Sister Sadie Named Entertainer of the Year at 31st Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Sister Sadie, an all-female bluegrass group, won entertainer of the year at the 31st annual International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards, which were presented online Thursday evening (Oct. 1).
In addition, the group took vocal group of the year for the second year in a row, while one of its members, Deanie Richardson, won fiddle player of the year for the first time.
The awards are usually presented in the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, N.C, the city where the IBMA is based. The COVID-19 crisis forced the event to go online. But there was one saving grace: The producers were able to use an empty Ryman Auditorium in Nashville as a location for several performances as well as anchor hosting by four musicians -- Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, Joe Newberry and Tim O’Brien.
Garth Brooks, Ronnie McCoury and Vince Gill inducted this year’s three new members of the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Brooks inducted New Grass Revival, one of the top progressive bluegrass bands of the 1970s and ’80s. McCoury inducted The Johnson Mountain Boys, hardcore bluegrass traditionalists. Gill inducted J.T. Gray, owner of the iconic Station Inn in Nashville. In his remarks, Gill said the venue is “far more than a venue or a club. It’s a home.” The Station Inn was also the setting of a performance by Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.
Brooke Aldridge took female vocalist of the year for the fourth year in a row. Danny Paisley won male vocalist of the year for the second time. He previously won in 2016.
Four past winners of female vocalist of the year -- Vincent, Aldridge, Amanda Smith and Dale Ann Bradley -- sang “Down to The River to Pray” a cappella to mark the 20th anniversary of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Album of the year went to a live recording by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. It marked the first time a live album has won in the category since 2003, when Alison Krauss and Union Station’s double-disk Live won the award.
Michael Cleveland won in both the instrumental group and instrumental recording categories