8/16/2007 Stephen L. Betts Bluegrass artists Del McCoury and Dale Ann Bradley announced the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Award nominees this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater. Leading the way with 12 nominations are Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver picked up nine nominations. Multiple award winners Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, the Del McCoury Band and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder all scored seven nominations each. Also honored this year as inductees into the newly-christened Bluegrass Hall of Fame are Howard Watts (also known as "Cedric Rainwater,"), the bass player in the classic version of Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys, and Carl Story, often billed as the "Father of Bluegrass Gospel Music." The Hall of Fame has previously been known as the Bluegrass Hall of Honor. Bluegrass music's biggest night of the year takes place Oct. 4, at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Tickets are available to the public through the Grand Ole Opry House box office (1-800-733-6779) and all Ticketmaster outlets. The show will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio ("Bluegrass Junction" Channel 14) and syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks. The show will be hosted by musician Sam Bush, who was also on hand to greet the press conference attendees this morning. The awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Award Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, which also includes the industry's Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for October 1-7, in Nashville. THE 2007 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES: (for a complete list, visit www.ibma.org) ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Cherryholmes The Grascals Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver The Del McCoury Band Rhonda Vincent and the Rage VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Blue Highway The Isaacs Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Rhonda Vincent and The Rage MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Ronnie Bowman Russell Moore Tim O'Brien Larry Sparks Bradley Walker FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Dale Ann Bradley Sonya Isaacs Alison Krauss Claire Lynch Rhonda Vincent SONG OF THE YEAR "All American Bluegrass Girl," Rhonda Vincent (artist), Rhonda Vincent (songwriter) "Fork in the Road," The Infamous Stringdusters (artists), Chris Jones and John Pennell (songwriters) "Lefty's Old Guitar," J.D. Crowe and the New South (artists), Dave Maggard and Jack Spencer (songwriters) "Sadie's Got Her New Dress On," Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (artists), Connie Leigh (songwriter) "The Last Suit You Wear;" Larry Sparks (artist); Larry Shell, Larry Williams and Kim Williams (songwriters) ALBUM OF THE YEAR All American Bluegrass Girl, Rhonda Vincent (artist), Rounder Records, Darrin Vincent and Rhonda Vincent (producers) Fork in the Road, The Infamous Stringdusters (artists), Sugar Hill Records, Tim Stafford and The Infamous Stringdusters (producers) Lefty's Old Guitar, J.D. Crowe and The New South (artists), Rounder Records, J.D. Crowe and The New South (producers) More Behind the Picture than the Wall, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (artists), Rounder Records, Doyle Lawson (producer) The Last Suit You Wear, Larry Sparks (artist), McCoury Music, Don Rigsby and Larry Sparks (producers) EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR Cadillac Sky Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock The Infamous Stringdusters Bradley Walker Williams and Clark Expedition
