All-star band Sister Sadie took top honors at the 31st annual Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
The quartet of Tina Adair, Dale Ann Bradley, Gena Britt and Deanie Richardson won the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award, as well as Vocal Group of the Year. The awards were presented on October 1, as part of the IBMA’s Virtual World of Bluegrass convention and festival.
In addition to presenting the music awards, IBMA formally inducted J.T Gray, The Johnson Mountain Boys and The New Grass Revival into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Gray is owner of Nashville’s iconic Station Inn; The Johnson Mountain Boys, including Bluegrass Country host Eddie Stubbs on fiddle, were known for their hardcore traditional bluegrass, and The New Grass Revival defined contemporary and progressive bluegrass in the ’70s and ’80s.
Other Bluegrass Music Awards went to:
Instrumental Group of the Year: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Song of the Year: “Chicago Barn Dance” – Special Consensus with Michael Cleveland & Becky Buller
Album of the Year: “Live in Prague, Czech Republic” – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Gospel Recording of the Year: “Gonna Rise and Shine” – Alan Bibey & Grasstowne
Instrumental Recording of the Year: “Tall Fiddler” – Michael Cleveland with Tommy Emmanuel
New Artist of the Year: Mile Twelve
Collaborative Recording of the Year: “The Barber’s Fiddle” – Becky Buller with Shawn Camp, Jason Carter, Laurie Lewis, Kati Penn, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland, Johnny Warren, Stuart Duncan, Deanie Richardson, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Jason Barie, Fred Carpenter, Tyler Andal, Nate Lee, Dan Boner, Brian Christianson, and Laura Orshaw
Female Vocalist of the Year: Brooke Aldridge
Male Vocalist of the Year: Danny Paisley
Banjo Player of the Year: Scott Vestal
Bass Player of the Year: Missy Raines
Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year: Justin Moses
Fiddle Player of the Year: Deanie Richardson
Guitar Player of the Year: Jake Workman
Mandolin Player of the Year: Alan Bibey
The award winners are selected by the professional member of IBMA, the nonprofit professional organization for the global bluegrass music community.