2009 SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Award Winners

Each year, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) presents awards to some of the most notable artists in contemporary and traditional bluegrass music from the past year. Here is a list of the nominees and winners (in bold) for the 2009 SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Winners were announced during the 26th Annual SPBGMA National Convention in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 15, 2009.

Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year

Mike Andes
Winner: Tom T. Hall / Dixie Hall
Aubrey Holt
Tim Stafford / Steve Gulley
Wayne Taylor
Rhonda Vincent

Bluegrass Album of the Year

Dailey and Vincent – Dailey & Vincent (Rounder)
Good Thing Going – Rhonda Vincent (Rounder)
Help Is on the Way – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Horizon)
Iron and Diamonds – The Gibson Brothers (Sugar Hill)
Winner: Keep on Walkin' – The Grascals (Rounder)
Through the Window of a Train – Blue Highway (Rounder)

Bassfiddle Performer of the Year

Jamey Booher
Mike Bub
Mickey Harris
Frances Mooney
Tony Shorter
Winner: Darrin Vincent

Dobro Performer of the Year

Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Tim Graves
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs
Winner: Phil Leadbetter

Guitar Performer of the Year

Gary Farris
Steve Gulley
Kenny Smith
Tim Stafford
Darrell Webb
Winner: Josh Williams

Mandolin Performer of the Year

Mike Andes
Winner: Alan Bibey
Doyle Lawson
Ronnie McCoury
Danny Roberts
Larry Stephenson

Banjo Performer of the Year

Winner: Kristin Scott Benson
J.D. Crowe
Jason Davis
Mitchell Davis
Kenny Ingram
Aaron McDaris

Fiddle Performer of the Year

Jason Barie
Winner: Hunter Berry
B.J. Cherryholmes
Michael Cleveland
Chris Sexton
Ron Stewart

Female Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary)

Heather Berry
Dale Ann Bradley
Carrie Hassler
Sonya Isaacs
Alison Krauss
Winner: Rhonda Vincent

Female Vocalist of the Year (Traditional)

Lorraine Jordan
Claire Lynch
Michelle Nixon
Alecia Nugent
Valerie Smith
Winner: Jeanette Williams

Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary)

Mike Andes
Ronnie Bowman
Winner: Jamie Dailey
Steve Gulley
Russell Moore
Larry Stephenson

Male Vocalist of the Year (Traditional)

Winner: James King
Dan Paisley
Don Rigsby
Junior Sisk
Larry Sparks
Dan Tyminski

Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary)

Winner: Dailey & Vincent
Harvest Wind
The Isaacs
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Marksmen
NewFound Road

Gospel Group of the Year (Traditional)

Carolina Sonshine
The Churchmen
The Easter Brothers
The Lewis Family
Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
Winner: Paul Williams & The Victory Trio

Vocal Group of the Year

Winner: Dailey & Vincent
The Grascals
Grasstowne
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Nothin' Fancy
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year

The Circuit Riders
Winner: The Grascals
Grasstowne
The Infamous Stringdusters
Rick Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Bluegrass Band of the Year (Overall)

J.D. Crowe & The New South
Winner: Dailey & Vincent
The Grascals
Grasstowne
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Song of the Year

"Bluegrass Saturday Night" – Rhonda Vincent (purchase/download)
Winner: "By the Mark" – Dailey & Vincent (purchase/download)
"Help Is on the Way" – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (purchase/download)
"Iron and Diamonds" – Gibson Brothers (purchase/download)
"Press on O' Pilgrim" – Larry Stephenson (purchase/download)
"Sad Wind Sighs" – The Grascals (purchase/download)

Entertaining Group of the Year

Cherryholmes
J.D. Crowe & The New South
Dailey & Vincent
The Gibson Brothers
The Grascals
Winner: Nothin' Fancy

Entertainer of the Year

Mike Andes
Jamie Dailey
Del McCoury
Michelle Nixon
Winner: Rhonda Vincent
Blake Williams