McCoury receives IBMA's biggest honor

Friday, September 27, 2024 – Del McCoury received the biggest honor - "Entertainer of the Year" Award - at the 35th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday. Meanwhile, Authentic Unlimited won three awards.

Winners were:
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Authentic Unlimited

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Travelin' McCourys

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Fall in Tennessee"
Recorded by Authentic Unlimited
Written by John Meador & Bob Minner
Produced by Authentic Unlimited
Billy Blue Records

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
City of Gold
Recorded by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Produced by Jerry Douglas & Molly Tuttle
Nonesuch Records

GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
"God Already Has"
Recorded by Dale Ann Bradley
Written by Mark "Brink" Brinkman & David Stewart
Produced by Dale Ann Bradley
Pinecastle Records

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
"Knee Deep in Bluegrass" |
Recorded by Ashby Frank
Written by Terry Baucom
Produced by Ashby Frank
Mountain Home Music Company

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
East Nash Grass

COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
"Brown's Ferry Blues"
Recorded by Tony Trischka with Billy Strings
Written by Alton & Rabon Delmore
Produced by Béla Fleck
Down the Road Records

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Danny Paisley

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Jaelee Roberts

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rob McCoury

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vickie Vaughn

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Deanie Richardson

RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gaven Largent

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cody Kilby

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jesse Brock

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (TIE)
"Fall in Tennessee" - Authentic Unlimited
"Alberta Bound" - Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch

Previously announced inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – Katy Daley, Jerry Douglas, and Alan Munde were also honored during the show.

"I don't even have words to say how it feels to win the Female Vocalist of the Year award. I am still in shock," Roberts said. "Just being nominated is one of the biggest honors of my life and having my name mentioned alongside Dale Ann Bradley, Rhonda Vincent, Molly Tuttle and A.J. Lee is mind-blowing. I love every one of these women so much, and I'm very influenced by their music."

The Awards show, hosted by artists John Cowan and Missy Raines, was held at Raleigh, N.C.'s Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.