The Blues community turned out in full force Thursday evening at the Renasant Convention Center as The Blues Foundation unveiled the winners of the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards. Celebrating excellence in blues recording and performance, the ceremony honored both legends and rising talents whose artistry keeps this uniquely American art form vibrant.

Among the evening’s standout achievements, Ronnie Baker Brooks dominated the Contemporary Blues categories, taking home Contemporary Blues Album, Contemporary Blues Male Artist, and Song of the Year for “Blues In My DNA.” Sue Foley was recognized for her mastery of acoustic styles, winning Acoustic Blues Album and Traditional Blues Female Artist. John Primer claimed Traditional Blues Male Artist and, alongside Bob Corritore, the Traditional Blues Album award for Crawlin’ Kingsnake. In the soul-infused realm, Curtis Salgado earned Soul Blues Male Artist and Soul Blues Album for Fine By Me.

The ceremony also applauded emerging talent, with Piper & The Hard Times’ Revelation taking Best Emerging Artist, while genre-bending albums and performances by artists like Mike Zito, Tommy Castro, Ruthie Foster, and Shemekia Copeland were celebrated across a variety of categories. Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman) capped off the night with the prestigious B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honor.

2025 Blues Music Awards Winners

    Acoustic Blues Album: One Guitar Woman – Sue Foley

    Acoustic Blues Artist: Keb’ Mo’

    Album of the Year: Blame It On Eve – Shemekia Copeland

    And The Blues (Band) of the Year: Rick Estrin and The Nightcats

    Best Emerging Artist: Revelation – Piper & The Hard Times

    Blues Rock Artist: Tommy Castro

    Blues Rock Album: Life is Hard – Mike Zito

    B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

    Contemporary Blues Album: Blues In My DNA – Ronnie Baker Brooks

    Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Ruthie Foster

    Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Ronnie Baker Brooks

    Instrumentalist – Bass: Bob Stroger

    Instrumentalist – Drum: Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith

    Instrumentalist – Guitar: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

    Instrumentalist – Harmonica: Billy Branch

    Instrumentalist – Horn: Vanessa Collier

    Instrumentalist – Piano (Pinetop Perkins Award): Eden Brent

    Instrumentalist – Vocals: Ruthie Foster

    Song of the Year: “Blues In My DNA,” written by Ronnie Baker Brooks

    Soul Blues Album: Fine By Me – Curtis Salgado

    Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado

    Soul Blues Female Artist: Thornetta Davis

    Traditional Blues Album: Crawlin’ Kingsnake – John Primer & Bob Corritore

    Traditional Blues Female Artist: Sue Foley

    Traditional Blues Male Artist: John Primer

ABOUT THE BLUES FOUNDATION
Founded in 1980 and based in Memphis, The Blues Foundation is dedicated to preserving blues heritage, celebrating outstanding blues recording and performance, and expanding worldwide awareness of this American art form. With approximately 4,000 individual members and 180 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals, the Foundation’s signature events—including the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame Inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards—serve as the international epicenter of blues music. Through the HART Fund, Blues in the Schools programs, Generation Blues Scholarships, and the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, the Foundation ensures that blues music continues to inspire future generations.

For more information, visit: www.blues.org.