Last night, the Americana Music Association held their 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The star-studded show, which packed plenty of magical moments into its three-hour-plus runtime, was hosted by actor/comedian/musician John C. Reilly and featured performances by John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Joy Oladokun, I’m With Her, S.G. Goodman, and many, many more.
Fiddler Alex Hargreaves, currently touring and recording with Billy Strings, won the first award of the evening, Instrumentalist of the Year, while Appalachian “heavy petal music” starlet-pixie Sierra Ferrell was awarded Artist of the Year. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ latest LP, 2024’s South of Here, won Album of the Year and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings took home a trophy each for Duo/Group of the Year.
Nashville singer-songwriter, session playing stalwart, and community leader Buddy Miller returned yet again as the musical director of the Americana All-Star Band – including Don Was, The McCrary Sisters, Fred Eltringham, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, and Larry Campbell – to supply the evening’s first-class music. Plus, the McCrary Sisters were honored by AMA and the National Museum of African American Music with the Legacy of Americana Award.
There were many more noteworthy moments, performances, and appearances throughout the proceedings, which were livestreamed via NPR Music – watch here to see all that you may have missed. Below, you’ll find a full list of the winners and honorees – with “Of the Year” awardees marked in bold. Americanafest continues through the rest of the week in Nashville, promising even more roots music magic all across Music City.
I’m With Her – Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan – perform during the Americana Honors & Awards at which they won Song of the Year. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association.)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Lonesome Drifter, Charley Crockett; Produced by Charley Crockett & Shooter Jennings
Foxes in the Snow, Jason Isbell; Produced by Jason Isbell & Gena Johnson
Manning Fireworks, MJ Lenderman; Produced by Alex Farrar & MJ Lenderman
South of Here, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Produced by Brad Cook
Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings; Produced by David Rawlings
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Charley Crockett Sierra Ferrell Joy Oladokun Billy Strings Waxahatchee
Margo Price and host John C. Reilly center stage at the Americana Honors & Awards. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association.)
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR
Julien Baker & TORRES Dawes Larkin Poe The Mavericks Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR
Noeline Hofmann MJ Lenderman Medium Build Maggie Rose Jesse Welles
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Fred Eltringham Alex Hargreaves Megan Jane Kaitlyn Raitz Seth Taylor
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Johnny Moonshine,” Maggie Antone; Written by Maggie Antone, Natalie Hemby & Aaron Raitiere
“Ancient Light,” I’m With Her; Written by Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins
“Wristwatch,” MJ Lenderman; Written by MJ Lenderman
“Sunshine Getaway,” JD McPherson; Written by Page Burkum, JD McPherson & Jack Torrey
“Heartless,” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Written by Nathaniel Rateliff
Darrell Scott sings with I’m With Her – Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan – at the Americana Honors & Awards. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association.)
AMERICANA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES
Joe Henry Darrell Scott Old 97’s
LEGACY OF AMERICANA AWARD
(co-presented with the National Museum of African American Music)
The McCrary Sisters
SPIRIT OF AMERICANA FREE SPEECH IN MUSIC AWARD
Jesse Welles
All photos via Getty Images for Americana Music Association, credits as noted.
Lead image: David Rawlings, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Gillian Welch perform during the Americana Honors & Awards; by Erika Goldring. Alternate images: David Rawlings & Gillian Welch pose backstage with their award for Duo/Group of the year; by Terry Wyatt.
Today, July 16, 2025, the nominees, inductees, and recipients of the 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards were announced in Nashville, Tennessee at a special live event broadcast from SiriusXM’s studios co-hosted by Sierra Hull and Bluegrass Junction radio host and programmer Joey Black. The announcement broadcast also featured live on-air performances by Hull and the Travelin’ McCourys.
Alison Krauss & Union Station lead the nominations following the release of their first album in over a decade, Arcadia. Between Krauss, and Union Station’s band members, the group have amassed nine nominations, including Entertainer of the Year – for which their last win was in 1995 – Album of the Year, and Vocal Group of the Year. Billy Strings, who last took home an Entertainer of the Year trophy in 2023, received five nominations – for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Guitar Player of the Year.
Alison Brown & Steve Martin have racked up a handful of nominations between them this year, too, and Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland’s excellent new duo album – and the pair of fiddlers themselves – appear all across the nominees list, the duo collecting nine nominations together and separately.
And, for the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the IBMA, a Black person will be inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Arnold Schultz, a seminal figure in bluegrass, blues, and old-time credited with greatly influencing the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, will be the first non-white member of the genre’s hall of honor.
“Our mission is to inspire innovation by recognizing the great work done by artists this past year and to honor tradition by inducting new members into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame,” said Ken White, executive director of IBMA, via press release. “The early influence of Arnold Shultz on Bill Monroe continues to shine through in the playing of even the youngest member of Kids on Bluegrass.”
Joining Schultz in this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees are the Bluegrass Cardinals and Hot Rize. Additionally, IBMA announced 2025 recipients of their Distinguished Achievement Award, including Alan Arthur Knoth, Penny Parsons, Ron Thomason, Sidney Austin, LLP, and Missy Raines.
IBMA’s annual conference, World of Bluegrass, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, and the organization’s annual festival, IBMA Bluegrass Live! will take place this year in a brand new host city, Chattanooga, Tennessee. The conference will run September 16-18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center; the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble, the event’s showcase series, will also run Sept. 16-18 in local venues. The 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, where the winners, recipients, and inductees will be honored by their peers and fans, is scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 18; IBMA Bluegrass Live! will be heldSept. 19-20.
Find more information on IBMA and all of this year’s World of Bluegrass events in Chattanooga here and find the full list of nominees, recipients, and inductees below.
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
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Hot Rize The Bluegrass Cardinals Arnold Schultz
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Alan Arthur Knoth Penny Parsons Ron Thomason Sidney Austin, LLP Missy Raines
The 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be held September 18, 2025 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Tickets and more information here.
Photo Credit: Alison Krauss by Randee St. Nicholas; Billy Strings by Dana Trippe.
A big night for country music ended up being a big night for bluegrass as well when Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes joined country star Dierks Bentley on the CMA Awards stage for a show-stopping performance. The quartet, backed by Bentley’s band (including the evening’s winner of Musician of the Year, Charlie Worsham) played a rousing rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” a huge single for Bentley this year from the compilation album, Petty Country.
Bentley has released plenty of ‘grassy and string band tracks across his career, especially on his 2010 album Up on the Ridge, and he is close friends with many bluegrass musicians and legends. He used to haunt the World Famous Station Inn in Nashville well before his fame and recognition – and well after, too. He’s even gifted commemorative hit records to the bar (which still hang on the walls today) and he’s appeared at the divey listening room dozens of times. He’s also a friend of the McCoury family and has collaborated with Del and sons on multiple occasions. In addition, he’s brought Tuttle and her band Golden Highway out on the road as an opening act repeatedly, and he guested on Keith-Hynes’ now GRAMMY-nominated album, I Built a World.
Tuttle even shared an image to social media from a past MerleFest where Bentley can be seen braving the North Carolina rain to catch her band’s mainstage set in the very front row of the VIP section. It’s no surprise that he would tap Hull, Tuttle, and Keith-Hynes for the CMA Awards, even if the context feels a bit out-of-left-field for diehard bluegrassers.
“American Girl” was truly a highlight of the star-studded awards show, which despite more than a few perceived flubs and snubs highlighted plenty of Good Country, Americana, roots music – and yes, bluegrass! Here’s to plenty more primetime television moments in the future highlighting incredible bluegrass pickers such as these.
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