Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings Lead 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees
The 2025 IBMA Awards will be held Sept. 18 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn., during the annual IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs Sept. 16-20. This marks the awards ceremony's first to be held at the venue in Chattanooga, following a long stint in Raleigh, N.C. The nominees and honorees announcement was made during a live event held at the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville.
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Alison Krauss & Union Station, Strings, Appalachian Road Show, East Nash Grass and The Del McCoury Band are competing for the entertainer of the year honor. Alison Krauss & Union Station, who released their first project in over a decade earlier this year, were previously named entertainer of the year in 1991 and 1995. Strings took home the entertainer of the year honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Del McCoury Band's 2024 win in the category marked their 10th overall entertainer of the year win. Meanwhile, the Appalachian Road Show celebrate their second nomination in the category, while East Nash Grass earn their first nomination in the category. (They earned the IBMA's new artist of the year accolade last year.)
Also announced were this year's Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees, which are pioneering Black guitarist Arnold Shultz, who influenced musicians including Bill Monroe; bluegrass band Hot Rize (which included musicians such as Tim O'Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Forster, Charles Sawtelle and Bryan Sutton over the years) and group The Bluegrass Cardinals, who toured from 1974 to 1997.
'IBMA is excited to bring the biggest night in bluegrass to our new host city, Chattanooga,'Ken White, executive director of IBMA, said in a statement. 'Our mission is to inspire innovation by recognizing the great work done by artists this past year and to honor tradition by inducting new members into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The early influence of Arnold Shultz on Bill Monroe continues to shine through in the playing of even the youngest member of Kids on Bluegrass. You will undoubtedly see once in a lifetime performances. Don't miss it.'
This year's IBMA distinguished achievement award goes to five recipients: Alan Arthur Knoth, Penny Parsons, Ron Thomason, Sidley Austin LLP and Missy Raines.
Knoth, also known as 'Cuzin' Al,' a pioneering bluegrass radio host who influenced the bluegrass music community in Northern California. His career launched at KTAO in Los Gatos, Calif., in 1970 and continued at KFAT in Gilroy and at KPIG in Freedom. His show, 'Cuzin Al's Bluegrass Show,' highlighted traditional bluegrass music along with Hawaiian songs and comedic recordings. He also helped inspired the creation of the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society and served on the California Bluegrass Association board.
Parsons spent more than 45 years advocating for bluegrass music as a writer, publicist, producer, manager and booking agent, launching her career in 1979. Her work has included time at Sugar Hill Records, Record Depot Distribution and MerleFest, as well as leading her publicity and promotions firm the Penny Parsons Company. Parsons has contributed to Bluegrass Unlimited since 1981 and worked with bluegrass artist Curly Seckler, working as his manager, producer and biographer from 2004 to 2017. Her accolades include the 2016 IBMA print media person of the year award and her biography, Foggy Mountain Troubadour earning the Association of Recorded Sound Collections certificate of merit.
Thomason, leader of the Dry Branch Fire Squad, began hosting the Grey Fox Festival in 1984. He started with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1969, then joined the Dry Branch Fire Squad and promoting traditional bluegrass music.
The law firm Sidley Austin LLP has contributed to the IBMA through pro bono legal services since 2015, when Sidley Austin partner and co-head of the company's global corporate governance practice Holly Gregory initiated the partnership. The firm provided support in transitioning the IBMA to 501c3 nonprofit status, protecting the IBMA's intellectual property and assisting with travel visa processes for international bands, among other support.
Trailblazing bassist Raines has won the IBMA's bass player of the year honor 10 times and is the first woman to achieve the honor. She is known for work as a duo with Jim Hurst, but also for leading Missy Raines & the New Hip, co-founding the Helen Highwater Stringband and issuing the Grammy-nominated project Royal Traveller.
More nominations are set to be revealed, including nominees for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards, which highlight artist and industry professionals in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers, as well as the 2025 IBMA Industry Awards. The nominations will be announced the week of July 20.
See the full list of this year's nominees below:
Entertainer of the year:
Alison Krauss & Union StationAppalachian Road ShowBilly StringsEast Nash GrassThe Del McCoury Band
Song of the year:
'5 Days Out, 2 Days Back' – Alison Brown, Steve Martin, Featuring Tim O'BrienSongwriters: Steve Martin/Alison BrownProducers: Alison Brown/Garry WestLabel: Compass Records
'Big Wheels' – Authentic UnlimitedSongwriter: Jerry ColeProducer: Authentic UnlimitedLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Coal Dust Kisses' – The GrascalsSongwriters: Susanne Mumpower/Jerry SalleyProducer: The GrascalsLabel: Mountain Home Music Company
'My Favorite Picture of You' – Darin & Brooke AldridgeSongwriters: Darin Aldridge/Brooke Aldridge/Dennis DuffProducers: Darin Aldridge/Mark FainLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Outrun the Rain' – Jason Carter & Michael ClevelandSongwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy YearyProducers: Jason Carter/Michael ClevelandLabel: Fiddle Man Records
Album of the year:
Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union StationProducer: Alison Krauss & Union StationLabel: Down the Road RecordsCarter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael ClevelandProducers: Jason Carter/Michael ClevelandLabel: Fiddle Man Records
Earl Jam – Tony TrischkaProducers: Tony Trischka/Lawson WhiteLabel: Down the Road RecordsHighway Prayers – Billy StringsProducers: Billy Strings/Jon BrionLabel: Reprise Records
I Built a World – Bronwyn Keith-HynesProducers: Brent Truitt/Bronwyn Keith-HynesLabel: Sugar Petunia Records
Vocal group of the year:
Alison Krauss & Union StationAuthentic UnlimitedBlue HighwaySister SadieThe Del McCoury Band
Instrumental Group of the year:
Billy StringsEast Nash GrassMichael Cleveland & FlamekeeperMolly Tuttle & Golden HighwayThe Travelin' McCourys
Gospel recording of the year:
'Blue Collar Gospel' – Jerry Salley Featuring The Oak Ridge BoysSongwriters: Rick Lang/Bill Whyte/Jerry SalleyProducer: Jerry SalleyLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Dear Lord' – Darin & Brooke AldridgeSongwriter: Daniel DavisProducers: Darin Aldridge/Mark FainLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Even Better When You Listen' – Joe Mullins & The Radio RamblersSongwriters: Rick Lang/Mark BonDurantProducer: Joe Mullins & The Radio RamblersLabel: Billy Blue Records
'He's Gone' – Jaelee RobertsSongwriter: Kelsi HarrigillProducer: Byron HouseLabel: Mountain Home Music Company
'Wings of Love' – Authentic UnlimitedSongwriters: Jesse Brock/Stephen Burwell/Jerry Cole/Eli Johnston/John MeadorProducer: Authentic UnlimitedLabel: Billy Blue Records
Instrumental recording of the year:
'Bluegrass in the Backwoods' – Jason Carter & Michael ClevelandSongwriter: Kenny BakerProducers: Jason Carter/Michael ClevelandLabel: Fiddle Man Records
'The Drifter' – Danny RobertsSongwriter: Danny RobertsProducers: Danny Roberts/Andrea RobertsLabel: Mountain Home Music Company
'A Drive at Dusk' – Authentic UnlimitedSongwriter: Jesse BrockProducer: Authentic UnlimitedLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Kern County Breakdown' – Jason Carter & Michael ClevelandSongwriter: Buck Owens/Don RichProducers: Jason Carter/Michael ClevelandLabel: Fiddle Man Records
'Ralph's Banjo Special' – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison BrownSongwriter: Ralph StanleyProducer: Alison BrownLabel: Compass Records
New artist of the year:
AJ Lee & Blue SummitBronwyn Keith-HynesJason CarterRed Camel CollectiveWyatt Ellis
Collaborative recording of the year:
'5 Days Out, 2 Days Back' – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O'BrienSongwriters: Steve Martin/Alison BrownProducer: Alison Brown/Garry WestLabel: Compass Records
'A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)' – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince GillSongwriter: Vince GillProducers: Darin Aldridge/Mark FainLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Cora Is Gone' – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski Featuring Rob McCoury & Billy StringsSongwriter: Mac OdellProducer: C.J. LewandowskiLabel: Turnberry Records
'Outrun the Rain' – Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts & Vince GillSongwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy YearyProducers: Jason Carter/Michael ClevelandLabel: Fiddle Man Records
'Ralph's Banjo Special' – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison BrownSongwriter: Ralph StanleyProducer: Alison BrownLabel: Compass Records
Male vocalist of the year:
Billy StringsDan TyminskiDel McCouryGreg BlakeRussell Moore
Female vocalist of the year:
AJ LeeAlison KraussBrooke AldridgeJaelee RobertsSierra Hull
Banjo player of the year:
Alison BrownGena BrittKristin Scott BensonRon BlockTony Trischka
Bass player of the year:
Barry BalesMike BubMissy RainesTodd PhillipsVickie Vaughn
Fiddle player of the year:
Bronwyn Keith-HynesJason CarterMaddie DentonMichael ClevelandStuart Duncan
Resophonic guitar player of the year:
Andy HallJerry DouglasJustin MosesMatt LeadbetterRob Ickes
Guitar player of the year:
Billy StringsBryan SuttonCody KilbyMolly TuttleTrey Hensley
Mandolin player of the year:
Alan BibeyJesse BrockRonnie McCourySam BushSierra Hull
Music video of the year:
'5 Days Out, 2 Days Back' – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O'BrienSongwriters: Steve Martin/Alison BrownProducer: Alison Brown/Garry WestVideographer: Joseph SpenceLabel: Compass Records
'A Million Memories (A Song for Byron)' – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince GillSongwriter: Vince GillProducer: Jenny GillVideographer: Travis FlynnLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Big Wheels' – Authentic UnlimitedSongwriter: Jerry ColeProducers: Bryce Free/Kyle JohnsonVideographer: Bryce FreeLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Gallows Pole' – Appalachian Road ShowSongwriter: Traditional arr. Barry Abernathy/Jim VanCleve/Darrell WebbProducer: Steve KinneyVideographer: Steve KinneyLabel: Billy Blue Records
'Tennessee Hound Dog' – The GrascalsSongwriter: Felice Bryant/Boudleaux BryantProducer: Ty GilpinVideographer: Nate ShuppertLabel: Mountain Home Music Company
'The Auctioneer' – The Kody Norris ShowSongwriters: Leroy Van Dyke/Buddy BlackProducer: James GilleyVideographer: Nate WilesLabel: Rebel RecordsBest of Billboard
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