BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
A special ceremony was held on Tuesday announcing the nominees for the 2024 Branson Show awards. The Branson Show Awards is proud to be Branson's longest running award show, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. The nominees are as follows:
Band of the Year: The Boys – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Double Diamond Show Band – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; #1 Hits of the 60’s Hitman Band – Clay Cooper Theatre; Legends Band – Pepsi Legends Theater; Nashville Roadhouse Live Band – Pierce Arrow Theater; On Fire Band – Sun Theater; Rhinestone Mafia – Grand Country Music Hall; and Royal Rhythm Crew & The B-Town Horns – Clay Cooper Theatre.
For Bass Player of the Year, the nominees were Bill Foster – Sun Theater; Brian Zerbe – Pepsi Legends Theater; Camby Henson – Clay Cooper Theatre; Eric Green – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Justin Herzog – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Mark Evans – Clay Cooper Theatre; and Larry Allred – Grand Country Music Hall.
In the category of Drummer of the Year, the nominees include Brian Duvall – Sun Theater; Dino Phillips – Clay Cooper Theatre; Irielle McConnell – Pierce Arrow Theater; Josh Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; Paul Oney – Pierce Arrow Theater; Rob Wilson – The Dutton Family Theatre; and Robbie Blackburn – Grand Country Music Hall.
Fiddler of the Year nominees were: Amy Dutton Arambulo – The Dutton Family Theatre; Eric Green – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Katie Petersen – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Louis Darby – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Michael T. Hermsmeyer – Pierce Arrow Theater; Nathan Agdeppa - Grand Country Music Hall; and Tina Sibley – Hughes Brothers Theatre.
Nominees for Instrumentalist of the Year were Cole Lee – Pierce Arrow Theater; Eric Green – Hughes Brothers Theatre; George Geisser –IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Jamie Haage – Grand Country Music Hall; Michael T. Hermsmeyer – Pierce Arrow Theater; John Lance – Hughes Brothers Theatre; and Jonathan Black – Clay Cooper Theatre.
Keyboardist of the Year nominees include Clayton Watson – Jerry’s Presley’s God & Country Theater; David Brooks – Sun Theater; Lee Hendrix – IMAX Little Opry Theater; Lymon Clark – Pierce Arrow Theater; Michael W. Davis – Grand Country Music Hall; Will Clark – Reza Live Theatre; and Tracy Heaston – Grand Country Music Hall.
Guitarist of the Year nominees are Donnie Ray Stevens -- Sun Theater; Doug Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; Josh Carroll – Americana Theatre; Kevin Allen – Pepsi Legends Theater; Mark Boyd – Pierce Arrow Theater; Mike McAdoo – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Robert Terry – Grand Country Music Hall; and Zach Peddie – Americana Theatre.
Nominees in the category of Steel Player of the Year include Bob Tuttle – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Forrest Herzog – Americana Theatre; George Geisser – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Greg Moody – Grand Country Music Hall; Michael T. Hermsmeyer – Pierce Arrow Theater; and Robbie Springfield – Grand Country Music Hall.
Those nominated for Comedian of the Year were Rachel Sheperd – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; James Sibley – Pierce Arrow Theater; Jamie Haage – Grand Country Music Hall; Jarrett Dougherty – Grand Country Music Hall; Jordan Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; Paul May – Hughes Brothers Theatre; and Terry Wayne Sanders – Americana Theatre.
Dance Troupe of the Year nominations were Country Express Dancers – Clay Cooper Theatre; Cirque Electric Dreams Dancers – King’s Castle Theatre; Hot Rods & High Heels – Clay Cooper Theatre; Legends Dancers – Pepsi Legends Theater; MJ - The Illusion Dancers - Reza Live Theatre; Spirit of the Dance – King’s Castle Theatre; and Nashville Roadhouse Live Dancers – Pierce Arrow Theater.
The Duet of the Year nominees were C.J. Newsom/Michael Jason Frost – Americana Theatre; Clay/Tina Cooper – Clay Cooper Theatre; George/Clarisse Dyer – Americana Theatre; Doug/Cheryl Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; Kari Garrison/Allen Ashbury – Clay Cooper Theatre; Megan/Brandon Mabe – Hughes Brothers Theatre; and Rich/Anna Marie Watson – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater.
Those talents nominated for Emcee of the Year include Brandon Mabe - Hughes Brothers Theatre; Clay Cooper – Clay Cooper Theatre; Denny Yeary – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Jason Hughes – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Matt Petersen – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Matt Muhoberac – Clay Cooper Theatre; and Mike Patrick – Grand Country Music Hall.
Patriotic Salute of the Year nominations were Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Clay Cooper Country Express – Clay Cooper Theatre; Down Home Country – Grand Country Music Hall; Matt Gumm & Company – Clay Cooper Theatre; Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show – Hamners’ Variety Theater; SIX – Pepsi Legends Theater; and The Duttons – The Dutton Family Theatre.
For Tribute Artist of the Year, nominees included Dan Wagner - Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; David Brooks – Sun Theater; Dean Z – Clay Cooper Theatre; John Shaw – Branson Hot Hits Theatre; Keith Allynn – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Matthew Boyce – Americana Theatre; Jerry Presley – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; and Michael Knight – Reza Live Theatre.
Vocal Group of the Year nominations included Back to the Bee Gees – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Hughes Brothers – Hughes Brothers Theatre; New South – Grand Country Music Hall; Pierce Arrow – Pierce Arrow Theater; Platters – Branson Hot Hits Theatre; SIX – Pepsi Legends Theater; and Third Power – Clay Cooper Theatre.
Comedy Show of the Year nominees were Buckets N Boards – Reza Live Theatre; C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country & Comedy – Americana Theatre; Down Home Country – Grand Country Music Hall; Grand Jubilee – Grand Country Music Hall; Matt Gumm – Clay Cooper Theatre; Branson Murder Mystery – Majestic Theater; and Smoke on the Mountain – Imax Little Opry Theatre.
For Evening Show of the Year, those nominated were Anthems of Rock – King’s Castle Theatre; C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country & Comedy – Americana Theatre; Clay Cooper Country Express – Clay Cooper Theatre; The Duttons – The Dutton Family Theatre; Nashville Roadhouse Live – Pierce Arrow Theater; Pierce Arrow Decades – Pierce Arrow Theater; and Re-Vibe – Hughes Brothers Theatre.
Early Evening Show nominees included Thank You for The Music, A Modern Tribute to ABBA – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Back to the Bee Gees – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Buckets N Boards – Reza Live Theatre; Classic Rock Icons – Americana Theatre; Conway Remembered – Hughes Brothers Theatre; George Jones Haggard & Friends – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; and Jay Osmond Live – Americana Theatre.
For Family Show of the Year, the nominees were #1 Hits of the 60’s – Clay Cooper Theatre; Buckets N Boards – Reza Live Theatre; Once Upon a Fairytale – Americana Theatre; Hot Rods & High Heels – Clay Cooper Theatre; Pets & Giggles – Grand Country Music Hall; Shanghai Circus – Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre; and Todd Oliver & Irving The Talking Dog– IMAX Little Opry Theatre.
Gospel Show of the Year nominations include Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Ozarks Gospel – Grand Country Music Hall; Smoke on the Mountain – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; New South Gospel – Grand Country Music Hall; and Southern Gospel Sunday – The Frosts - Americana Theatre.
The Illusionist of the Year nominees were Dustin Tavella – Reza Live Theatre; Garry & Janine Carson – Hughes Brother Theatre; Dave Hamner – Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Theater; Phil Dalton – Reza Live Theatre; Reza – Reza Live Theatre; and Rick Thomas – Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre.
Matinee Show of the Year nominees included #1 Hits of the 60’s – Clay Cooper Theatre; Classic Rock Icons – Americana Theatre; On Fire – Sun Theater; MJ The Illusion, Reliving the King of Pop – Reza Live Theatre; The Petersens – IMAX Little Opry Theatre; Elvis, Story of a King – Americana Theatre; and Strait to Branson – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater.
For Morning Show of the Year, the nominees were Beach Boys – California Dreamin’ – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Doug Gabriel – The Ultimate Variety Show – Reza Live Theatre; Down Home Country – Grand Country Music Hall; Dalena Ditto’s Country Evolution – Hughes Brother Theatre; Once Upon a Fairytale – Americana Theatre; Broadway to Buble’ – Americana Theatre; and Dublin’s Irish Tenors & The Celtic Ladies – King’s Castle Theatre.
Those nominated for New Show of the Year were Johnny Cash & Friends – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Southern Gospel Sundays –The Frosts - Americana Theatre; Garth, A Musical Tribute – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Queens of Soul - Branson Hot Hits Theatre; MJ The Illusion – Reliving the Kind of Pop - Reza Live Theatre; Sounds of Sinatra and Friends – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; and Strait to Branson – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater.
Tribute Show of the Year nominees are Back to the Bee Gees – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Carpenters Once More – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Conway Remembered – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Dean Z – The Ultimate Elvis – Clay Cooper Theatre; A Neil Diamond Tribute – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; A Garth Musical Tribute – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; MJ The Illusion – Reliving the King of Pop - Reza Live Theatre; and Elvis, Story of a King – Americana Theatre.
Female Vocalist of the Year nominees include Anna Marie Watson – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater; Ashley Dawn – Hughes Brother Theatre; Cadence Miller – Americana Theatre; Jen Frost – Americana Theatre; Sade Shine – Branson Hot Hits Theatre; Sarah Joy – King’s Castle Theatre; and Sarah Marie – Grand Country Music Hall.
Female Entertainer of the Year nominations included Amber Campbell – Clay Cooper Theatre; Cadence Miller – Americana Theatre; C.J. Newsom – Americana Theatre; Dalena Ditto – Hughes Brothers Theatre; Jen Frost – Americana Theatre; Megan Mabe – Hughes Brothers Theatre; and Rachel Shepherd – IMAX Little Opry Theatre.
For Male Vocalist of the Year, the nominees are Adam Henry - Americana Theatre; Barry Arwood – Grand Country Music Hall; Doug Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; George Dyer – Americana Theatre; Jeff Brandt – Hamners’ Variety Theater; Michael Jason Frost – Americana Theatre; Shane VanCamp – Hughes Brothers Theatre; and Stevie Lee Woods – Pierce Arrow Theater.
Male Entertainer of the Year nominees were Clay Cooper – Clay Cooper Theatre; Dean Z – Clay Cooper Theatre; Doug Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre; Matthew Boyce – Americana Theatre; Michael Knight – Reza Live Theatre; Michael Jason Frost – Americana Theatre; Rick Thomas – Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre; and Stevie Lee Woods – Pierce Arrow Theater.
In the category of Entertainers of the Year, the 2024 nominees include Hughes Music Show – Hughes Brothers Theatre; #1 Hits of the 60’s – Clay Cooper Theatre; Baldknobbers - Hughes Brothers Theatre; Clay Cooper Country Music Express – Clay Cooper Theatre; Dean Z – The Ultimate Elvis - Clay Cooper Theatre; Grand Jubilee – Grand Country Music Hall; Nashville Roadhouse Live – Pierce Arrow Theater; and Re-Vibe – Hughes Brothers Theatre.
The Branson Globe congratulates all nominees.
The 20th Anniversary of The Branson Show Awards is set for September 8, 2024, at the Pierce Arrow Theater.
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