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.
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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

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

2023 award winners

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

2022 award winners

Musician awards

  • Banjo Player of the Year: BΓ©la 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: BΓ©la 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

Hall of Fame Inductees

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, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Banjo Player of the Year -- Scott VestalBass Player of the Year -- Missy RainesCollaborative Recording of the Year -- "White Line Fever" featuring Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison BrownEntertainer of the Year -- Billy StringsFemale Vocalist of the Year -- Dale Ann BradleyFiddle Player of the Year -- Bronwyn Keith-HynesGospel 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 BradleyGuitar Player of the Year -- Billy StringsInstrumental Group of the Year -- Appalachian Road ShowInstrumental 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 SadieMale Vocalist of the Year – Danny PaisleyFemale Vocalist of the Year – Brooke AldridgeVocal Group of the Year – Sister SadieInstrumental Group of the Year – Michael Cleveland and FlamekeeperNew Artist of the Year – Mile TwelveGuitar Player of the Year – Jake WorkmanBanjo Player of the Year – Scott VestalMandolin Player of the Year – Alan BibeyFiddle Player of the Year – Deanie RichardsonBass Player of the Year – Missy RainesDobro Player of the Year – Justin MosesAlbum 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

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
  • Graphic Designer of the Year: Michael Armistead
  • Liner Notes of the Year: Akira Otsuka, Dudley Connell, Jeff Place, Katy Daley
  • 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 -, Instrumentalist of the Year
  • Daniel Amick -, Instrumentalist of the Year
  • Anni Beach - Mentor
  • Bennett Sullivan - Industry Involvement

Distinguished Achievement Award

  • MoonShiner
  • Allen Mills
  • Dan Hays
  • Mickey Gamble
  • Katy Daley

Hall of Fame Inductees

2015 award winners

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.

2014 award winners

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
  • Album of the Year – Noam Pikelny
  • Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – Dailey & Vincent
  • Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – The Special Consensus
  • Recorded Event of the Year – The Special Consensus with Claire Lynch and Rob Ickes
  • 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, Barry Bales, Jason Carter, Phil Leadbetter, Bryan Sutton, Adam Steffey

2013 award winners

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. During the show, Paul Warren and Tony Rice were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

1999 award winners

1990 award winners

Musician Awards

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