A Look at the International Bluegrass Music Association 2023 Award Nominees

The heart of the bluegrass industry turned its attention recently to the Nashville headquarters of SiriusXM's country and bluegrass operation, as the highly anticipated announcement of the 2023 nominees for the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards took center stage.

These prestigious awards carry a special significance, as they are determined by votes cast by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association. The artists and musicians selected as nominees represent the absolute best within their peer group. The trophies will be bestowed in 17 distinct categories, celebrating the finest pickers, singers, songs, and albums of the year, truly capturing the essence of the bluegrass genre.

This event was further enriched by the announcement of the 2023 inductees into the revered Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, along with the recipients of the coveted IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award. This honor recognizes individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the growth and enrichment of bluegrass music, highlighting the genre's continued vitality.

Attendees were treated to captivating musical performances by Sam Bush and the Lonesome River Band, adding a melodic backdrop to the excitement-filled occasion. As the anticipation builds, IBMA is set to reveal the nominees for their Momentum and Industry awards in the weeks to come, further honoring those who have made significant strides within the bluegrass community.

Now, let's delve into the roster of extraordinary artists and their exceptional work that has garnered them nominations for the 2023 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards:

**Hall Of Fame Inductees:**

- Sam Bush

- Wilma Lee Cooper

- David Grisman

**Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients:**

- The Bluegrass Situation

- Terry Baucom

- Tom Ewing

- Carl Goldstein

- Red Wine

**IBMA Bluegrass Music Award Nominees:**

*Entertainer Of The Year:*

- Appalachian Road Show

- Billy Strings

- Del McCoury Band

- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

- The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

*Vocal Group Of The Year:*

- Authentic Unlimited

- Balsam Range

- Blue Highway

- Del McCoury Band

- Sister Sadie

*Instrumental Group Of The Year:*

- Billy Strings

- Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

- The Infamous Stringdusters

- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

- The Travelin’ McCourys

*New Artist Of The Year:*

- Authentic Unlimited

- East Nash Grass

- Henhouse Prowlers

- The Tennessee Bluegrass Band

- Tray Wellington

*Song Of The Year:*

- "Blue Ridge Mountain Baby" – Appalachian Road Show (artist); Barry Abernathy/Jim VanCleve (writers); Billy Blue Records (label); Appalachian Road Show (producers)

- "Crooked Tree" – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (artist); Molly Tuttle/Melody Walker (writers); Nonesuch Records; (label), Jerry Douglas and Molly Tuttle (producers)

- "Diane" – Sister Sadie (artist); Jeffrey Nath Bhasker/Samuel Tyler Johnson/Cameron Marvel Ochs (writers); Mountain Home Music Company (label); Sister Sadie (producer)

- "Heyday" – Lonesome River Band (artist); Barry Huchens/Will Huchens (writers); Mountain Home Music Company (label); Lonesome River Band (producers)

- "Power of Love" – Rick Faris (artist); Johnny Colla/Huey Lewis/Christopher Hayes (writers); Dark Shadow Recording (label); Stephen Mougin (producer)

*Album Of The Year:*

- "Crooked Tree" – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (artist); Jerry Douglas and Molly Tuttle (producers); Nonesuch Records (label)

- "Lovin’ of the Game" – Michael Cleveland (artist); Jeff White, Michael Cleveland, and Sean Sullivan (producers); Compass Records (label)

- "Lowdown Hoedown" – Jason Carter (artist); Jason Carter and Brent Truitt (producers); Fiddle Man Records (label)

- "Me/And/Dad" – Billy Strings and Terry Barber (artist); Billy Strings and Gary Paczosa (producers); Rounder Records (label)

- "Radio John: The Songs of John Hartford" – Sam Bush (artist); Sam Bush (producer); Smithsonian Folkways (label)

*Gospel Recording Of The Year:*

- "The Glory Road" – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers (artist); JPaul Martin/Harry Stinson/Marty Stuart (writers); Joe Mullins and Adam McIntosh (producers); Billy Blue Records (label)

- "Jordan" – Darin & Brooke Aldridge with Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney and Mark Fain (artists); Fred Rich (writer); Darin Aldridge/Mark Fain (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)

- "The Scarlet Red Lines" – Larry Sparks (artist); Daniel Crabtree (writer); Larry Sparks (producer); Rebel Records (label)

- "Take a Little Time for Jesus" – Junior Sisk (artist); David Marshall (writer); Junior Sisk and Aaron Ramsey (produces); Mountain Fever Records (label)

- "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" – Becky Buller with Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs (artists); Fanny Crosby, arrangement by Becky Buller (writers); Stephen Mougin (producer); Dark Shadow Recording (label)

*Instrumental Recording Of The Year:*

- "Contact" – Michael Cleveland with Cody Kilby, Barry Bales, and Béla Fleck (artists); Michael Cleveland (writer); Jeff White, Michael Cleveland, and Sean Sullivan (producer); Compass Records (label)

- "Foggy Morning Breaking" – Alison Brown with Steve Martin (artists); Alison Brown/Steve Martin (writer); Alison Brown and Garry West (producers); Compass Records (label)

- "Gold Rush" – Scott Vestal’s Bluegrass 2022 (artist); Bill Monroe (writer); Scott Vestal (producer); Pinecastle Records (label)

- "Kissimmee Kid" – Jason Carter (artist); Vassar Clements (writer); Jason Carter and Brent Truitt (producers); Fiddle Man Records (label)

- "Scorchin’ the Gravy" – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen (artists); Frank Solivan (writer); Frank Solivan (producer); Compass Records (label)

*Collaborative Recording Of The Year:*

- "Alberta Bound" – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Tisha Gagnon, Claire Lynch, Pharis & Jason Romero (artists); Gordon Lightfoot (writer); Alison Brown (producer); Compass Records (label)

- "Big Mon" – Andy Leftwich with Sierra Hull (artists); Bill Monroe (writer); Andy Leftwich (producer); Mountain Home Music Company (label)

- "Foggy Morning Breaking" – Alison Brown with Steve Martin (artists); Alison Brown/Steve Martin (writer); Alison

Brown and Garry West (producers); Compass Records (label)

- "For Your Love" – Michael Cleveland with Billy Strings and Jeff White (artists); Joe Ely (writer); Jeff White, Michael Cleveland, and Sean Sullivan; (producer), Compass Records (label)

- "From My Mountain (Calling You)" – Peter Rowan with Molly Tuttle and Lindsay Lou (artists); Peter Rowan (writer); Peter Rowan (producer); Rebel Records (label)

*Male Vocalist Of The Year:*

- Greg Blake

- Del McCoury

- Danny Paisley

- Larry Sparks

- Dan Tyminski

*Female Vocalist Of The Year:*

- Brooke Aldridge

- Dale Ann Bradley

- Jaelee Roberts

- Molly Tuttle

- Rhonda Vincent

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Banjo:*

- Kristin Scott Benson

- Alison Brown

- Béla Fleck

- Ned Luberecki

- Scott Vestal

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Bass:*

- Mike Bub

- Todd Phillips

- Missy Raines

- Mark Schatz

- Vickie Vaughn

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Fiddle:*

- Jason Carter

- Michael Cleveland

- Stuart Duncan

- Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

- Deanie Richardson

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Resophonic Guitar:*

- Jerry Douglas

- Andy Hall

- Rob Ickes

- Matt Leadbetter

- Justin Moses

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Guitar:*

- Chris Eldridge

- Trey Hensley

- Billy Strings

- Bryan Sutton

- Molly Tuttle

*Instrumental Performers Of The Year - Mandolin:*

- Alan Bibey

- Jesse Brock

- Sam Bush

- Sierra Hull

- Ronnie McCoury

Congratulations and best wishes to all the extraordinary nominees for their remarkable contributions to the bluegrass music genre! Mark your calendars for the 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards ceremony, set to take place on September 28 in Raleigh, NC at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for this unforgettable event are now available online. Let us come together as a community to celebrate the beauty and artistry of bluegrass music, honoring the shining stars of the industry on this special night!