Dailey & Vincent were named Entertainer of the Year for the third consecutive time during the 21st Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards show on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Pictured (left to right) at the IBMA Awards ceremony are Dailey & Vincent band member Joe Dean, Jamie Dailey, band member Jesse Stockman, manager Don Light, Darrin Vincent, band member Jeff Parker, publicist Karen Byrd, band member Christian Davis, and sound engineer Key Chang.

The duo, who had topped the list of nominees this year with nods in 10 categories, also was named Vocal Group of the Year for the third consecutive time and received a second Album of the Year award for the Cracker Barrel/ Rounder Records release Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers , a bluegrass tribute to the legendary country music quartet, which spent nine weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The album also was recognized with the award for Best Graphic Design for a Recorded Project (designer – Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel). During the awards show, Statler Brother and Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Fortune joined the duo for a performance of “Elizabeth” from the tribute album. Daily & Vincent also were featured performers on “Give This Message to Your Heart” with Larry Stephenson, which was cited as the Recorded Event of the Year.

Russell Moore, who, with his band IIIrd Tyme Out, had received nominations in six categories, was named Male Vocalist of the Year. Claire Lynch is the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year. The award for Emerging Artist of the Year went to the Josh Williams Band. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper were named Instrumental Group of the Year, while its leader was honored as Fiddle Player of the Year for the eighth time. “Ring The Bell” (written by Chet O’Keefe and performed by The Gibson Brothers) was named Song of the Year and also was recognized as the Gospel Recorded Project of the Year.

Hosted by Jerry Douglas and Sharon & Cheryl White, the awards show is the centerpiece of the International Bluegrass Music Association’ (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass week which continues through October 3 and also features a business conference and fan fest. In addition to awards in more than 20 categories that are voted on by the professional membership of the IBMA, which serves as a trade association for the bluegrass music industry, John Hartford (the late singer-songwriter, banjo and fiddle stylist) and Louise Scruggs (who served as business manager for Flatt & Scruggs, The Earl Scruggs Revue and Earl Scruggs Family & Friends prior to her death in 2006) were inducted into the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Other award recipients included:

Instrumental Recorded Event of the Year

“Durang’s Hornpipe” by Adam Steffey (artist), Barry Bales and Gary Paczosa (producers)

Instrumental Performers of the Year

BANJO – Kristin Scott Benson

BASS – Marshall Willlborn

DOBRO – Rob Ickes

GUITAR – Josh Williams

MANDOLIN – Adam Steffey

Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients

Benjamin “Tex” Logan
Sherry Boyd
Lynn Morris
Richard Weize
Pete Wernick

Bluegrass Broadcaster of the Year

Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio

Print Media Person of the Year

Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham Books)

Best Liner Notes for a Recorded Project

Dr. Ted Olson (writer), Appalachia Music from Home, Various Artists, Lonesome Records

Bluegrass Event of the Year

14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, CT