The fall music season is in full swing, and roots music fans have plenty to celebrate. From the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards in Chattanooga to the Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville, September 2025 has been a defining month for artists carrying forward the traditions of American roots music while shaping its future. Add in a wave of new releases, rising stars, and fresh festivals—and top it off with tonight’s NewGrass Radio Show—and it’s clear this is a landmark season for bluegrass and Americana.
IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards 2025: Tradition and Innovation Take Center Stage
On September 18, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards lit up Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the organization’s annual World of Bluegrass business conference (September 16–20). Once again, the awards proved that bluegrass is both deeply rooted and constantly evolving.
- Entertainer of the Year: Billy Strings cemented his superstar status, winning for the fourth consecutive time. His genre-bending approach continues to draw new audiences into bluegrass while honoring its traditions.
- Album of the Year: Fiddle greats Jason Carter and Michael Cleveland scored big for their collaborative project, Carter & Cleveland, showcasing dazzling musicianship and soulful storytelling.
- Song of the Year: From the same album, “Outrun the Rain” took top honors, reflecting the duo’s lyrical depth and technical mastery.
- Vocalists of the Year: The legendary Alison Krauss was named Female Vocalist of the Year, while Greg Blake earned Male Vocalist of the Year—a reminder that world-class voices remain central to the bluegrass tradition.
- Hall of Fame Inductions: Hot Rize, The Bluegrass Cardinals, and Arnold Shultz were welcomed into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Shultz’s posthumous induction was especially meaningful, honoring the pioneering Black musician whose influence helped shape the sound of early bluegrass.
- Momentum Vocalist of the Year: Rising talent Ali Vance won recognition as one of the genre’s most promising new voices.
Together, these winners reflect bluegrass at its best: a blend of established masters and emerging stars, with a respect for history and an eye on the future.
New Bluegrass Highlights
- Fresh Releases: New singles and projects are flowing fast from David Parmley, Mei Lin Heirendt, and Bryan McDowell. Each release adds new shades to the spectrum of contemporary bluegrass.
- New Festival on the Horizon: Moorestown, New Jersey, will host its first-ever bluegrass festival in September 2025, expanding the genre’s reach into new communities.
Americana Honors & Awards 2025: Nashville’s Ryman Shines
The Americana world gathered on September 10 at the Ryman Auditorium for the Americana Honors & Awards, the crown jewel of AMERICANAFEST 2025. This year’s winners show just how wide-ranging and powerful the Americana sound has become.
- Artist of the Year: Sierra Ferrell continued her reign, winning for the second year in a row with her distinctive, genre-blending voice and stage presence.
- Album of the Year: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats won with South of Here, a record brimming with heart, grit, and soul.
- Duo/Group of the Year: Folk icons Gillian Welch & David Rawlings captured the honor, their timeless harmonies once again proving unmatched.
- Emerging Act of the Year: MJ Lenderman earned the award, cementing his spot as one of Americana’s rising stars.
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: This year’s honorees included Joe Henry, The McCrary Sisters, Old 97’s, Darrell Scott, and Jesse Welles—artists whose contributions continue to shape Americana’s rich narrative.
Beyond the awards, AMERICANAFEST transformed Nashville into a weeklong roots music playground, with hundreds of live performances across venues big and small.
Festivals Keep the Spirit Alive
Not to be overlooked, the Allegheny County Americana Festival in Settlers Cabin Park, Pennsylvania, brought together fans for a free, day-long celebration of music on September 6. With regional performers sharing the stage, the event reinforced Americana’s reputation as both a community-driven and nationally celebrated art form.
Tonight on NewGrass Radio: Tradition Meets Tomorrow
While awards season celebrates the past year’s best, NewGrass Radio keeps the spirit alive every week—and tonight’s broadcast is one you won’t want to miss.
NewGrass Radio is where tradition meets innovation in American roots music. Each show is more than just a playlist—it’s a guided journey through the high-lonesome sound of Bill Monroe’s era, the soulful grace of Alison Krauss, and the boundary-breaking artistry of Béla Fleck, Punch Brothers, and Billy Strings.
Listeners can expect a seamless mix of timeless classics, contemporary bluegrass hits, and the progressive “newgrass” edge that is carrying the genre into a new generation. More than entertainment, each broadcast is a living archive of bluegrass history—bridging the gap between its pioneers and today’s innovators.
Whether you’ve been following bluegrass for decades or you’re just discovering the sound, tonight’s NewGrass Radio Show offers a front-row seat to the full spectrum of American roots music.
Why It Matters
Bluegrass and Americana are experiencing a powerful moment in 2025. Awards and festivals are honoring legends while giving the spotlight to emerging artists. New releases keep the genre fresh, and platforms like NewGrass Radio ensure that fans can explore the roots and the reinvention of this music every week.
From Billy Strings’ dominance to Sierra Ferrell’s artistry, from new festivals in New Jersey to historic inductions in Chattanooga, the message is clear: roots music is thriving, evolving, and reaching more listeners than ever before.