Steve Martin & Alison Brown to Host 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Actor, comedian and banjoist Steve Martin will team with banjoist and music industry executive Alison Brown to cohost the 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards presented by Get It Played. The awards show is slated for Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“The IBMA Awards show is always one of my very favorite nights of the year,” Brown in a statement. “I’m so honored to cohost this year with my banjo pal Steve Martin.”

Martin added, “I’m thrilled to be hosting with Alison Brown, and connecting with all my bluegrass friends as opposed to my kinda dumb comedy friends.”

Martin and Brown’s single, “5 Days Out, 2 Days Back,” which features Tim O’Brien, is nominated in several awards categories this year, including song of the year, music video of the year and collaborative recording of the year. Brown is also nominated for banjo player of the year.

Alison Krauss & Union Station and Billy Strings lead this year’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees. Both artists are up for entertainer of the year, along with Appalachian Road Show, East Nash Grass and The Del McCoury Band.

The 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards is part of IBMA World of Bluegrass®, in partnership with Chattanooga Tourism Co. and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. The event runs from Sept. 16 to 20 and features not only the awards show, but also the IBMA Business Conference (Sept. 16-18), the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble showcases (Sept. 16-18) and IBMA Bluegrass Live! (Sept. 19-20).

Martin is known for his work in films including 1987’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles, 1989’s Parenthood and 1991’s Father of the Bride. He’s currently starring in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. Beyond his work on screens, he’s also a five-time Grammy-winning bluegrass banjoist and composer, an author, playwright and a comedian performing with longtime collaborator Martin Short on their comedy tour.

Brown’s work as a banjoist has earned her the distinguished achievement award from the IBMA and induction into the American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2019. Brown was also the first woman to win instrumentalist of the year from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Beyond her work as a musician, she is the co-founder of the Nashville-based Compass Records Group, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. Brown also serves as the president of the Nashville Board of Governors of The Recording Academy.

Tickets for the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards are available via Ticketmaster.