International Bluegrass Music Awards


The International Bluegrass Music Awards is an award show for bluegrass music presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Awards are voted based on professional membership in the IBMA.

Award winners

2025 award winners

Recording awards

Source: IBMA website

Musician awards

source: IBMA website

Industry awards

  • Broadcaster of the Year: Daniel Mullins
  • Event of the Year: Earl Scruggs Music Festival )
  • Graphic Designer of the Year: Gina Dilg
  • Liner Notes of the Year: Neil V. Rosenberg
  • 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

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
  • Graphic Designer of the Year: Grace van't Hof
  • Liner Notes of the Year: Daniel Mullins
  • 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

  • Laurie Lewis
  • Richard Hurst
  • ArtistWorks
  • Bloomin' Bluegrass Festival
  • Cindy Baucom

    2023 award winners

Recording awards

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
  • Event of the Year: Blue Highway Fest
  • Graphic Designer of the Year: Grace van’t Hof
  • Liner Notes of the Year: Sam Bush and Jon Weisberger
  • 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

    Hall of Fame Inductees

  • David Grisman
  • Wilma Lee Cooper
  • Sam Bush

    2022 award winners

Recording awards

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
  • Event of the Year: Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival
  • Graphic Designer of the Year: Grace van’t Hof
  • Liner Notes of the Year: Ted Olson
  • 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

  • Peghead Nation
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • Steve Huber
  • The FreshGrass Foundation
  • Dan Crary

    Hall of Fame Inductees

  • Peter Rowan
  • Paul "Moon" Mullins
  • Norman Blake

    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.
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 -- 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
  • Song of the Year – "Chicago Barn Dance"
  • Collaborative Recording of the Year – "The Barber's Fiddle"
  • Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – "Gonna Rise and Shine"

    2019 award winners

Recording awards

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