International Bluegrass Music Association Crowns 2016 Awards Winners

Flatt Lonesome and the Earls of Leicester were among the big winners at the 2016 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards on Thursday night (Sept. 29).

Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year all went to Flatt Lonesome, a six-piece band that includes siblings Kelsi Robertson Harrigill (mandolin, vocals), Charli Robertson (fiddle, vocals) and Buddy Robertson (guitar, vocals), while the Earls of Leicester took home Entertainer of the Year -- their second win in a row in that category. The Earls' Jerry Douglas was also awarded Dobro Player of the Year for the second year running, and the group's Charlie Cushman and Barry Bales earned Banjo Player of the Year and Bass Player of the Year wins, respectively, as well.

In addition to the recognition of the "of the Year" category winners -- a full list of which is below -- and the Distinguished Achievement Awards recipients, Clarence White and Rounder Records founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton-Levy and Bill Nowlin were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, the latter by Alison Krauss, who has been part of the Rounder family since her first major-label album in 1987.

The 2016 IBMA Awards ceremony was co-hosted by Sierra Hull, who was named 2016's Mandolin Player of the Year, and Dan Tyminski. Country Standard Time reports that performances included the Soggy Bottom Boys' "Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Rainbow Connection" sung by the Lonely Heartstring Band, in keeping with the awards show's theme of Bluegrass on Screen. Flatt Lonesome, the Earls of Leicester, the Del McCoury Band and more also performed.

2016 International Bluegrass Music Association 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 feat. Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley and Alison Brown

Emerging Artist of the Year

Mountain Faith

Recorded Event of the Year

“Longneck Blues,” Junior Disk 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

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees

Clarence White
Rounder Records founders Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton-Levy and Bill Nowlin

Distinguished Achievement Awards

Bluegrass Unlimited magazine
Boston Bluegrass Union
Bill Emerson
Jim Rooney
SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction