2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees Announced

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has announced the nominees for the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards 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.

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

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