Congratulations to all the nominees for the 12th Annual Lexington Music Awards! VOTING CLOSED ON 1/30! We had over 55,000 votes this year! The winners will be announced live at the awards show on March 8, 2026 in the Concert Hall at Singletary Center for the Arts 6-8 pm.
The After party will immediately follow at Old North Bar!
Greyline Station: 101 W Loudon Ave, Lexington, KY 40508
Singletary Center for the Arts: 405 Rose St, Lexington, KY 40508
BUY TICKETS HERE!
https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/48818261/2026-lexington-music-awards-lexington-singletary-center
-🗳️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫:
The first round of Nominations have always been 100% public and will remain that way with the pro-panel selecting their nominations from the top 15 public nominations with the option to add an additional selection to round out the final top 6 nominees.
In past years, Music Award winners were decided by peer voting (nominees) and a professional industry panel having 50/50 weight to decide winners.
That foundation stays the same with one addition: Public voting now helps decide the winners.
🏆 Final results are weighted:
- 75% nominees + pro panel
- 25% public vote
This keeps the integrity of peer and industry recognition while giving fans and the community a real voice.
List of Nominees
PERFORMANCE CATEGORY
Bassist of the Year
Bob Bryant
Carson Childers
Dalton Rose
Emma Fite
Thomas Usher
Tristan Lambert
Keyboard Instrumentalist of the Year
Andrew Moore
Brad Selack
Caleb Micah Carter
Logan Hill
Raleigh Dailey
Wes Smith
Ben Lacy Guitar Excellence Award
Colin Michael
Jim Gleason
Jaidon Smith
Max Galbraith
Todd Stricklin
Zach Lafferty
Brass/Wind Instrumentalist of the Year
Jacob O’Donnell
Kirby Davis
Matthew Polashek
Miles Osland
Paul Osborne
Tommy Cate
String Instrumentalist of the Year
Aaron Smith
Anna Blanton
Lucy Becker
Cody Dugger
Ella Webster
Seth Murphy
Drummer of the Year
Evan Hammons
Jeff Frohlich
Russ Highland
Tristan Frazier
Virgil Lewis
Zachary Martin
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dalton Dailey
Evan Curran
Jeremy Marshall
Joe Clark
Nicholas Jamerson
Samuel May
Female Vocalist of the Year
Abby Hamilton
Bee Taylor
Emily Jamerson
Gracie Yates
Maggie Noelle
Sydney Adams
INDUSTRY CATEGORY
Instrument Repair of the Year
GM Guitar Repair — Gideon Maki
Guitar Center — Gena Danyel
Drum Center of Lexington
Mountain Sound Guitar Works
RS Guitar Works
Somerset Fretworks
Music Company of the Year
Black Mountain Studios
Creekmore Lighting & Supply
HollerGirl Music Festival
Mic Drop Reviews
Off the Cuff with Adam Banks
Wick’s Picks
Jay Flippin Music Educator of the Year – Presented by Bank of the Bluegrass
Chris Justice
David McClean — SDML
Dr. Kevin Holm-Hudson — UK
Keith McCutchen — Louisville Academy of Music
Paulie Felice — SDML / Vibe Studio
Vanessa Davis Studio
Music Store of the Year – Presented by Bank of the Bluegrass
Doo Wop Shop
Drum Center of Lexington
Earl Brooke’s Music Center
Mountain Music Exchange
Pop’s Resale
Willcutt Guitars
Radio DJ of the Year – Presented by Pella Windows
Colonel Paco Chaos / Kevin Martinez — WRFL
Dead Air Dennis — Classic Rock 92.1
Fly KP — 107.9 The Beat
Kate Smith — Somerset 106.1
What Shayna Say — 107.9 The Beat
Whitney and Patrick — Kiss 96.9
Sound Tech of the Year
Camryn Shaffer
Christopher Wheeler
Janah Frazier
Nolan Dunn
Seth Murphy
Tommy Shafer
Studio Engineer of the Year
Austin Jones — Burgundy Box Recording Studio
Jason Groves — Sneak Attack Studios
John Howard – Oakwood Recording Studio
JT Butcher — Valwood Studios
Kenny Miles — Fat Baby Studios
Tom Hnatow — Small Blue Studio
Venue of the Year
2 Fisted Willie’s
Bluegrass Barrel House
Chevy Chase Inn
The Burl
The Cork
The Green Lantern
STYLE CATEGORY
Americana/Folk Act of the Year – Presented by Hound FM
Cole Chaney
Eric Bolander
The Jenkins Twins
The Local Honeys
Them Lasses & The Old Dogs
Trippin Roots
Bluegrass Act of the Year – Presented by Bank of the Bluegrass
Adalyn Ramey
Girl Scruggs
Hancock & Shouse
Mash Grass
The Creekers
Thunderwood
TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award – Presented by Bank of the Blue(s)grass
Andrew Moore and Hooch
Bryan Himes
Dane Sadler
Donovan Howard
Hole Shot Blues
Nat Myers
Classical Act of the Year
Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra
Dr. Tedrin Blair Lindsay
EKU Guitar Ensemble
Lava Lamb
Lexington Philharmonic
UK Symphony Orchestra
Country Act of the Year – Presented by Highbridge Springs
Caleb Bailey & The Bottom Dollars
Candi Jenkins
Grayson Jenkins
Joe Clark
Marshull
Taylor Hughes
Cover/Variety Act of the Year – Presented by Old North
Boogie G and the Titanics
Bolo Mules
Dead Air Dennis and Bryan Himes
Five Below Band
Rhythm Phoenix
The Mannequins
Funk/R&B/Reggae Act of the Year – Presented by The Botany Bay
Andrew Moore and Hooch
Deep Nourished Roots
Driftwood Gypsy
Homegrown Head
Honey Child
Rallo Green
Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World Act of the Year- Presented by the Lexington Fashion Collective
JOD Trio
Lucy and the Love Letters
Miles Osland
Movie Jail
Raleigh Dailey
Tiramisu
Metal Act of the Year
Amnia
Crop
Graveyard Romeos
Gravel Switch
Mr. Lugosi
Stormtoker
Pop Act of the Year – Presented by Fashionable Measures
Dad’s Mad
Lylak
Pet That Yeti
Rags and Riches
Spooky Fox
Unky Bones
Punk Act of the Year
(D.A.D.) Damned African Descendents
CIGGY Tuna
Girl Tones
L.I.P.S.
Narcan Barbie
Nine Pound Hammer
Rap Act of the Year – Presented by 107.9 The Beat
Devine Carama
Fredd C
Jay
R.O.C. ForShort
So Serious Black
Tony Wavy
Rock Act of the Year – Presented by Black Mountain Studios
Bedford
Cam Clark & His Orchestra
Jarley Yung
Magnolia Boulevard
Mojo Thunder
Much Obliged
Singer-Songwriter Act of the Year – Presented by The Cork
Abby Hamilton
Ben Sollee
Charlie Overman
Devin Hale
Hunter Flynn
Nicholas Jamerson
“SPECIAL” CATEGORY
Album of the Year
Bedford — Troubled
Bee Taylor — Twenty Seven
Cole Chaney — In the Shadow of the Mountain
Nicholas Jamerson — The Narrow Way
The Creekers — River Rat
The Damn Shames — Trailers on Bricks
Song of the Year
Fried Green Tomatoes — Abby Hamilton
Lexington — Hancock & Shouse
Respect Due — Devine Carama
Sign — Bedford
Tennessee — The Creekers
Twenty Seven — Bee Taylor
Community Service Excellence – Presented by Bank of the Bluegrass
A Day At The Park For Autism — Jeremy Zeller
Honor Flight KY — Five Below Band
Kentucky Can’d Aid — Arthur Hancock
Kentucky 811 — Jamie Gaddis
Michael Jonathan — Woodsongs
Tahlsound — Southlands Music Festival
Thank you to our sponsors!
Also thank you to our in kind sponsors!
