The 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards, presented Thursday (Oct. 22) at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., crowned Billy Strings Entertainer of the Year for the fifth time.

Both Billboard and chattanoogan.com report the modern bluegrass trailblazer previously won the top honor in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, making this a remarkably consistent stranglehold on the genre's biggest prize.

The ceremony, co-hosted by Sam Bush and Sierra Hull, also handed Strings' collaboration with Bryan Sutton another trophy, per Billboard: the music video for "The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap" was named music video of the year, animated by Pat Bradley of SpringShoe Animation.

The night's most striking ascent belongs to East Nash Grass.

According to Billboard, just two years ago the band was named new artist of the year; this time it walked off with two trophies — album of the year for *All God's Children* (produced by Jake Stargel with the band, released on Mountain Fever Records) and instrumental group of the year.

chattanoogan.com frames it the same way, noting the band's rapid climb from newcomer status to flagship ensemble.

Trey Hensley, meanwhile, took song of the year for "Can't Outrun the Blues," written with Bobby Starnes, produced by Brent Maher and released on Pinecastle Records, while Sierra Hull collected her eighth mandolin player of the year honor.

Four distinguished honorees were inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame during the evening, as both outlets report: multi-instrumentalist Byron Berline, the Grammy-winning Nashville Bluegrass Band, the band Lost & Found, and Barry Poss, co-founder of Sugar Hill Records.

Elsewhere on the board, Billboard lists Authentic Unlimited as vocal group of the year, Mason Via as new artist of the year, and a collaborative recording of the year for "Broken Angels" by The Grascals and Dolly Parton.

Per chattanoogan.com, the individual player honors went to Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), Andy Leftwich (fiddle), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), Cody Kilby (guitar), Hull (mandolin), with Greg Blake and Jaelee Roberts named male and female vocalists of the year.

The awards show capped day three of the 2026 IBMA World of Bluegrass, which runs October 20–24 in downtown Chattanooga.

Per Billboard, the week spans four key events: the IBMA Business Conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center, the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble and IBMA Bluegrass Live! across city venues, the awards show itself, and IBMA Pickin' in the Park, a free all-day festival at Miller Park and Miller Plaza.

Performance highlights reported by Billboard included Patty Loveless with Sister Sadie, Stuart Duncan and Justin Moses, plus sets from Hull, a Sam Bush All-Star Band, The Del McCoury Band, Authentic Unlimited, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and The Grascals.

Industry, Momentum and Distinguished Achievement honorees were celebrated during the conference week.