The International Bluegrass Music Association held their annual awards on September 26th. And it wasn’t bluegrass phenom Billy Strings who’s out there selling out arenas that walked away with the top award, or other top-rising performers like Molly Tuttle or the Po’ Ramblin Boys. It was the 85-year-old Del McCoury who was crowned as the IBMA’s 2024 Entertainer of the Year. And few if anyone would complain with the pick.
It really is remarkable to witness just how relevant Del McCoury and his band remain nearly 70 years into his career, and legitimately so. They are legends, torchbearers, influences, and current headliners. Del’s backing band The Travelin’ McCourys made up of sons Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo, along with fiddle player Jason Carter and Alan Bartram on bass also won for Instrumental Group of the Year, and Rob McCoury won for Banjo Player of the Year. They were nominated for Vocal Group of the Year as well.
Contrast this with country music, who would have put the whole lot of these musicians out to pasture decades ago. See George Strait, who is out there setting attendance records, and won’t sniff a CMA Award anytime soon. Bluegrass honors their legends.
Sure, bluegrass needs fresh blood too. Billy Strings won Entertainer of the Year from 2021-2023 and is sure to win it many times in the upcoming years. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway walked away with their second Album of the Year in a row with City of Gold winning this year. East Nash Grass has been sparking tons of buzz, and are dully rewarded with New Artist of the Year honors.
The other big winner was stalwart bluegrass band Authentic Unlimited, who walked away with Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Fall in Tennessee,” while the band’s Jesse Brock won for Mandolin Player of the Year.
But let’s give a slow clap to Del and the whole McCoury clan who still put on an incredible bluegrass show. First joining Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1963, Del is a living link to the historic past of bluegrass and one of the discipline’s most revered traditionalists, while also being respected by the progressive side of bluegrass, and famous for collaborating with bands like Phish and the String Cheese Incident, which has opened up the avenue for more expansive forms of the subgenre.
Del McCory remains a bluegrass entertainer for all. The Del McCoury Band also won the award in 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Del McCoury and the Del McCoury Band have many other IBMA trophies as well. But this was the first time they’ve won Entertainer of the Year in 20 years.
See the full list of 2024 IBMA winners below.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Del McCoury Band – WINNER
Sister Sadie
The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sister Sadie
Authentic Unlimited – WINNER
Blue Highway
Del McCoury Band
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Travelin’ McCourys – WINNER
East Nash Grass
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited – WINNER
Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner
“Willow” – Sister Sadie
Songwriter: Ashley McBryde
“Too Lonely, Way Too Long” – Rick Faris with Del McCoury
Songwriter: Rick Faris
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster & Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart
“Kentucky Gold” – Dale Ann Bradley with Sam Bush
Songwriters: Wayne Carson/Ronnie Reno
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – WINNER
Last Chance to Win – East Nash Grass
Jubilation – Appalachian Road Show
No Fear – Sister Sadie
So Much for Forever – Authentic Unlimited
GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“When I Get There” – Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Songwriter: Michael Feagan
“Thank You Lord for Grace” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
“Just Beyond” – Barry Abernathy with John Meador, Tim Raybon, Bradley Walker
Songwriters: Rick Lang/Mike Richards/Windi Robinson
“God Already Has” – Dale Ann Bradley – WINNER
Songwriter: Mark “Brink” Brinkman/David Stewart
“Memories of Home” – Authentic Unlimited
Songwriter: Jerry Cole
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Rhapsody in Blue(grass)” – Béla Fleck
Songwriter: George Gershwin arr. Ferde Grofé/Béla Fleck
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass” – Ashby Frank – WINNER
Songwriter: Terry Baucom
“Panhandle Country” – Missy Raines & Allegheny
Songwriter: Bill Monroe
“Lloyd’s of Lubbock” – Alan Munde
Songwriter: Alan Munde
“Behind the 8 Ball” – Andy Leftwich
Songwriter: Andy Leftwich
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
East Nash Grass – WINNER
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Wyatt Ellis
The Kody Norris Show
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Brown’s Ferry Blues” – Tony Trischka featuring Billy Strings – WINNER
Songwriters: Alton Delmore/Rabon Delmore
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited with Jerry Douglas
Songwriters: John Meador/Bob Minner
“Forever Young” – Daniel Grindstaff with Paul Brewster, Dolly Parton
Songwriters: Jim Cregan/Kevin Savigar/Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart
“Bluegrass Radio” – Alison Brown and Steve Martin
Songwriters: Steve Martin/Alison Brown
“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne and CJ Lewandowski
Songwriters: Scott Dooley/John Hadley/Kevin Welch
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dan Tyminski
Greg Blake
Del McCoury
Danny Paisley – WINNER
Russell Moore
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Molly Tuttle
Jaelee Roberts – WINNER
Dale Ann Bradley
AJ Lee
Rhonda Vincent
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kristin Scott Benson
Gena Britt
Alison Brown
Béla Fleck
Rob McCoury – WINNER
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Missy Raines
Mike Bub
Vickie Vaughn – WINNER
Todd Phillips
Mark Schatz
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jason Carter
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Deanie Richardson – WINNER
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justin Moses
Rob Ickes
Jerry Douglas
Andy Hall
Gaven Largent – WINNER
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Billy Strings
Molly Tuttle
Trey Hensley
Bryan Sutton
Cody Kilby – WINNER
MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sierra Hull
Sam Bush
Ronnie McCoury
Jesse Brock – WINNER
Alan Bibey
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Willow” – Sister Sadie
Label: Mountain Home
“Fall in Tennessee” – Authentic Unlimited – WINNER (tie)
Label: Billy Blue Records
“The City of New Orleans” – Rhonda Vincent & The Rage
Label: Upper Management Music
“I Call Her Sunshine” – The Kody Norris Show
Label: Rebel Records
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Patrick Sauber, Trisha Gagnon, Pharis & Jason Romero, and Claire Lynch – WINNER (tie)
Label: Compass Records
