Sam Bush and Sierra Hull Will Co-Host 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

NASHVILLE, TENN – Mandolin maestros Sam Bush and Sierra Hull will co-host the 37th annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, Thursday, October 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga Tenn. The event celebrates and honors outstanding achievement and pioneering effort in performance, recording, and contribution to the genre. The awards are peer-voted by IBMA professional members including artists, musicians, industry professionals, and broadcasters.

In addition to performances from Bush and Hull, The Del McCoury Band, Sister Sadie, Authentic Unlimited, The Grascals, and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper have also been announced as performers.

The 2026 class of inductees into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame – Byron Berline, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Barry Poss, and The Lost & Found – will formally receive the highest honor in bluegrass music when they are inducted that evening. Musical tributes for each inductee are planned.

Sam Bush is widely regarded as a pioneer of progressive bluegrass (newgrass), a master mandolinist and fiddler, and a key figure in modern American acoustic music. His career spans over five decades and reflects continuous innovation, masterful musicianship, and a lasting impact on bluegrass and American roots music. His performances continue to be annual highlights of the festival circuit, and he remains one of the main draws at Telluride. He holds the distinction of being only one of six artists to have been inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame twice – as a member of New Grass Revival and as a solo performer. He’s also been nominated for the IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year every year since the first Awards Show in 1990, and has received the award four times. Bush is a multiple Grammy® winner and received the Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. In addition to New Grass Revival, Bush has toured with Emmylou Harris’ Nash Ramblers, Bela Fleck’s Flecktones, and Lyle Lovett. The Sam Bush Band has a robust tour schedule through the end of the year.

Sierra Hull is a virtuoso mandolinist, a six-time Grammy-nominated artist, and a groundbreaking songwriter who was signed to Rounder Records at age 13. She’s a seven-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year – the first woman to ever receive this honor. A pioneer in acoustic music, Hull has performed on iconic stages including Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. A Tip Toe High Wire, her fifth studio album, finds Hull stepping into a new chapter of independence and marks her first album in five years. Fully embracing creative freedom, Hull takes complete control of the studio and focuses on songwriting. The album earned four Grammy nominations. Hull’s artistry has earned praise and collaboration with legends like Alison Krauss, Béla Fleck, Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, and Billy Strings. She is currently on tour with dates through the end of this year.

The IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards will be livestreamed; details coming soon. To purchase show tickets, click HERE.