Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, Flatt Lonesome & More Nominated for International Bluegrass Awards [Full List]

Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, Flatt Lonesome & More Nominated for International Bluegrass Awards [Full List]

Nominees for the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced today (July 26) at a press conference in Nashville, with more than a few notable names leading the way.

The Earls of Leicester, the reigning IBMA Entertainers of the Year, copped five nominations as a band and three individual nominations, while Balsam Range netted six nominations as a group and two individual nominations.

In addition, it was announced that three acts will be inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame: duo Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard, fiddle virtuoso Bobby Hicks and musician Roland White.

Winners will be announced at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Sept. 28 at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, N.C.

Hosted by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, the International Bluegrass Music Awards will feature a live performance from Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers—their only one this year—in support of their new record, The Long-Awaited Album.

Here is the full list of nominees.

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 Gibson 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 GroundThe 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

Banjo Player
Ned Luberecki
Joe Mullins
Noam Pikelny
Kristin Scott Benson
Sammy Shelor

Bass Player
Barry Bales
Alan Bartram
Mike Bub
Missy Raines
Tim Surrett

Fiddle Player
Becky Buller
Jason Carter
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Patrick McAvinue
Ron Stewart

Dobro Player
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Rob Ickes
Phil Leadbetter
Josh Swift

Guitar Player
Jim Hurst
Kenny Smith
Bryan Sutton
Molly Tuttle
Josh Williams

Mandolin Player
Jesse Brock
Sam Bush
Sierra Hull
Frank Solivan
Adam Steffey

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

Distinguished Achievement Award recipients
Norman Blake
BluegrassToday.com
Fletcher Bright
Silver Dollar City
Louisa Branscomb

main photo: Earls of Leicester courtesy of Anthony Scarlati/Concord Music Group

Blogs

The Red Clay Strays Add Extra Dates To Their Sold-Out North American Tour

On Monday (June 16), the Red Clay Strays announced additional dates on their 2025 Get Right Tour across North America. The new shows are in Cincinnati, Ohio; Pikeville, Kentucky;  Macon, Georgia; and Huntsville, Alabama, and are set to take place in September and October. The ACM Award-winners will offer a fan pre-sale beginning on Wednesday…

The Red Clay Strays Add Extra Dates To Their Sold-Out North American Tour

On Monday (June 16), the Red Clay Strays announced additional dates on their 2025 Get Right Tour across North America. The new shows are in Cincinnati, Ohio; Pikeville, Kentucky;  Macon, Georgia; and Huntsville, Alabama, and are set to take place in September and October. The ACM Award-winners will offer a fan pre-sale beginning on Wednesday…

Bunnie XO Reveals “Huge Win” In Her IVF Pregnancy Journey With Husband Jelly Roll

On Monday (June 16), Bunnie XO shared an emotional Instagram video that revealed a positive update on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey with her husband Jelly Roll. "When you just got the call you've been waiting on for 5 months since this ivf journey started," she wrote. "All the tears, the hopelessness & the…

Bunnie XO Reveals “Huge Win” In Her IVF Pregnancy Journey With Husband Jelly Roll

On Monday (June 16), Bunnie XO shared an emotional Instagram video that revealed a positive update on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey with her husband Jelly Roll. “When you just got the call you’ve been waiting on for 5 months since this ivf journey started,” she wrote. “All the tears, the hopelessness & the…

Dolly Parton Will Be Honored With 2025 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award At Oscars’ Annual Governors Awards

Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars’ 2025 Governors Awards on November 16. The country legend already has 10 Grammys and a Primetime Emmy to her name, and this honorary Academy Award will bring her one step closer to achieving EGOT status. Parton also will join a short list of…

Dolly Parton Will Be Honored With 2025 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award At Oscars’ Annual Governors Awards

Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars’ 2025 Governors Awards on November 16. The country legend already has 10 Grammys and a Primetime Emmy to her name, and this honorary Academy Award will bring her one step closer to achieving EGOT status. Parton also will join a short list of…

Noah Cyrus Announces New Album, ‘I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me,’ Plans North American Tour

On Monday (June 16), Noah Cyrus announced details of her sophomore album, I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me, which is due out on July 11 via RECORDS/Columbia Records. The 11-track record was produced in partnership with Mike Crossey and PJ Harding, and features collaborations with Fleet Foxes, Ella Langley, and Bill Callahan,…

Noah Cyrus Announces New Album, ‘I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me,’ Plans North American Tour

On Monday (June 16), Noah Cyrus announced details of her sophomore album, I Want My Loved Ones to Go with Me, which is due out on July 11 via RECORDS/Columbia Records. The 11-track record was produced in partnership with Mike Crossey and PJ Harding, and features collaborations with Fleet Foxes, Ella Langley, and Bill Callahan,…

Ty Herndon Signs With New Label, Releases Duet With LeAnn Rimes

Ty Herndon has just signed a three-album deal with Club44 Records, and the Grammy-nominated country singer launched his new creative partnership with a reimagined duet version of his 1995 breakout hit, “What Mattered Most,” featuring LeAnn Rimes. The single is the first offering from Herndon’s upcoming album, Thirty, which will pay tribute to his distinguished…

Ty Herndon Signs With New Label, Releases Duet With LeAnn Rimes

Ty Herndon has just signed a three-album deal with Club44 Records, and the Grammy-nominated country singer launched his new creative partnership with a reimagined duet version of his 1995 breakout hit, “What Mattered Most,” featuring LeAnn Rimes. The single is the first offering from Herndon’s upcoming album, Thirty, which will pay tribute to his distinguished…