17th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards were held Thursday, September 28, 2006 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Marty Stuart played the role of host and performer at the show, which also featured an incredible performance by Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with 20-piece orchestra, the Nashville String Machine, Vince Gill performing with Del McCoury, The Grascals with Steve Wariner, Cherryholmes, Claire Lynch, Curly Seckler with Larry Sparks, Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 3 Fox Drive, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, U.S. Navy Band Country Current, and The Lewis Family and The Isaacs with Jeff and Sheri Easter. The 2005 Recipients for all Instrumental Performer categories also performed.

2006 International Bluegrass Music Award Recipients The Lewis Family

2006 Hall of Honor Inductees:

• The Lewis Family

• Syd Nathan

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR - The Grascals

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Tim O’Brien

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Rhonda Vincent

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

SONG OF THE YEAR - "Look Down That Lonesome Road" written and performed by Tim O'Brien

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, featuring 3 Fox Drive, Lonesome River Band, Seldom Scene, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Cherryholmes, J.D. Crowe & The New South, BlueRidge, IIIrd Tyme Out, James King Band, Larry Cordle, Wayne Benson, Clay Hess, Greg Luck, Aubrey Haynie, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, Tony Rice, Ronnie Bowman & The Committee, Larry Stephenson Band, Blue Highway, Gena Britt, Randy Kohrs & The Lites, Steve Thomas, Scott Vestal, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Wildfire, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Lost & Found, The Grascals, Alecia Nugent, Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Bradley Walker, Dan Tyminski, Bela Fleck, Barry Bales, Joe Mullins, Bryan Sutton, Jim VanCleve, Clay Jones & Keith Garrett, produced by Bob Kelly, Jack Campitelli & Darrel Adkins, Skaggs Family Records

Bristol's Doyle Lawson received two International Bluegrass Music Awards GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR - “He Lives In Me” by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver produced by Doyle Lawson, Crossroads Records

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR - Let ‘Er Go Boys by Michael Cleveland, produced by Jeff White & Michael Cleveland, Rounder Records

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR - Back to the Well by The Daughters of Bluegrass featuring: Lorraine Jordan, Gena Britt, Julie Elkins, Becky Buller, Vickie Simmons, Frances Mooney, Mindy Rakestraw, Jeanette Williams, Beth Lawrence, Angela Oudean, Michelle Nixon, Donica Christensen, Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Megan McCormick, Valerie Smith, Louisa Branscomb & Dixie Hall, produced by Lorraine Jordan & Dale Perry, Blue Circle Records

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR - The Steep Canyon Rangers

BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jim Mills

DOBRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Rob Ickes

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Missy Raines

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Michael Cleveland

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Bryan Sutton

MANDOLIN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Adam Steffey

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: