Molly Tuttle, Authentic Unlimited, Billy Strings & Sister Sadie Lead IBMA Awards Nominees

The nominees for the 2024 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards were revealed on Wednesday (July 17) from the SiriusXM Studios in Nashville.

Hosted by IBMA Executive director Ken White and Bluegrass Junction’s Joey Black, the final nominees unveiling ceremony also featured performances from Missy Raines and Allegheny, as well as Authentic Unlimited, who proved to be one of this year’s frontrunners, earning nominations spanning several categories.

Additionally, White revealed three inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: Alan Munde, Jerry Douglas and Katy Daley. Munde has been a leader in bluegrass music for more than five decades, through work as a banjo player, bandleader and educator. Munde has been part of projects including Poor Richard’s Almanac with Byron Berline, Sam Bush and Wayne Stewart, and has played with Jimmy Martin, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Country Gazette. He was a 2008 recipient of an IBMA distinguished achievement award.

Dobro player Douglas started with the Country Gentlemen in the 1970s and has played as part of J.D. Crowe’s New South and The Whites, before joining Alison Krauss’s Union Station in 1998. In 2014, he launched the Flatt & Scruggs tribute band the Earls of Leister. He’s earned 10 IBMA Awards for dobro player of the year and is a former vice president of the IBMA’s board of directors.

Daley, a bluegrass music broadcaster, has worked at WAMU and in 1978, collaborated in the 13-part series Bluegrass Anthology. She’s also worked at WMZQ, before joining bluegrasscountry.org, serving as a morning personality. Daley has received two IBMA Awards for bluegrass broadcaster of the year and one for distinguished achievement.

The IBMA distinguished achievement award was given to bluegrass radio presenter Cindy Baucom, fiddler/vocalist/songwriter Laurie Lewis, Bluegrass Omagh music festival leader Richard Hurst, bluegrass music instructional video hub ArtistWorks, and the Dallas/Forth Worth-based Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival.

The 35th annual IBMA Music Awards will be held Sept. 26 during the 2024 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina. World of Bluegrass runs from Sept. 24-28 at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

See the full list of nominees below:

Entertainer of the year

Billy Strings

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway

Del McCoury Band

Sister Sadie

The Po Ramblin’ Boys

Male vocalist of the year

Dan Tyminski

Greg Blake

Del McCoury

Danny Paisley

Russell Moore

Female vocalist of the year

Molly Tuttle

Jaelee Roberts

Dale Ann Bradley

AJ Lee

Rhonda Vincent

New artist of the year

East Nash Newgrass

Brownwyn Keith-Hynes

AJ Lee and Blue Summit

Wyatt Ellis

The Kody Norris Show

Vocal group of the year

Authentic Unlimited

Sister Sadie

Blue Highway

Del McCoury Band

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway

Instrumental group of the year

Billy Strings

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

Travelin McCourys

East Nash Grass

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway

Album of the year

City of Gold, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Last Chance to Win, East Nash Grass

Jubilation, Appalachian Road Show

No Fear, Sister Sadie

So Much For Forever, Authentic Unlimited

Song of the year

“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited

“Willow,” Sister Sadie

“Too Lonely, Way Too Long,” Rick Faris with Del McCoury

“Forever Young,” Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster and Dolly Parton

“Kentucky Gold,” Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush

Music video of the year

“Alberta Bound,” Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero and Claire Lynch

“Willow,” Sister Sadie

“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited

“The City of New Orleans,” Rhonda Vincent and the Rage

“I Call Her Sunshine,” The Kody Norris Show

Guitar player of the year

Billy Strings

Molly Tuttle

Trey Hensley

Bryan Sutton

Cody Kilby

Mandolin player of the year

Sierra Hull

Sam Bush

Ronnie McCoury

Jesse Brock

Alan Bibey

Banjo player of the year

Kristin Scott Benson

Gena Britt

Alison Brown

Bela Fleck

Rob McCoury

Resophonic guitar player of the year

Justin Moses

Rob Ickes

Jerry Douglas

Andy Hall

Gaven Largent

Fiddle player of the year

Jason Carter

Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Michael Cleveland

Stuart Duncan

Deanie Richardson

Bass player of the year

Missy Raines

Mike Bub

Vickie Vaughn

Todd Phillips

Mark Schatz

Gospel recording of the year

“When I Get There,” Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out

“Thank You Lord For Grace,” Authentic Unlimited

“Just Beyond,” Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, and Bradley Walker

“God Already Has,” Dale Ann Bradley

“Memories of Home,” Authentic Unlimited

Instrumental recording of the year

“Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” Bela Fleck

“Knee Deep in Bluegrass,” Ashby Frank

“Panhandle Country,” Missy Raines and Allegheny

“Lloyd’s of Lubbock,” Alan Munde

“Behind the 8 Ball,” Andy Leftwich

Collaborative recording of the year

“Brown’s Ferry Blues,” Tony Trischka feat. Billy Strings

“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas

“Forever Young,” Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster and Dolly Parton

“Bluegrass Radio,” Alison Brown with Steve Martin

“Too Old to Die Young,” Bobby Osborne with CJ Lewandowski