Sierra Hull, Doyle Lawson, Billy Strings Land Bluegrass Noms

Sierra Hull leads the 2021 nominations for the International Bluegrass Music Awards with 5, tying her with the retiring Doyle Lawson who picks up 5 himself, while Balsam Range, Justin Moses, and Billy Strings also pick up multiple big nominations, and Molly Tuttle comes in with 2. Entertainer of the Year nominees include Balsam Range, Billy Strings, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, along with the Del McCoury Band, and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.

With the announcement of the 2021 IBMA nominees, three new inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame were also announced in the form of vocalist and musician Alison Krauss, banjoist and band leader Lynn Morris; and early influencers the Stoneman Family.

One bit of intrigue resolved by the nominations is if Sturgill Simpson would receive any love from the established bluegrass community for his reprisals of his previously-released songs in bluegrass form via his two Cuttin’ Grass volumes. The answer is apparently “no.” Sturgill has been affixed at the top of the bluegrass charts with the two albums since they came out, swapping spots with Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers.

Nominees are selected in a three part process by the professional membership of the IBMA consisting of artists, songwriters, label personnel, radio hosts, event producers, managers and agents, and others. Winners will be revealed at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of the greater IBMA World of Bluegrass event.

2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Balsam Range
Billy Strings
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

Vocal Group of the Year
Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Balsam Range
Blue Highway
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Sister Sadie

Instrumental Group of the Year
Appalachian Road Show
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Infamous Stringdusters
The Travelin’ McCourys

New Artist of the Year sponsored by Ron & Nancy McFarlane
Appalachian Road Show
Carolina Blue
Gina Furtado Project
High Fidelity
Merle Monroe

Song of the Year
“Banjo Player’s Blues” by High Fidelity
“Hitchhiking to California” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne
“Just Load the Wagon” by Junior Sisk
“Leaving on Her Mind” by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
“Richest Man” by Balsam Range

Album of the Year
Bluegrass 2020 – Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
Distance and Time – Becky Buller
Fall Like Rain – Justin Moses
Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various Artists
Load the Wagon – Junior Sisk
Still Here – Steve Gulley & Tim Stafford

Gospel Recording of the Year
“After Awhile” by Dale Ann Bradley
“Grit and Grace” by Balsam Range
“Hear Jerusalem Calling” by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore
“When He Calls My Name” by Alan Bibey & Grasstowne

Instrumental Recording of the Year
“The Appalachian Road” by Appalachian Road Show
“Foggy Mountain Chimes” by Scott Vestal, Patrick McAvinue, Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Curtis Vestal
“Ground Speed” by Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
“Mountain Strings” by Sierra Hull
“Taxland” by Justin Moses with Sierra Hull

Collaborative Recording of the Year
“Birmingham Jail” by Barry Abernathy with Vince Gill
“In the Resurrection Morning” by Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason
“My Baby’s Gone” by Justin Moses with Del McCoury
“Tears of Regret” by High Fidelity with Jesse McReynolds
“White Line Fever” by Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull,

Male Vocalist of the Year
Ronnie Bowman
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley
Junior Sisk
Larry Sparks

Female Vocalist of the Year
Brooke Aldridge
Dale Ann Bradley
Sierra Hull
Molly Tuttle
Rhonda Vincent

Banjo Player of the Year
Gena Britt
Gina Furtado
Rob McCoury
Kristin Scott Benson
Scott Vestal

Bass Player of the Year
Mike Bub
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
Mark Schatz
Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Player of the Year
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Deanie Richardson

Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Justin Moses

Guitar Player of the Year sponsored by Yamaha
Trey Hensley
Billy Strings
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Jake Workman

Mandolin Player of the Year
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Ronnie McCoury
Tristan Scroggins

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