Balsam Range, Earls of Leicester score 8 IBMA nominations

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard, fiddle master Bobby Hicks, and musician Roland White will join the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Roots supergroup takes home multiple trophies at annual ceremony

Both Earls of Leicester and Balsam Range were nominated for Entertainer of the Year.

Balsam Range also was nominated in the Vocal Group, Instrumental Group, Song, Album and Gospel Performance of the Year, and individual nominations for members Buddy Melton (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Tim Surrett (Bass Player of the Year).

Earls of Leicester enjoyed five group nominations (Entertainer, Instrumental Group, Song, Album and Instrumental Recorded Performance). Members Shawn Camp, Jerry Douglas and Barry Bales were nominated for Male Vocalist, Dobro Player and Bass Player of the Year respectively.

Molly Tuttle, who is nominated for Emerging Artist and Female Vocalist, became the first woman ever nominated for Guitar Player of the Year.

The nominees are:

Entertainer of the Year
Balsam Range
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Earls of Leicester
Flatt Lonesome
The Gibson Brothers

Vocal Group of the Year
Balsam Range
Blue Highway
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Flatt Lonesome
The Brothers

Instrumental Group of the Year Balsam Range
The Earls of Leicester
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Punch Brothers

Song of the Year
"Blue Collar Dreams," Balsam Range (artist), Aaron Bibelhauser (writer)
"Going Back to Bristol," Shawn Camp (artist), Mac Wiseman/Thomm Jutz/Peter Cooper (writers)
"I Am a Drifter," Volume Five (artist), Donna Ulisse/Marc Rossi (writers)
"Someday Soon," Darin & Brooke Aldridge (artist), Ian Tyson (writer)
"The Train That Carried My Girl from Town," The Earls of Leicester (artist), Frank Hutchison (writer)

Album of the Year
Fiddler's Dream,Michael Cleveland
In the Ground, The Gibson Brothers
Mountain Voodoo, Balsam Range
Original, Bobby Osborne
Rattle & Roar, The Earls of Leicester

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
"Give Me Jesus," Larry Cordle
"Hallelujah," Blue Highway
"I Found a Church Today," The Gibson Brothers
"Sacred Memories," Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers with Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Skaggs
"Wish You Were Here," Balsam Range

Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year
"Fiddler's Dream," Michael Cleveland "Great Waterton," Kristin Scott Benson
"Greenbrier," Sam Bush
"Little Liza Jane," Adam Steffey
"Flint Hill Special," The Earls of Leicester

Emerging Artist of the Year
Front Country
The Lonely Heartstring Band
Molly Tuttle
Sister Sadie
Volume Five

Recorded Event of the Year
"East Virginia Blues," Ricky Wasson and Dan Tyminski
"Going Back to Bristol," Shawn Camp with Mac Wiseman, Peter Cooper, Thomm Jutz
"I've Gotta Get a Message to You," Bobby Osborne with Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Trey Hensley, Todd Phillips, Kenny Malone, Claire Lynch and Bryan McDowell
"Steamboat Whistle Blues," Michael Cleveland featuring Sam Bush
"'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered," Mac Wiseman and Alison Krauss

Male Vocalist of the Year
Shawn Camp
Eric Gibson
Leigh Gibson
Buddy Melton
Russell Moore

Female Vocalist of the Year
Brooke Aldridge
Dale Ann Bradley
Sierra Hull
Amanda Smith
Molly Tuttle

International Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees
Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard
Bobby Hicks
Roland White

The annual show is Sept. 28 at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, N.C.