The Earls of of Leicester Take Top Trophy at International Bluegrass Music Awards

The 27th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) were held last night (Sept. 29) at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The Earls of Leicester took home the Entertainer of the Year Award for the second consecutive year, while Becky Buller was honored with the Female Vocalist of the Year Award and Danny Paisley copped the Male Vocalist of the Year Award.

Co-hosted by Sierra Hull and Dan Tyminski, the IBMA Award show performances included “Man of Constant Sorrow” by the Soggy Bottom Boys and “Rainbow Connection” by the Lonely Heartstring Band, along with performances by Flatt Lonesome, Del McCoury Band, Sierra Hull, Becky Buller Band, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range and the Lonesome River Band.

27th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Winners

  • Entertainer of the Year 
    The Earls of Leicester
  • Female Vocalist of the Year
    Becky Buller
  • Male Vocalist of the Year
    Danny Paisley
  • Vocal Group of the Year
    Flatt Lonesome
  • Instrumental Group of the Year
    Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
  • Song of the Year
    “You’re the One,” Flatt Lonesome
  • Album of the Year
    Runaway Train, Flatt Lonesome
  • Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
    All Dressed Up, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
  • Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year
    “Fireball,” Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley and Alison Brown
  • Emerging Artist of the Year
    Mountain Faith
  • Recorded Event of the Year
    “Longneck Blues,” Junior Sisk and Ronnie Bowman
  • Banjo Player of the Year
    Charlie Cushman
  • Bass Player of the Year
    Barry Bales
  • Dobro Player of the Year
    Jerry Douglas
  • Fiddle Player of the Year
    Becky Buller
  • Guitar Player of the Year
    Bryan Sutton
  • Mandolin Player of the Year
    Sierra Hull

Photo by Dave Brainard

Blogs

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025

Rick Moranis will return to once again play Dark Helmet in “Spaceballs 2”!!!  Bill Pullman will return as the hero Lone Starr, too. And Mel Brooks will be back as Yogurt . . . and, presumably . . . President Skroob.  (He played both characters in the original.) Ted Danson’s wife Mary Steenburgen will play…

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025

Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson has died.  His family didn’t announce the exact date or cause of death, but he was diagnosed with dementia and placed in a conservatorship last year.  He was 82. Wilson was plagued by drug addiction and mental illness throughout his life.  By 1964 he had stopped touring with the band.…