The nominees for the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards were revealed on Wednesday (July 17) from the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville.
Hosted by IBMA Executive director Ken White and Bluegrass Junction’s Joey Black, the final nominees unveiling ceremony also featured performances from Missy Raines and Allegheny, as well as Authentic Unlimited, who proved to be one of this year’s frontrunners, earning nominations spanning several categories.
Additionally, White revealed three inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: Alan Munde, Jerry Douglas and Katy Daley. Munde has been a leader in bluegrass music for more than five decades, through work as a banjo player, bandleader and educator. Munde has been part of projects including Poor Richard’s Almanac with Byron Berline, Sam Bush and Wayne Stewart, and has played with Jimmy Martin, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Country Gazette. He was a 2008 recipient of an IBMA distinguished achievement award.
Dobro player Douglas started with the Country Gentlemen in the 1970s and has played as part of J.D. Crowe’s New South and The Whites, before joining Alison Krauss’s Union Station in 1998. In 2014, he launched the Flatt & Scruggs tribute band the Earls of Leister. He’s earned 10 IBMA Awards for dobro player of the year and is a former vice president of the IBMA’s board of directors.
Daley, a bluegrass music broadcaster, has worked at WAMU and in 1978, collaborated in the 13-part series Bluegrass Anthology. She’s also worked at WMZQ, before joining bluegrasscountry.org, serving as a morning personality. Daley has received two IBMA Awards for bluegrass broadcaster of the year and one for distinguished achievement.
The IBMA distinguished achievement award was given to bluegrass radio presenter Cindy Baucom, fiddler/vocalist/songwriter Laurie Lewis, Bluegrass Omagh music festival leader Richard Hurst, bluegrass music instructional video hub ArtistWorks, and the Dallas/Forth Worth-based Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.
The 35th annual IBMA Music Awards will be held Sept. 26 during the 2024 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina. World of Bluegrass runs from Sept. 24-28 at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
See the full list of nominees below:
Entertainer of the year
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
Del McCoury Band
Sister Sadie
The Po Ramblin’ Boys
Male vocalist of the year
Dan Tyminski
Greg Blake
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley
Russell Moore
Female vocalist of the year
Molly Tuttle
Jaelee Roberts
Dale Ann Bradley
AJ Lee
Rhonda Vincent
New artist of the year
East Nash Newgrass
Brownwyn Keith-Hynes
AJ Lee and Blue Summit
Wyatt Ellis
The Kody Norris Show
Vocal group of the year
Authentic Unlimited
Sister Sadie
Blue Highway
Del McCoury Band
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
Instrumental group of the year
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
Travelin McCourys
East Nash Grass
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
Album of the year
City of Gold, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Last Chance to Win, East Nash Grass
Jubilation, Appalachian Road Show
No Fear, Sister Sadie
So Much For Forever, Authentic Unlimited
Song of the year
“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited
“Willow,” Sister Sadie
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long,” Rick Faris with Del McCoury
“Forever Young,” Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster and Dolly Parton
“Kentucky Gold,” Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush
Music video of the year
“Alberta Bound,” Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero and Claire Lynch
“Willow,” Sister Sadie
“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited
“The City of New Orleans,” Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
“I Call Her Sunshine,” The Kody Norris Show
Guitar player of the year
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby
Mandolin player of the year
Sierra Hull
Sam Bush
Ronnie McCoury
Jesse Brock
Alan Bibey
Banjo player of the year
Kristin Scott Benson
Gena Britt
Alison Brown
Bela Fleck
Rob McCoury
Resophonic guitar player of the year
Justin Moses
Rob Ickes
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Gaven Largent
Fiddle player of the year
Jason Carter
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Deanie Richardson
Bass player of the year
Missy Raines
Mike Bub
Vickie Vaughn
Todd Phillips
Mark Schatz
Gospel recording of the year
“When I Get There,” Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out
“Thank You Lord For Grace,” Authentic Unlimited
“Just Beyond,” Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, and Bradley Walker
“God Already Has,” Dale Ann Bradley
“Memories of Home,” Authentic Unlimited
Instrumental recording of the year
“Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” Bela Fleck
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass,” Ashby Frank
“Panhandle Country,” Missy Raines and Allegheny
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock,” Alan Munde
“Behind the 8 Ball,” Andy Leftwich
Collaborative recording of the year
“Brown’s Ferry Blues,” Tony Trischka feat. Billy Strings
“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas
“Forever Young,” Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster and Dolly Parton
“Bluegrass Radio,” Alison Brown with Steve Martin
“Too Old to Die Young,” Bobby Osborne with CJ Lewandowski
