Mountain Home Music Company and its sister imprint Organic Records have once again demonstrated their depth and diversity, fielding an impressive slate of recordings for consideration on this year’s first-round ballots. From hard-driving instrumentals and soaring bluegrass anthems to heartfelt gospel offerings, the labels’ roster underscores their shared commitment to delivering the very best in contemporary roots music.
Below is a distilled look—artist by artist—at the projects and singles earning early award attention:
Aaron Burdett
Song of the Year — “Second Best,” “Paris”
Andy Leftwich
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “Behind the 8 Ball,” “R-26,” “Talk About Suffering”
Music Video of the Year — “Talk About Suffering”
Ashby Frank
Song of the Year — “God Gave Me Horses,” “Blue Night,” “The Bug”
Balsam Range
Song of the Year — “Evergreen,” “Marshall McClain,” “When It Comes to Loving You”
Benson
Song of the Year — “Things Have Changed”
Gospel Recording of the Year — “Lay ’Em Down”
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “Donner Pass”
Carley Arrowood
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “Molasses Ridge”
Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Song of the Year — “What If You’re Wrong”
Music Video of the Year — “What If You’re Wrong”
Danny Roberts
Gospel Recording of the Year — “Jesus Satisfies”
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “The Drifter,” “Lawson Sizemore”
Darren Nicholson
Song of the Year — “Big Sky,” “Windows Have Pains,” “Any Highway”
The Gina Furtado Project
Song of the Year — “Submarine,” “Pigtails and Sugarcane,” “Riding”
The Grascals
Album of the Year — 20
Song of the Year — “Coal Dust Kisses,” “Tennessee Hound Dog”
Gospel Recording of the Year — “Come Jesus Come”
Music Video of the Year — “Coal Dust Kisses,” “Tennessee Hound Dog”
Jaelee Roberts
Song of the Year — “Stuck in the Middle with You,” “Looking for Yourself”
Gospel Recording of the Year — “He’s Gone”
Music Video of the Year — “Stuck in the Middle with You”
Jesse Smathers
Song of the Year — “Sleepy Eyed John”
Lonesome River Band
Album of the Year — The Winning Hand
Song of the Year — “Blues of the Night,” “Hang Around for the Heartbreak,” “I’m On to You”
Mark Stoffel
Album of the Year — True Tones
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “Slice and Dice,” “I’m Using My Bible for a Road Map”
Sideline
Song of the Year — “I’m In Tennessee,” “Is It True”
Sister Sadie
Song of the Year — “Cannonball,” “All Will Be Well,” “If I Don’t Have You”
Tray Wellington
Album of the Year — Detour to the Moon
Instrumental Recording of the Year — “Blue Collared Dog and His Green Eyed Friend”
Unspoken Tradition
Song of the Year — “Weary Town,” “Georgia in Her Eyes,” “I’m In a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)”
Music Video of the Year — “I’m In a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)”
Vickie Vaughn
Song of the Year — “Leavin’”
Every nomination reflects Mountain Home Music Company and Organic Records’ unwavering dedication to artistry, authenticity, and the evolving bluegrass tradition. Voters and fans alike are encouraged to explore these standout recordings as first-round ballots take shape.
