The International Bluegrass Music Association has officially unveiled the nominees for its 35th Annual Bluegrass Awards, at once elevating the genre’s present figureheads and canonizing the legacy of its forebearers. Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, the Del McCoury Band, Sister Sadie and Po’ Ramblin’ Boys lead the pack as the nominees for Entertainer of the Year, among a great many more fan favorites from the scene highlighted for various advancements of the time-honored form.

Strings returns this year as a staple of the awards, following a first win for New Artist of the Year in 2019 and claims to the highest prize of Entertainer of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Beyond his potential to become the first winner of four consecutive Entertainer of the Year awards since the Del McCoury Band’s run from 1996-2000, Strings is elsewhere nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year, Guitar Player of the Year Collaborative Recording of the Year for “Brown’s Ferry Blues,” the artist’s contribution to Tony Trischka’s Earl Jam.

Tuttle, too, is well-represented among this year’s nominees; after a year of true distinction, the artist and her Golden Highway ensemble are up for Entertainer, Vocal Group, Instrumental Group, Album, Female Vocalist and Guitar Player of the Year. The singer-songwriter and innovative instrumentalist saw her first IBMA triumph in 2016 with a Momentum Instrumentalist award, forecasting her further laurels for Guitar Player and Female Vocalist of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2022. Last year, Tuttle & Golden Highway took home Album, Song and Female Vocalist of the Year for Crooked Tree, its title track and supporting performances.

Other core artists featured among this year;s nominees include Sister Sadie, up for six awards, the legendary McCoury, who is in the running for four with his band and solo, and Authentic Unlimited, nominated for six titles, with “Thank You Lord for Grace” and “Memories of Home” both under consideration for Gospel Recording of the Year. Béla Fleck received nods for Instrumental Recording of the Year with “Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” Banjo Player of the Year and a producer credit on “Brown’s Ferry Blues.” One heated category to watch is Mandolin Player of the Year, for which Sierra Hull, Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Jesse Brock and Alan Bibey have bids.

The 35th Annual Bluegrass Awards will also host an induction ceremony for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, which this year welcomes Alan Munde, Jerry Douglas, Katy Daley. The ceremony will be held on Sept. 26 at Raleigh, N.C.’s Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Fans can find tickets and more information here.

Read on for the complete list of nominees.

2024 IBMA Bluegrass Music Award Nominees

Entertainer Of The Year
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Del McCoury Band
Sister Sadie
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

Vocal Group Of The Year
Authentic Unlimited
Sister Sadie
Blue Highway
Del McCoury Band
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Instrumental Group Of The Year
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
The Travelin’ McCourys
East Nash Grass
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Song Of The Year
“Fall In Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited (artist); John Meador/Bob Minner (writers); Billy Blue Records (label); Authentic Unlimited (producers)
“Willow” – Sister Sadie (artist); Ashley McBryde (writer); Mountain Home; (label), Sister Sadie (producers)
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long” – Rick Faris with Del McCoury (artist); Rick Faris (writer); Dark Shadow Recording (label); Stephen Mougin (producer)
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton (artist); Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart (writers); Bonfire Music Group (label); Daniel Grindstaff (producer) 
“Kentucky Gold” – Dale Ann Bradley (artist); Wayne Carson/Ronnie Reno (writers); Pinecastle (label); Dale Ann Bradley (producer)

Album Of The Year
City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (artist); Jerry Douglas and Molly Tuttle (producers); Nonesuch Records (label)
Last Chance To Win – East Nash Grass (artist); East Nash Grass (producers); Mountain Fever Records (label)
Jubilation – Appalachian Road Show (artist); Appalachian Road Show (producers); Billy Blue Records (label) Sister Sadie (producers); Mountain Home (label)
No Fear – Sister Sadie (artist); Sister Sadie (producer); Mountain Home (label)
So Much For Forever – Authentic Unlimited (artist); Authentic Unlimited (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)

Gospel Recording Of The Year
“When I Get There” – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (artist); Michael Feagan (writer); Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (producers); Independent (label)
“Thank You Lord for Grace” – Authentic Unlimited (artists); Jerry Cole (writer); Authentic Unlimited (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)
“Just Beyond” – Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, Bradley Walke (artist); Rick Lang/Mike Richards/Windi Robinson (writer); Jerry Salley (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)
“Gold Already Has” – Dale Ann Bradley (artist); Mark “Brink” Brinkman/David Stewart (writes); Dale Ann Bradley (produces); Pinecastle Records (label)
“Memories of Home” – Authentic Unlimited (artists); Jerry Cole (writer); Authentic Unlimited (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)

Instrumental Recording Of The Year
“Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” – Béla Fleck (artist); George Gershwin arr. Ferde Grofé/Béla Fleck (writer); Béla Fleck (producer); Béla Fleck Productions/Thirty Tigers (label)
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass” – Ashby Frank (artist); Terry Baucom (writer); Ashby Frank (producers); Mountain Home (label)
“Panhandle Country” – Missy Raines & Allegheny (artist); Bill Monroe (writer); Alison Brown (producer); Compass Records (label)
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock” – Alan Munde (artist); Alan Munde (writer); Billy Bright (producers); Patuxent Music (label)
“Behind the 8 Ball” – Andy Leftwich (artist); Andy Leftwich (writer); Andy Leftwich (producer); Mountain Home (label)

New Artist Of The Year
East Nash Grass
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Wyatt Ellis
The Kody Norris Show

Collaborative Recording Of The Year
“Brown’s Ferry Blues” – Tony Trischka featuring Billy Strings (artists); Alton Delmore/Rabon Delmore (writers); Béla Fleck (producer); Down The Road (label)
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas (artists);  John Meador/Bob Minner (writers); Authentic Unlimited (producer); Billy Blue Records (label)
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton (artists); Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart (writers); Daniel Grindstaff (producer); Bonfire Music Group (label)
“Bluegrass Radio” – Alison Brown and Steve Martin (artists); Steve Martin/Alison Brown (writers); Alison Brown/Garry West (producers), Compass Records (label)
“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne and CJ Lewandowski (artists); Scott Dooley/John Hadley/Kevin Welch (writers); CJ Lewandowski (producer); Turnberry Records (label)

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

Instrumental Performers Of The Year

Banjo
Kristin Scott Benson
Gena Britt
Alison Brown
Béla Fleck
Rob McCoury

Bass
Missy Raines
Mike Bub
Vickie Vaughn
Todd Phillips
Mark Schatz

Fiddle
Jason Carter
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Deanie Richardson

Resophonic Guitar
Justin Moses
Rob Ickes
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Gaven Largent

Guitar
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby

Mandolin
Sierra Hull
Sam Bush
Ronnie McCoury
Jesse Brock
Alan Bibey

Music Video of the Year
“Willow” – Sister Sadie; Mountain Home
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited; Billy Blue Records
“The City of New Orleans” – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; Upper Management Music
“I Call Her Sunshine” – The Kody Norris Show; Rebel Records
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch; Compass Records