Blues Music Awards
The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, "Father of the Blues".[1] The first award was presented in 1980 and is "universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in blues music".[2] In 2006, the awards were renamed Blues Music Awards in an effort to increase public appreciation of the significance of the awards.[3]
They are presented annually in Memphis, Tennessee, where the Blues Foundation is located, although the 2008 award ceremony was held in Tunica, Mississippi.[4] The 39th Blues Music Awards were held on May 10, 2018, at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Two new award categories had been announced (Instrumentalist-Vocals and Blues Rock Artist of the Year) bringing the number of awards to be presented up to 26 in total.[5] The 40th Blues Music Awards took place on May 9, 2019, with the Historical Album of the Year category being dropped, reducing the overall number of categories to 25.[6]
The 41st ceremony was scheduled for May 7, 2020, but the live event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] The 2020 winners were announced at a virtual event.[9] The 42nd ceremony was again presented at a virtual event on June 6, 2021.[10] The 43rd ceremony took place on May 5, 2022, as the first in-person event since 2019.[11] The 44th event was held on May 11, 2023, in Memphis.[12] The 45th event took place on May 8, 2024, in Memphis,[13] with the 46th event held on May 9, 2025.[14]
2025
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Keb' Mo' | 
| Album of the Year | Blame it on Eve, Shemekia Copeland | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Mr. Sipp | 
| Band of the Year | Rick Estrin & The Nightcats | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Revelation, Piper and the Hard Times | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Blues in My DNA, Ronnie Baker Brooks | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Ruthie Foster | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Ronnie Baker Brooks | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Bob Stroger | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Billy Branch | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Vanessa Collier | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Ruthie Foster | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Eden Brent | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Sue Foley | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | Life is Hard, Mike Zito | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Tommy Castro | 
| Song of the Year | "Blues in My DNA", written by Ronnie Baker Brooks | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Thornetta Davis | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Crawlin' Kingsnake, John Primer and Bob Corritore | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Primer | 
2024
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Raw Blues 1, Doug MacLeod | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Keb' Mo' | 
| Album of the Year | Live In London, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Bobby Rush | 
| Band of the Year | Nick Moss Band | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | The Right Man, D.K. Harrell | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Live In London, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Danielle Nicole | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Bob Stroger | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Jason Ricci | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Vanessa Collier | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Ruthie Foster | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Sue Foley | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | Blood Brothers, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Mike Zito | 
| Song of the Year | "What Kind of Fool", written by Ruthie Foster, Hadden Sayers and Scottie Miller | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | All My Love for You, Bobby Rush | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Annika Chambers | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Németh | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Teardrops for Magic Slim: Live at Rosa's Lounge, John Primer | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Primer | 
2023
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Mississippi Son, Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Doug MacLeod | 
| Album of the Year | The Blues Don't Lie, Buddy Guy | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Tommy Castro | 
| Band of the Year | Tedeschi Trucks Band | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Who Is He?, Dylan Triplett | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | The Blues Don't Lie, Buddy Guy | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Ruthie Foster | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Danielle Nicole | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Laura Chavez | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | John Németh | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Deanna Bogart | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Shemekia Copeland | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Anthony Geraci | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Sue Foley | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | I Got Love, Albert Castiglia | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Albert Castiglia | 
| Song of the Year | "Blues Don't Lie" (Tom Hambridge), Buddy Guy | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | In Too Deep, Sugaray Rayford | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Thornetta Davis | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | May Be the Last Time, John Németh | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Primer | 
2022
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Dear America, Eric Bibb | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Keb' Mo' | 
| Album of the Year | Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, Tommy Castro | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Tommy Castro | 
| Band of the Year | Tommy Castro & The Painkillers | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland, Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | 662, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Vanessa Collier | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Danielle Nicole | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Tom Hambridge | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Eric Gales | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Jason Ricci | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Jimmy Carpenter | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | John Németh | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Mike Finnigan | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Sue Foley | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | Resurrection, Mike Zito | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Albert Castiglia | 
| Song of the Year | "I'd Climb Mountains", Selwyn Birchwood | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Long As I Got My Guitar, Zac Harmon | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Annika Chambers | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Pinky's Blues, Sue Foley | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Taj Mahal | 
2021
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Rawer Than Raw, Bobby Rush | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Keb' Mo' | 
| Album of the Year | 100 Years of Blues, Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Shemekia Copeland | 
| Band of the Year | Rick Estrin & The Nightcats | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Harlem, King Solomon Hicks | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Uncivil War, Shemekia Copeland | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Shemekia Copeland | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Danielle Nicole | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Kim Wilson | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Jimmy Carpenter | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Ruthie Foster | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Anthony Geraci | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Rory Block | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | Mike Zito and Friends – Rock 'n' Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry, Mike Zito | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Mike Zito | 
| Song of the Year | "All Out of Tears" – written by Walter Trout, Marie Trout, and Teeny Tucker (performed by Walter Trout) | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | That's What I Heard, Robert Cray Band | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Bettye LaVette | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | 100 Years of Blues, Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Primer | 
2020
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | This Guitar and Tonight, Bob Margolin | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Doug MacLeod | 
| Album of the Year | Kingfish, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Sugaray Rayford | 
| Band of the Year | The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Kingfish, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Kingfish, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Shemekia Copeland | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Michael "Mudcat" Ward | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Rick Estrin | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Vanessa Collier | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Mavis Staples | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Victor Wainwright | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Sue Foley | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | Masterpiece, Albert Castiglia | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Eric Gales | 
| Song of the Year | "Lucky Guy", Nick Moss | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Sitting on Top of the Blues, Bobby Rush | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Bettye LaVette | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Sugaray Rayford | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Lucky Guy!, The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Jimmie Vaughan | 
2019
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Journeys to the Heart of the Blues, Joe Louis Walker, Bruce Katz, Giles Robson | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Rory Block | 
| Album of the Year | America's Child, Shemekia Copeland | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Mike Ledbetter | 
| Band of the Year | Welch-Ledbetter Connection | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Free, Amanda Fish | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | America's Child, Shemekia Copeland | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Danielle Nicole | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Kenny Neal | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Danielle Nicole | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Monster Mike Welch | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Dennis Gruenling | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Vanessa Collier | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Mike Ledbetter | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Marcia Ball | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Ruthie Foster | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | The Big Bad Blues, Billy F Gibbons | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Eric Gales | 
| Song of the Year | "No Mercy In This Land", Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | I'm Still Around, Johnny Rawls | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Annika Chambers | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Sugaray Rayford | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | The Blues Is Alive and Well, Buddy Guy | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Nick Moss | 
2018
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Break the Chain, Doug MacLeod | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Taj Mahal | 
| Album of the Year | TajMo, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Taj Mahal | 
| Band of the Year | Rick Estrin & The Nightcats | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Southern Avenue – Southern Avenue | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | TajMo, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Samantha Fish | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Keb' Mo' | 
| Historical Album of the Year | A Legend Never Dies, Essential Recordings 1976-1997 – Luther Allison | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Michael "Mudcat" Ward | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Tony Braunagel | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Ronnie Earl | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Jason Ricci | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Trombone Shorty | 
| Instrumentalist – Vocals | Beth Hart | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Victor Wainwright | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Ruthie Foster | 
| Blues Rock Album of the Year | We’re All In This Together, Walter Trout | 
| Blues Rock Artist of the Year | Mike Zito | 
| Song of the Year | "The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere", Rick Estrin | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm – Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Mavis Staples | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Right Place, Right Time, Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Rick Estrin | 
2017
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | The Happiest Man in the World, Eric Bibb | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Doug MacLeod | 
| Album of the Year | Porcupine Meat, Bobby Rush | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Joe Bonamassa | 
| Band of the Year | Tedeschi Trucks Band | 
| Best Emerging Artist Album | Tengo Blues, Jonn Del Toro Richardson | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Bloodline, Kenny Neal | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Susan Tedeschi | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Kenny Neal | 
| Historical Album of the Year | Chicken Heads: A 50-Year History of Bobby Rush, Bobby Rush | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Biscuit Miller | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Joe Bonamassa | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Kim Wilson | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Terry Hanck | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Victor Wainwright | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Diunna Greenleaf | 
| Rock Blues Album of the Year | Let Me Get By, Tedeschi Trucks Band | 
| Song of the Year | "Walk A Mile In My Blues", Curtis Salgado | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | The Beautiful Lowdown, Curtis Salgado | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Mavis Staples | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Curtis Salgado | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Can't Shake This Feeling, Lurrie Bell | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Bob Margolin | 
2016
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard, Duke Robillard | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Doug MacLeod | 
| Album of the Year | Born to Play Guitar, Buddy Guy | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Victor Wainwright | 
| Band of the Year | Victor Wainwright & the WildRoots | 
| Best New Artist Debut | The Mississippi Blues Child, Mr. Sipp | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Born to Play Guitar, Buddy Guy | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Shemekia Copeland | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Joe Louis Walker | 
| Historical Album of the Year | Buzzin’ the Blues, Slim Harpo | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Lisa Mann | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Sonny Landreth | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Kim Wilson | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Terry Hanck | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Allen Toussaint | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Ruthie Foster | 
| Rock Blues Album of the Year | Battle Scars, Walter Trout | 
| Song of the Year | "Gonna Live Again", Walter Trout | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | This Time for Real, Billy Price and Otis Clay | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Bettye LaVette | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Otis Clay | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Descendants of Hill Country, Cedric Burnside Project | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Primer | 
2015
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Timeless, John Hammond | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | John Hammond | 
| Album of the Year | Can't Even Do Wrong Right, Elvin Bishop | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Bobby Rush | 
| Band of the Year | Elvin Bishop Band | 
| Best New Artist Debut | Don't Call No Ambulance, Selwyn Birchwood | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | BLUESAmericana, Keb' Mo' | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Janiva Magness | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Gary Clark, Jr. | 
| Historical Album of the Year | Soul & Swagger: The Complete “5” Royales 1951-1967 – The "5" Royales | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Lisa Mann | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Jimi Bott | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Joe Bonamassa | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Deanna Bogart | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Marcia Ball | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Ruthie Foster | 
| Rock Blues Album of the Year | Step Back, Johnny Winter | 
| Song of the Year | "Can't Even Do Wrong Right", Elvin Bishop | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Memphis Grease, John Németh | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Sista Monica | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Bobby Rush | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | For Pops (A Tribute to Muddy Waters), Mud Morganfield, Kim Wilson | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Lurrie Bell | 
2014
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | There's A Time, Doug MacLeod | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | Doug MacLeod | 
| Album of the Year | Remembering Little Walter, Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia and James Harman | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Buddy Guy | 
| Band of the Year | Tedeschi Trucks Band | 
| Best New Artist Debut | Daddy Told Me, Shawn Holt & the Teardrops | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Badlands, Trampled Under Foot | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Susan Tedeschi | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Gary Clark, Jr. | 
| DVD | Songs From The Road, Royal Southern Brotherhood | 
| Historical Album of the Year | The Sun Blues Box, Various artists | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Danielle Schnebelen | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Ronnie Earl | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Eddie Shaw | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Victor Wainwright | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Diunna Greenleaf | 
| Rock Blues Album of the Year | Made Up Mind, Tedeschi Trucks Band | 
| Song of the Year | "Blues in My Soul", Lurrie Bell | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Down in Louisiana, Bobby Rush | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Irma Thomas | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | John Németh | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Remembering Little Walter, Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia and James Harman | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | James Cotton | 
2011
| Category | Winner | 
|---|---|
| Acoustic Album of the Year | Last Train to Bluesville, The Nighthawks | 
| Acoustic Artist of the Year | John Hammond | 
| Album of the Year | Living Proof, Buddy Guy | 
| B. B. King Entertainer of the Year | Buddy Guy | 
| Band of the Year | The Derek Trucks Band | 
| Best New Artist Debut | On the Floor, Matt Hill | 
| Contemporary Blues Album of the Year | Living Proof, Buddy Guy | 
| Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year | Robin Rogers | 
| Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year | Buddy Guy | 
| DVD | Ruf, Songs From The Road, Luther Allison | 
| Historical Album of the Year | Harmonica Blues, Bob Corritore and Friends | 
| Instrumentalist – Bass | Bob Stroger | 
| Instrumentalist – Drums | Cedric Burnside | 
| Instrumentalist – Guitar | Derek Trucks | 
| Instrumentalist – Harmonica | Charlie Musselwhite | 
| Instrumentalist – Horn | Eddie Shaw | 
| Instrumentalist – Other | Sonny Rhodes, Lap steel guitar | 
| Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) | Ruthie Foster | 
| Pinetop Perkins Piano Player | Dr. John | 
| Rock Blues Album of the Year | Live! In Chicago, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bryan Lee and Buddy Flett | 
| Song of the Year | "Living Proof", (Tom Hambridge / Buddy Guy), Living Proof, Buddy Guy | 
| Soul Blues Album of the Year | Nothing's Impossible, Solomon Burke | 
| Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year | Irma Thomas | 
| Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year | Solomon Burke | 
| Traditional Blues Album of the Year | Joined At the Hip, Pinetop Perkins and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith | 
| Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year | Charlie Musselwhite | 
References
- ^ "BMI Ain't Singin' the Blues with Sweep of Handys". BMI.com. 2002-06-02. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
- ^ "2013 Blues Awards Nominees Announced". Offbeat.com. December 10, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived September 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived June 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2018 Blues Music Award nominees announced: Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Keb' Mo', N. Mississippi Allstars among nominees". Blues Foundation. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "2019 Blues Music Awards: Memphis: May 9, 2019 – Calendar". Bmi.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "The 2020 Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN are canceled". Blues.org. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ^ McKay, Robin. "Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ a b McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ McKay, Robin. "BLUES MUSIC AWARDS". Blues.org. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ a b "2022 Blues Music Awards Winners". Blues.org. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (January 10, 2023). "2023 Blues Music Award Nominees Announced". Rockandbluesmuse.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ Dickerson, Candace. "Blue Music Awards - Home Page & Nominations". Blues.org. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Freeman, Clare (May 14, 2025). "2025 Blues Music Awards Winners". Blues.org. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ Dickerson, Candace (May 12, 2023). "2024 Blues Music Awards Winners". Blues.org. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Grein, Paul (May 12, 2023). "Tommy Castro Repeats as Entertainer of the Year at 2023 Blues Music Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Ehrenclou, Martine (June 7, 2021). "2021 Blues Music Award Winners Announced By The Blues Foundation". Rockandbluesmuse.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "2019 Blues Music Awards Winners Announced". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ^ "Blues Music Awards winners announced; Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo's 'TajMo' wins seven awards". Blues Foundation. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
- ^ "2017 Blues Music Awards Winner List". Americanbluesscene.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
- ^ "2016 Blues Music Awards Winner List". Blues411.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
- ^ "2015 Blues Music Awards Winners". Americanbluesscene.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ^ "Blues Music Awards 2011 – A Delta Bohemian Perspective". Deltabohemian.com. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2014-08-03.