This Thursday, the International Bluegrass Music Association had its annual award ceremony. This year, it chose to honor artists like Alison Krauss, Jason Carter, Michael Cleveland, and Billy Strings. Strings took home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, which he also brought home in 2023, 2022, and 2021. After you hear the artist's keynote speech, you'll understand why he's so highly respected in this genre of music.
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Before winning his award the next day, Strings took the opportunity to share why bluegrass is so valuable to him. "Growing up immersed in this music has been one of the best experiences of my entire life. As a child, I witnessed all the joy a Martin guitar can bring when it's in the right hands, and the B string's in tune," he said.
He also gave credit to his hero, Doc Watson, who's often regarded as a legend in American roots music. "Doc became my biggest hero, with his wavy silver and fingers effortlessly dancing up and down the fretboard like a frolicking feather in a gentle breeze." Aside from acknowledging those who came before him, Strings also talked about his personal ties to the genre.
"[Bluegrass music] can be a powerful medicine. That's probably why I never stopped playing. Throughout elementary school, high school, and middle school, music was my best friend, my survival tactic, and my coping mechanism; it also became my social currency, which it very much still is. Deep down, I've always been a bluegrass musician at heart, despite veering off into a few rock bands and heavy metal projects that didn't quite stick. I was instinctively guided back to my roots, and my electric guitar now collects dust."
Billy Strings Shares His Mission To Keep Bluegrass Alive
Billy Strings first moved to Nashville in 2016, and first gained national recognition when his album, Home won a Grammy. He's often shared that he feels committed to introducing the genre to more and more people. He also touched on this in his speech.
This year, Billy Strings has been busy recording and releasing new music, including his album, Highway Prayers. He's expressed that he feels this album brought him "back to the basics" after taking some time to experiment with other genres. "As time goes on, I realize I have a duty here to play these songs for the next generation. We've got to keep playing 'Whiskey Before Breakfast' and 'Salt Creek' so these youngins can learn them and pass them on," he shared.
His keynote speech revealed his true mission as an artist, to bring bluegrass to more people altogether. "My hope is that some kid comes to one of my shows somewhere, and gets inspired to pick up the guitar or banjo, and goes home to Google Tony Rice or Earl Scruggs," said Strings. "I'm proud to be a bluegrasser, and proud to do my part to carry the tradition forward."
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