Nominees announced for 2022 Terry Awards

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

On Monday, the nominees for the 2022 Terry Awards were announced during a celebration at the Hamner Variety Theater. Nominees are as follows:

COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR: Jordan Gabriel (Doug Gabriel Morning Show), James Sibley (Pierce Arrow), Jamie Haage (Grand Jubilee), Jerl Adams (Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers) Jarrett Dougherty (Down Home Country) and Tim Mabe (Ozarks Gospel and Ozarks Country)

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: George Geisser (America’s Top Country Hits), Wayne Massengale (Grand Jubilee), Amy Dutton (The Duttons), Melody Hart (Down Home Country), Abby Dutton (The Duttons) and Louis Darby (Sons of Britches).

BAND OF THE YEAR: #1 Hits of the ‘60s, Rhinestone Mafia (Grand Country Music Hall), Hughes Brothers Band (Hughes Music Show), Legends in Concert Band, C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country Band and Baldknobbers Band.

LEAD GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt Henshaw (Pierce Arrow Decades), Chad Cathell (Grand Country Music Hall), Barry Bales (Clay Cooper Country Express) Grant Moody (Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers), Mark Boyd (Nashville Roadhouse Live) and Dino Strunk (Doug Gabriel Show).

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Deanna Edwards (Positively Country/Definitely Gospel), Ashley Stanton (Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers), Jackie Brown (Grand Jubilee), Georgina Holiday (Urban Cowboy), C.J. Newsom (C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy) and Kari Garrison (Clay Cooper’s Country Express).

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Mike Walker (Mike Walker’s Lasting Impressions), Jamie Haage (Grand Jubilee), Doug Gabriel (Doug Gabriel Morning Show), Michael Frost (#1 Hits of the ‘60s), Eric Dalton (Grand Jubilee) and Jeff Brandt (Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show).

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Forrest Herzog (C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy), Doug Gabriel (Doug Gabriel Morning Show), Catherine Haygood (The Haygoods), Jamie Haage (Grand Jubilee), Tim Prososki (Ozarks Gospel/Ozarks Country) and Michael T. Hermsmeyer (Nashville Roadhouse Live).

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR: Dino Phillips (The Haygoods), Robby Blackwood (Clay Cooper’s Country Express), Josh Gabriel (Branson Famous Baldknobbers), Garrett Massengale (Ozarks Country), Jacob Hughes (Hughes Music Show) and Rob Blackburn (Grand Jubilee).

THE LITTLE BIG SHOW: Golden Sounds of The Platters (Hot Hits Theater), The Sons Music Celebration (The Majestic Theater), Derek Ventura Dancing in the Street (The Majestic Theater), Dalena Ditto Country Evolution (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Motown Downtown (Hot Hits Theater) and Trey Dees’ Dean Martin and Friends (Nashville Roadhouse Theater).

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lyman Clark (Nashville Roadhouse Live), R.P. Harrell (Clay Cooper’s Country Express), John Lance (Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers), Jim Garstang (Pierce Arrow Country), Michael W. Davis (Grand Jubilee) and Lee Hendrix (Absolutely Country/Definitely Gospel).

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gene Mulvaney (Grand Jubilee), Michael T. Hermsmeyer (Nashville Roadhouse Live), Tim Prososki (Ozarks Country Jubilee), Kevin Clemens (Country Evolution), Forrest Herzog (C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy) and Robby Springfield (Nashville Roadhouse Live).

TRIBUTE SHOW OF THE YEAR: Statler Brothers Revisited (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Jerry Presley - Elvis Live (God and Country Theater), Neil Diamond Tribute (God and Country Theater), Back to the Bee Gees (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Liverpool Legends (Moon River Theater) and The Outlaw Eagles.

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Camby Henson (Dean Z’s Ultimate Elvis), Mark Evans (Clay Cooper Country Express), Justin Herzog (C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy), Larry Allred (Grand Jubilee), Todd Brumley (Ozarks Country Ozarks Gospel) and Eric Green (All Hands on Deck).

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR: Pierce Arrow (Pierce Arrow Theater), SIX (Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre), The Blackwoods (Americana Theater), The Hughes Brothers (Hughes Brothers Theatre), The Sons Music Celebration (Majestic Theater) and New Jersey Nights (Kings Castle Theatre).

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR: Clint Nevier and Justin Sassanella (Legends in Concert), Josh and Hilary Carroll (America’s Top Country Hits), Shane Van Camp and Ashley Stanton (Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers), Brandon and Megan Mabe (Branson’s Famous Baldknobers), Tammy and Tonya Bilyeu (Ozarks Country Ozarks Gospel) and Tiffany Sassanella and Gi Gi Hutchison (Comedy Jamboree).

GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR: The Petersons (IMAX Little Opry Theater), The Blackwoods (Americana Theater), New South (Grand Country Music Hall), Ozarks Gospel (Grand Country Music Hall) and Oh Happy Day (Hamners’ Variety Theater).

PRODUCTION SHOW OF THE YEAR: Hughes Music Show (Hughes Brothers Theatre), #1 Hits of the ‘60s (Clay Cooper Theatre), Reza - Edge of Illusion (Branson Famous Theatre), Rick Thomas Mansion of Dreams (Moon River Theatre), Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show (Hamners’ Variety Theater) and Dean Z Ultimate Elvis (Clay Cooper Theatre).

MORNING SHOW OF THE YEAR: Smoke on the Mountain (IMAX Little Opry Theater), The Blackwoods (Americana Theater), The Beach Boys California Dreamin’ (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Down Home Country (Grand Country Music Hall), All Hands on Deck (The Dutton Family Theater) and The Sons Music Celebration (The Majestic Theater).

MATINEE SHOW OF THE YEAR: Elvis - Story of the King (Americana Theater), Hot Rods and High Heels (Clay Cooper Theatre), Awesome ‘80s (Americana Theater), The Petersens (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Hughes Brothers Country (Hughes Brothers Theatre) and Legends of Country (Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre).

SHOW OF THE YEAR: The Duttons (Dutton Family Theater), C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy (Americana Theater), Rick Thomas Mansion of Dreams (Moon River Theatre), The Haygoods (Clay Cooper Theatre), Dean Z Ultimate Elvis (Clay Cooper Theatre), Nashville Roadhouse Live (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers (Branson Famous Theatre).

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: The Haygoods, (The Haygoods Show), Amber Campbell (#1 Hits of the ‘60s), Doug Gabriel (Doug Gabriel Morning Show), Jamie Haage (Grand Jubilee), Stevie Lee Woods (Nashville Roadhouse Live), Dalena Ditto (Country Evolution) and Clay Cooper (Clay Cooper’s Country Express).

“Congratulations to this year’s nominees and to all of the folks that make things happen,” said Terry Beene, founder of The Terry Awards. “We have plenty of surprises at this year’s show and we look forward to seeing you all there. Great seats are still available, so give our friends at All Access Branson a call at 417-332- 2121. If you’d like to make a night of it, discount lodging is also available.”

The Terry Awards 2022 is set for September 25 at the Branson Famous Theatre. Red Carpet event begins at 5 p.m. and the Awards Show starts at 6 p.m.