2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees, Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients, and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
- Alison Krauss & Union Station nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year; Krauss nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year
- “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back” – from Alison Brown, Steve Martin and Featuring Tim O’Brien – nominated for Song of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Collaborative Recording of the Year
- Billy Strings nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Guitar Player of the Year
36th Annual Awards Ceremony to Take Place September 18 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
NASHVILLE, TN (July 16, 2025) – The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) proudly announced today the nominees for the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards presented by Get It Played, along with this year’s recipients of the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award and the newest inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The announcements were made during a special live event held at the SiriusXM studios in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
The Del McCoury Band
SONG OF THE YEAR
5 Days Out, 2 Days Back – Alison Brown, Steve Martin, Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producers: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records
Big Wheels – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records
Coal Dust Kisses – The Grascals
Songwriters: Susanne Mumpower/Jerry Salley
Producer: The Grascals
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
My Favorite Picture of You – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriters: Darin Aldridge/Brooke Aldridge/Dennis Duff
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records
Outrun the Rain – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Producer: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Label: Down the Road Records
Carter & Cleveland – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records
Earl Jam – Tony Trischka
Producers: Tony Trischka/Lawson White
Label: Down the Road Records
Highway Prayers – Billy Strings
Producers: Billy Strings/Jon Brion
Label: Reprise Records
I Built a World – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Producers: Brent Truitt/Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Label: Sugar Petunia Records
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Authentic Unlimited
Blue Highway
Sister Sadie
The Del McCoury Band
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
East Nash Grass
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
The Travelin’ McCourys
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Blue Collar Gospel – Jerry Salley Featuring The Oak Ridge Boys
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Bill Whyte/Jerry Salley
Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Billy Blue Records
Dear Lord – Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Songwriter: Daniel Davis
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records
Even Better When You Listen – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mark BonDurant
Producer: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Label: Billy Blue Records
He’s Gone – Jaelee Roberts
Songwriter: Kelsi Harrigill
Producer: Byron House
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
Wings of Love – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriters: Jesse Brock/Stephen Burwell/Jerry Cole/Eli Johnston/John Meador
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Bluegrass in the Backwoods – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Kenny Baker
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records
The Drifter – Danny Roberts
Songwriter: Danny Roberts
Producers: Danny Roberts/Andrea Roberts
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
A Drive at Dusk – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jesse Brock
Producer: Authentic Unlimited
Label: Billy Blue Records
Kern County Breakdown – Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland
Songwriter: Buck Owens/Don Rich
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records
Ralph’s Banjo Special – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Red Camel Collective
Wyatt Ellis
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
5 Days Out, 2 Days Back – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Label: Compass Records
A Million Memories (A Song for Byron) – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producers: Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain
Label: Billy Blue Records
Cora Is Gone – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski Featuring Rob McCoury & Billy Strings
Songwriter: Mac Odell
Producer: C.J. Lewandowski
Label: Turnberry Records
Outrun the Rain – Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, Jaelee Roberts & Vince Gill
Songwriters: Terry Herd/Jimmy Yeary
Producers: Jason Carter/Michael Cleveland
Label: Fiddle Man Records
Ralph’s Banjo Special – Kristin Scott Benson, Gena Britt & Alison Brown
Songwriter: Ralph Stanley
Producer: Alison Brown
Label: Compass Records
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Dan Tyminski
Del McCoury
Greg Blake
Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
AJ Lee
Alison Krauss
Brooke Aldridge
Jaelee Roberts
Sierra Hull
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alison Brown
Gena Britt
Kristin Scott Benson
Ron Block
Tony Trischka
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Todd Phillips
Vickie Vaughn
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Jason Carter
Maddie Denton
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Andy Hall
Jerry Douglas
Justin Moses
Matt Leadbetter
Rob Ickes
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alan Bibey
Jesse Brock
Ronnie McCoury
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
5 Days Out, 2 Days Back – Alison Brown & Steve Martin Featuring Tim O’Brien
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
Producer: Alison Brown/Garry West
Videographer: Joseph Spence
Label: Compass Records
A Million Memories (A Song for Byron) – Darin & Brooke Aldridge Featuring Vince Gill
Songwriter: Vince Gill
Producer: Jenny Gill
Videographer: Travis Flynn
Label: Billy Blue Records
Big Wheels – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
Producers: Bryce Free/Kyle Johnson
Videographer: Bryce Free
Label: Billy Blue Records
Gallows Pole – Appalachian Road Show
Songwriter: Traditional arr. Barry Abernathy/Jim VanCleve/Darrell Webb
Producer: Steve Kinney
Videographer: Steve Kinney
Label: Billy Blue Records
Tennessee Hound Dog – The Grascals
Songwriter: Felice Bryant/Boudleaux Bryant
Producer: Ty Gilpin
Videographer: Nate Shuppert
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
The Auctioneer – The Kody Norris Show
Songwriters: Leroy Van Dyke/Buddy Black
Producer: James Gilley
Videographer: Nate Wiles
Label: Rebel Records
Nominees for the 2025 IBMA Momentum Awards, which focus on artists and industry professionals who are in the early stages of their bluegrass music careers, and the 2025 IBMA Industry Awards will be announced the week of July 20.
In recognition of their significant contributions to bluegrass music, the IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award will be presented to:
ALAN ARTHUR KNOTH, affectionately known as “Cuzin’ Al,” was a trailblazing bluegrass radio host who profoundly influenced the bluegrass community in Northern California. His career began in 1970 at KTAO in Los Gatos and flourished at the legendary KFAT in Gilroy. He later continued at KPIG in Freedom. For decades, his show, “Cuzin Al’s Bluegrass Show,” showcased traditional bluegrass music, Hawaiian tunes, and humorous recordings, drawing in both seasoned fans and newcomers. Beyond radio, Al organized concerts, festivals, and banjo contests, becoming a central figure in the local bluegrass scene. His efforts helped inspire the creation of the Santa Cruz Bluegrass Society and he served on the California Bluegrass Association board. Al’s passion and dedication made him a beloved icon, leaving a lasting legacy in the bluegrass world.
PENNY PARSONS has spent over 45 years advocating for bluegrass music as a writer, publicist, producer, manager, and booking agent. Her career began in 1979 and included roles at Sugar Hill Records, Record Depot Distribution, and MerleFest, where she helped to grow that festival’s attendance from 20,000 to 80,000 patrons. She also operates her own publicity and promotions firm, the Penny Parsons Company. A prolific writer, she has contributed to Bluegrass Unlimited since 1981 and co-authored The Bluegrass Music Cookbook. Among Penny’s most notable work was her association with bluegrass legend Curly Seckler, serving as his manager, producer, and biographer from 2004 to 2017. Her acclaimed biography, Foggy Mountain Troubadour, earned the Association of Recorded Sound Collections Certificate of Merit and a 2016 IBMA Print Media Person of the Year award.
RON THOMASON, leader of the ever-popular Dry Branch Fire Squad, has been a cornerstone of bluegrass for decades. Hosting the Grey Fox Festival starting in 1984, Thomason’s humor and storytelling captivate audiences, blending wit with cultural insight. His career began with Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys in 1969, where he honed his mandolin skills and developed his unique stage presence. Thomason’s humor, often satirical, adds depth to his performances, addressing serious topics with levity. As the frontman of Dry Branch Fire Squad, he champions traditional bluegrass, resisting trends that dilute its authenticity. Beyond music, Thomason has worked as an educator, is a skilled horse trainer, and an intellectual, whose dedication to his craft and community has left an indelible mark on bluegrass culture.
SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP is a prestigious global law firm that has made significant contributions to the International Bluegrass Music Association through pro bono legal services since 2015. Holly Gregory, a Partner at Sidley Austin and Co-Head of their Global Corporate Governance Practice, initiated this partnership due to her passion for bluegrass music. The firm has provided invaluable support in areas such as corporate governance, including revising bylaws and educating directors on fiduciary duties; transitioning the IBMA to 501c3 nonprofit status, enabling tax-deductible donations; advising on contracts and agreements; assisting with travel visa processes for international bands; and protecting IBMA’s intellectual property. Over the last decade, Sidley Austin has donated over $1.5 million in legal services, ensuring the IBMA’s stability and growth, especially during challenging times like the pandemic.
MISSY RAINES is a trailblazing bassist and a celebrated figure in bluegrass music. She has won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Bass Player of the Year award an unprecedented 10 times, becoming the first woman to achieve this honor. Raines began touring professionally as a teenager and has worked with legends like Eddie Adcock and Claire Lynch. Her duo with Jim Hurst showcased her innovative bass playing and improvisational skills, while her Americana/jazz-tinged ensemble, Missy Raines & The New Hip, highlighted her versatility as a bandleader. Raines also co-founded the Helen Highwater Stringband and teaches bass online, inspiring future generations. Her Grammy-nominated album Royal Traveller – and numerous accolades – cement her legacy as a pioneering musician and role model in acoustic music.
Also announced were the 2025 inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – the highest honor in bluegrass music.
This year’s Hall of Fame class includes:
HOT RIZE was an innovative but tradition-based Colorado bluegrass band best remembered for the 12-year stretch from 1978 to 1990 when it performed full-time. The members were banjo player Pete Wernick (aka Dr. Banjo), mandolin/fiddle player and lead singer Tim O’Brien, guitarist Charles Sawtelle, and bass player and emcee Nick Forster. The group was known for blending traditional bluegrass with original material as well as influences from other genres. Dressing in suits and vintage ties and singing around a single microphone, the band sought not to be respectful imitators but rather, “second generation originals.” Their dynamic stage presence and versatility included Sawtelle’s artful and distinctive, often surprising guitar, Forster’s innovative electric bass, O’Brien’s high-voltage jazz-infused mandolin underpinning Wernick’s creative Scruggs-style banjo, and O’Brien and Forster’s vocal duet. Hot Rize and their retro-country, alter-ego, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, toured extensively across the U.S. and internationally, performing in Australia, Japan, France, Ireland, and Finland, and released nine critically acclaimed albums. The group disbanded in 1990, the same year Hot Rize received the first-ever IBMA Entertainer of the Year award. In addition to making occasional reunion appearances, each member of Hot Rize went on to successful solo careers. After Sawtelle’s untimely passing in 1999 from complications of leukemia, award-winning guitarist Bryan Sutton joined Hot Rize in 2002; the band continues to influence bluegrass and inspire new generations of bluegrass fans and musicians. With unique approaches to instrumental roles and record production, Hot Rize sounded like themselves – and nobody else. (A more detailed bio is here.)
THE BLUEGRASS CARDINALS was a prominent bluegrass group that toured and recorded extensively from 1974 to 1997. The band was celebrated for its flawless harmonies, virtuoso playing, and original material. Formed in California by banjoist Don Parmley, his guitarist son David Parmley, and mandolinist Randy Graham, the band debuted with a 15-week gig at Busch Gardens. A self-titled album – one that featured some of the earliest use of a cappella gospel singing in bluegrass – followed soon afterwards. Relocating to Virginia in 1976, the Cardinals released 23 albums over two decades on labels including Rounder, CMH, and Sugar Hill. Their 1991 project, Families of Tradition, won the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award. The group became a proving ground for talents like Larry Stephenson and Dale Perry, and counted prestigious venues like The White House and the Grand Ole Opry among its performance roster. Prior to the formation of the Bluegrass Cardinals, Don Parmley, a Kentucky native, played banjo for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show.
ARNOLD SHULTZ was an African American musician from western Kentucky whose influence shaped the development of bluegrass music. Born into a musical family of a former slave in Ohio County, Kentucky, in 1886, Shultz became renowned along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers for his instrumental talents, particularly on guitar. He offered Bill Monroe, the future “Father of Bluegrass,” one of his first paying jobs as a musician, playing together at square dances. Monroe credited Shultz’s blues-inspired guitar style as a key influence on bluegrass music. Despite racial barriers, Shultz collaborated with white musicians, including Forrest “Boots” Faught’s country and Dixieland band, where his talent overcame objections to his race. Shultz also influenced other notable musicians, including Kentuckians Kennedy Jones, Merle Travis, Ike Everly, and Tennessean Chet Atkins. Though Shultz never recorded, his legacy endures through those he mentored and inspired. Monroe’s encounters with Shultz in the late 1920s were pivotal in shaping his musical journey and the genre of bluegrass. Shultz died in 1931 at only 45 years of age.
“IBMA is excited to bring the biggest night in bluegrass to our new host city, Chattanooga,” said Ken White, Executive Director of IBMA. “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.”
The results of the final round of balloting will be revealed at the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards presented by Get It Played on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
IBMA World of Bluegrass®, in partnership with Chattanooga Tourism Co. and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, runs September 16-20, 2025. The week, the most important in bluegrass music, encompasses four events: the IBMA Business Conference, Sept. 16-18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, an innovative series of showcases taking place Sept. 16-18 in local Chattanooga venues; the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 18; and IBMA Bluegrass Live!®, Sept. 19-20, a two-day festival of live performances and fan experiences.
Tickets are now on sale for the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, and for all IBMA World of Bluegrass® events; visit worldofbluegrass.org for details.
Awards are determined by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), the nonprofit trade organization that connects and empowers bluegrass professionals.
For more information about IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards sponsor Get It Played, go to getitplayed.com.
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About the IBMA:
The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is the non-profit music association that connects, educates, and empowers bluegrass professionals and enthusiasts, honoring tradition and encouraging innovation in the bluegrass community worldwide. The organization hosts IBMA World of Bluegrass®, an annual event featuring a business conference, showcases, awards show, and street festival highlighting the best in bluegrass talent. The event supports the IBMA and the IBMA Trust Fund. Other special IBMA initiatives include the IBMA International Band Performance Grant, Leadership Bluegrass, and Kids on Bluegrass. Learn more at ibma.org and worldofbluegrass.org.
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Press/General Info: Elizabeth Dewey, IBMA
[email protected], 615-673-4811
