![2017 IBMA Awards Winners Announced, Molly Tuttle Makes History](http://townsquare.media/site/623/files/2017/09/2017-ibma-awards-winners-list.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
2017 IBMA Awards Winners Announced, Molly Tuttle Makes History
The International Bluegrass Music Association revealed its 2017 awards winners on Thursday night (Sept. 28). In addition to big victories for the Earls of Leicster, Noam Pikelny and Sierra Hull, up-and-coming artist Molly Tuttle made history with her victory in the Guitar Player of the Year category.
Tuttle, who is signed to Compass Records, is the first woman to win the IBMA's Guitar Player of the Year honor; she was also the first woman to be nominated in the category in the IBMA Awards' 27-year history.
"I want to be inspiration to other women to play lead guitar," Tuttle said in her acceptance speech (quote via the Huffington Post).
Tuttle was also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2017 IBMA Awards. Those honors went to Brooke Aldridge and Volume Five, respectively.
A complete list of 2017 IBMA Awards winners is below.
2017 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Winners
Entertainer of the Year: Earls of Leicester
Vocal Group of the Year: Flatt Lonesome
Instrumental Group of the Year: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Song of the Year: “I am a Drifter,” Volume Five (written by Donna Ulisse and Marc Rossi)
Album of the Year: Balsam Range, Mountain Voodoo
Female Vocalist of the Year: Brooke Aldridge
Male Vocalist of the Year: Shawn Camp
Emerging Artist of the Year: Volume Five
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: Gibson Brothers’ “I Found a Church Today” and Joe Mullins & Radio Ramblers’ “Sacred Memories” (with Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White) (tie)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year: Michael Cleveland, “Fiddler’s Dream”
Recorded Event of the Year: “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You,” Bobby Osborne with Sierra Hull, Alison Brown, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Trey Hensley, Todd Phillips, Kenny Malone, Claire Lynch and Bryan McDowell
Banjo Player of the Year: Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers)
Bass Player of the Year: Alan Bartram (Del McCory Band)
Dobro Player of the Year: Josh Swift (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)
Fiddle Player of the Year: Patrick McAvinue
Guitar Player of the Year: Molly Tuttle
Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull
Top 5 Americana, Alt-Country, Bluegrass and Folk Albums of 2017 (So Far)
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