Emmylou Harris:

"I've always thought Claire Lynch has the voice of an angel. I'm a fan!" 

Mary Chapin Carpenter: 

"I first heard Claire sing when she was with the Front Porch String Band...I fell in love with her as an artist there and then and now almost 30 years later she continues to make gorgeous albums.  Her original songs display her gifts as a songwriter of uncommon skill, and her outside song choices reinforce her artistic self; one who feels deeply about home, family, strength, resilience and courage. Claire surrounds herself with stellar musicians on this recording (no surprise there) and her singing is bell-like in its beauty. I still remember meeting Claire one year at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival;  I could hardly speak, I was so excited to finally meet one of my very favorite singers in all of acoustic, country and bluegrass music.  She is a jewel. "

 

Sara Watkins:

"Claire's singing and intrepretation of traditional, contemporary, and original songs is a joy to hear. With her voice, clean and clear as mountain water, she sends me to a beautiful place, every time I sit and listen."

Yesterday, I had the great fun and privilege of co-hosting the press announcements of this year's nominations for the International Bluegrass Music Awards.  Standing off-stage, I heard Eddie Stubbs announce that Louise Scruggs would be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.  Earl Scruggs was in attendance, and it really brought home to me how much we all owe that first generation, the ones who created the bluegrass music that brings us all together.  As the press conference went on, I heard my co-host, Adam Steffey, announce one of my own songs as a nominee for Song of the Year. 

 My Florida Sunshine is perhaps one of Bill Monroe's lesser-known songs, but it's a gem.  Monroe recorded it 33 years ago, on July 28, 1977, at Bradley's Barn in Mt. Juliet TN - just up the road from me.  My own version, recorded for my latest CD, Whatcha Gonna Do, has served The Claire Lynch Band so well:  it's had great success on the national bluegrass charts and it's become a favorite with our audiences all across the country.  The Song of the Year award goes not just to the recording artist, but also to the songwriter, and I can tell you that it is more than humbling, but also a source of great happiness, for me to see my name next to Bill Monroe's on the IBMA ballot.  But here's what I truly appreciate most of all:

The bluegrass life, more so than any awards or chart success, is a profound source of happiness and sustenance for me and so many people I know.  Bluegrass music is great music, but it is also much more than music.  It's a community, a family, and for many musicians as lucky as I and my band members are, it's a livelihood and a charmed life.  Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and all of those first-generation bluegrass greats created this bluegrass life.  For me, the photo, above - with me and my bandmates sitting in the glorious sunshine, sharing our music - captures the essence of the bluegrass life.

I send a huge thanks to IBMA members for the nominations for Song of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year for the Claire Lynch-Jesse Winchestor collaboration, "That's What Makes You Strong," and Female Vocalist of the Year.  I float a special "thank you" to Bill Monroe for My Florida Sunshine.  Deep appreciation and thanks to my amazing band members, Jason Thomas, Mark Schatz and Matt Wingate.  Most of all, I send out my gratitude and thanks to the bluegrass music lovers who make "the bluegrass life" possible, and wondrous.

~Claire