Dale Ann Bradley, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year in 2007, is in the final list of nominees up for the honor this year.

She’s been performing since the age of 14 in a trio with her high school band director and his wife. They performed at Pine Mountain State Park during the summers. This led to her joining her first bluegrass band, Back Porch Grass. They gained popularity in Southeastern Kentucky and East Tennessee and in 1984 ended up in the finals of The Marlboro Country Music Roundup. It was there she heard another bluegrass band that would eventually become part of her musical history, The New Coon Creek Girls.

In the 1980s, Bradley landed a spot on the famous Renfro Valley Barn Dance in southeastern Kentucky. In January of 1991, the New Coon Creek Girls returned to Renfro Valley after several years of being away. The position of lead singer/guitarist came open and the group approached her. She accepted and performed with them for the next six years.

In 2006 she joined Compass Records, headed up by banjo wizard Allison Brown and Garry West. “Catch Tomorrow,” her Compass release, was voted album of the year by the magazine Bluegrass Now with several songs being in the top 10 on several bluegrass charts. She now appears with the Dale Ann Bradley Band and still continues her affiliation with the Renfro Valley show.

Website: http://www.daleann.com

Discography:

Awards & Honors

Other Media:
Dale Ann Bradley feat. Alison Krauss - “The Road is Rocky”

Read about all the 2008 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Nominees

• Dale Ann Bradley
• Claire Lynch
• Sonya Isaacs
• Alison Krauss
• Rhonda Vincent

Who’s going to win the 2008 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year? Vote for your Favorite below!