Guitar star Billy Strings took top honors at the 32nd annual Bluegrass Music Awards, presented by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), winning the Entertainer of the Year and Guitar Player of the Year awards.
IBMA presented its annual best in bluegrass awards at a gala concert on September 30 in Raleigh, NC, a highlight of the World of Bluegrass convention and festival.
In addition to presenting the music awards, IBMA formally inducted Alison Kraus, Lynn Morris and The Stonemans into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
Other multiple winners were the band Appalachian Road Show, winner of the New Artist of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year; and Female Vocalist of the Year Dale Ann Bradley, whose song “After A While” tied for Gospel Recording of the Year.
Here’s a list of all the 2021 awards:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR – Billy Strings
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR – Sister Sadie
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR – Appalachian Road Show
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Appalachian Road Show
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Richest Man” by Balsam Range
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy – Various Artist
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR (tie) – “After While” – Dale Ann Bradley and “In the Resurrection Morning” – Sacred Reunion featuring Doyle Lawson, Vince Gill, Barry Abernathy, Tim Stafford, Mark Wheeler, Jim VanCleve, Phil Leadbetter, Jason Moore
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR “Ground Speed” – Kristin Scott Benson, Skip Cherryholmes, Jeremy Garrett, Kevin Kehrberg, Darren Nicholson
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR – “White Line Fever” Bobby Osborne with Tim O’Brien, Trey Hensley, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Todd Phillips, Alison Brown
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (tie) – Del McCoury and Danny Paisley
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR – Dale Ann Bradley
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Scott Vestal
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Missy Raines
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Justin Moses
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Billy Strings
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Sierra Hull
The award winners are selected by the professional member of IBMA, the nonprofit professional organization for the global bluegrass music community.