18, 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025 .
↑ "Recipients Announced for 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards presented by Fletcher Bright Realty" . IBMA . September 17, 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025 .
1 2 "IBMA Announces 35th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards Recipients and Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees" . International Bluegrass Music Association . October 9, 2024.
↑ "IMBA Recipient History" . IBMA. Retrieved 18 February 2022 .
↑ "Billy Strings Named "Entertainer of the Year" at 32Nd Annual Ibma Bluegrass Music Awards Presented by Yamaha" .
↑ "2020 winners of the International Bluegrass Music Awards" . 2 October 2020.
1 2 "Steve Martin to Be Honored at International Bluegrass Music Awards" . Billboard. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015 .
↑ Lawless, John (2 October 2015). "2015 IBMA Award winners" . Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 14 October 2015 .
↑ "Recipients & Inductees" . IBMA . Retrieved 2020-07-01 .
↑ Lawless, John (2 October 2014). "2014 IBMA Award Winners" . Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 12 October 2015 .
1 2 3 "The Boxcars Lead 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees" . Rolling Stone. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2015 .
↑ Lawless, John (29 October 2014). "IBMA Awards to be televised in 2015" . Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 12 October 2015 .
↑ "The Gibson Brothers win top Bluegrass Award again" . The Telegraph. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2015 .
1 2 Beasley, Sandra (14 February 2014). "Tony Rice, Guitar Hero" . The New York Times . Retrieved 13 October 2015 .
1 2 Cherry, Bob (27 September 2013). "International Bluegrass Awards Honor The Gibson Brothers and More" . Cybergrass. Retrieved 13 October 2015 .
1 2 Bluegrass Awards Crown McCory , Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 30 October 1999. pp. 30–. ISSN 0006-2510 .
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