Jerry Douglas took the stage and stood proudly while being inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame during the 35th annual International Bluegrass Music Association awards show Thursday night in Raleigh.
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“You don’t get here alone,” the 68-year-old Dobro legend told the audience at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. “I’ve covered a lot of ground in the last 51 years, and I look forward to whatever comes next.”
Douglas’ heartfelt sentiments not only touched upon his illustrious career, they also symbolized the current state of the IBMA and the greater scene itself when it comes to the “high, lonesome sound” — one foot firmly rooted in history and tradition, the other in a continual evolution of sound and scope.
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway took home Album of the Year for City of Gold , marking the second year in a row the 31-year-old has received the honor. But the top prize, Entertainer of the Year, went to the Del McCoury Band. McCoury, the elder statesman of bluegrass music, now 85, represents the gold standard of the genre.
“There’s no glass ceiling in bluegrass right now — it’s limitless,” says C.J. Lewandowski of the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, who were nominated for Entertainer of the Year. “It’s kind of about being ‘embraced’ instead of ‘enforced’ when it comes to things changing.”
Featuring former members of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Lawson retired from touring in 2021), bluegrass/gospel group Authentic Unlimited solidified it standing as one of the premier acts of the modern era. They were handed Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. Jesse Brock was named Mandolin Player of the Year.
In a sign of the shifting times, rising string ensemble East Nash Grass won New Artist of the Year, with Dobro phenom Gaven Largent dubbed Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year.
“I love how real [bluegrass] is. You can take it anywhere,” says East Nash Grass guitarist James Kee. “And the proof is in the pudding of what you do — your ability to sit down and make the music happen.”
East Nash Grass represents a current wave of younger names taking over the genre. From Tuttle to Billy Strings, Sierra Hull to AJ Lee & Blue Summit, these artists are filling big venues coast-to-coast. Teaming up with banjo great Tony Trischka, Strings won Collaborative Recording of the Year for “Brown’s Ferry Blues.”
“I’ve always been a big believer that innovation is at the core of the spirit of bluegrass music,” says banjoist Alison Brown. “So, it is wonderful to see people like Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle that are really elevating the music on the fringes and bringing a new audience to it.”
Another outfit quickly elevating itself into the mainstream is Sister Sadie. With their acclaimed album No Fear and popularity on the festival circuit this year, Jaelee Roberts received her first Female Vocalist of the Year trophy. Deanie Richardson walked away with Fiddle Player of the Year.
“Deanie and Gena Britt took a chance on bringing a young girl with little stage and touring experience into the band,” the 23-year-old Roberts says. “And I’ll always be grateful to them for that.”
Throughout the IBMA awards show and the World of Bluegrass festivities that overtake North Carolina’s capital city each September, a bittersweet feeling lingered: This will be the last year the gathering will take place in Raleigh. After 12 years, the IBMA World of Bluegrass will migrate to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where, beginning Sept. 16, 2025, it’ll be held through at least 2027. To fill the void left behind, the launch of new bluegrass festival, Raleigh Wide Open, will launch Oct. 3, 2025.
“Change is inevitable,” says Lewandowski. “[Chattanooga] is a chance to centrally locate and try something a little different. It’s always good to go to a fresh place and see new things.”
As with every IBMA award show, the essence of the evening comes with the induction of beloved musicians and industry folks into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Alongside Douglas, banjoist Alan Munde and radio broadcaster Katy Daley were also honored.
After his induction, Douglas held court onstage for a moving solo performance. “The word ‘Hall of Famer’ doesn’t fall in my column,” he tells Rolling Stone . “I think of Red Allen, J.D. Crowe and those guys that really moved the needle. I’m still listening to them, still taking my lessons from them.”
2024 IBMA Awards winners list:
Entertainer of the Year
Del McCoury Band
Vocal Group of the Year
Authentic Unlimited
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Instrumental Group of the Year
The Travelin’ McCourys
Song of the Year
“Fall in Tennessee,” Authentic Unlimited
Album of the Year
City of Gold, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Gospel Recording of the Year
“God Already Has,” Dale Ann Bradley
Instrumental Recording of the Year
“Knee Deep in Bluegrass,” Ashby Frank
New Artist of the Year
East Nash Grass
Collaborative Recording of the Year
“Brown’s Ferry Blues,” Tony Trischka with Billy Strings
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
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