2022 Branson Show Awards nominees announced on Friday

By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer

The nominees for the 2022 Branson Show Awards were announced on Friday during a celebration at the Nashville Roadhouse Theater, with many Branson entertainers in attendance. The nominees are as follows:

BAND OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Nashville Roadhouse Live (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), Rhinestone Mafia (Grand Country Music Hall), Dean Z’s Royal Rhythm Crew B’Town Horns (Clay Cooper Theatre), Re-Cliners (Americana Theater), and Baldknobbers Band (Branson Famous Theatre).

FOR BASS/UPRIGHT PLAY- ER OF THE YEAR, the Nominees include: Larry Allred (Grand Country Music Hall), Forrest Herzog (Americana Theater), Camby Henson (Clay Cooper Theatre), Justin Herzog (IMAX Little Opry Theater), and Eric Green (IMAX Little Opry Theater).

COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Terry Wayne Sanders (Americana Theater), Jamie Haage (Grand Country Music Hall), Jarrett Dougherty (Grand Country Music Hall), Matt Gumm (Clay Cooper Theatre) and James Sibley (Pierce Arrow Theater).

FOR COMEDY SHOW OF THE YEAR, the Nominees include: C.J. Newsom - Classic Country and Comedy (Americana Theater), Smoke on the Mountain (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Matt Gumm & Company (Clay Cooper Theatre), and Branson Murder Mystery (Majestic Theater).

THE DANCE TROUPE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Dancing Queen (Kings Castle Theatre), Country Express Dancers (Clay Cooper Theatre), Spirit of the Dance (Kings Castle Theatre), Nashville Roadhouse Dancers (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Hot Rods and High Heels (Clay Cooper Theatre).

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Paul Oney (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), Rob Blackburn (Grand Country Music Hall), Matt Gumm (Clay Cooper Theatre), Josh Gabriel (Branson Famous Theatre), and Jacob Hughes (Hughes Brothers Theatre).

FOR DUET OF THE YEAR, Nominees include: George and Clarisse Dyer (Americana Theatre), Jonathan and Deana Edwards (Majestic Theater), Stephen and Chelsie Odom (Hamners’ Variety Theater) and Keith Allyn and Diana Lynn (God and Country Theater).

EMCEE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Mike Patrick (Grand Country Music Hall), Todd Bradshaw (Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater), Shannon Thomason (Grand Country Music Hall), Denny Yeary (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Matt Mahoberac (Clay Cooper Theater).

NOMINEES FOR ENTERTAINERS OF THE YEAR are: Nashville Roadhouse Live (Nashville Roadhouse Live Theater), Clay Cooper Country Express (Clay Cooper Theatre), Grand Jubilee (Grand Country Music Hall), Liverpool Legends (Moon River Theatre), and The Haygoods (Clay Cooper Theatre).

EVENING SHOW OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: Grand Jubilee (Grand Country Music Hall), Nashville Roadhouse Live (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), Anthems of Rock (Kings Castle Theatre), The Haygoods (Clay Cooper Theatre), Clay Cooper Country Express (Clay Cooper Theatre) and C.J. Newsom’s Classic Country & Comedy (Americana Theater).

FOR FAMILY SHOW OF THE YEAR, Nominees are: Jesus (Sight and Sound Theater), Re- Vibe (Hughes Brothers Theatre), The Duttons (Dutton Family Theater), Shanghai Circus (Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theater), Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show (Hamners’ Variety Theater).

FEMALE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: C.J. Newsom (Americana Theater), Dalena Ditto (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Amber Campbell (Clay Cooper Theatre), Sarah Marie LeBeau (Kings Castle Theatre) and Catherine Haygood (Clay Cooper Theatre).

NOMINEES FOR FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR are: C.J. Newsom (Americana Theater), Megan McCombs Mabe (Branson Famous Theatre), Deana Edwards (Majestic Theater), Sarah Marie LeBeau (Kings Castle The- atre) and Kari Garrison (Clay Cooper Theatre).

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Nathan Agdeppa (Branson Famous Theatre), Shoji Tabuchi (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Wayne Massengale (Grand Country Music Hall), Amy Dutton Arambulo (Dutton Family Theater) and Cortlandt Ingram (Clay Cooper Theatre).

NOMINEES FOR GOSPEL SHOW OF THE YEAR are: The Blackwoods (Americana Theater), New South Gospel (Grand Country Music Hall), Smoke on the Mountain (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Absolutely Country/ Definitely Gospel (Majestic Theater), and Ozarks Gospel (Grand Country Music Hall).

IN THE ILLUSIONIST SHOW OF THE YEAR category, your Nominees include: Rick Thomas, Mansion of Dreams (Moon River Theatre), Dave Hamner, Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Reza, Edge of Illusion (Branson Famous Theatre), Phil Dalton, Theatre of Illusion (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Garry and Janine, Escape Reality, (Hughes Brothers Theatre).

IMPRESSIONIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: Mike Walker (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Matt Gumm (Clay Cooper Theatre), Keith Allyn (Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theater), Jeff Brandt (Hamners Variety Theater), and Terry Wayne Sanders (Americana Theater).

IN THE CATEGORY OF INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR, Nominees are: Forrest Herzog (Americana Theater), George Geisser (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Michael Hermsmeyer (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) Catherine Haygood (Clay Cooper Theatre) and Matt Gumm (Clay Cooper Theatre).

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Lyman Clark (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), Tracy Heaston (Grand Country Music Hall), R.P. Harrell (Clay Cooper Theatre), Lee Hendrix (Majestic Theatre) and Jim Garstang (Clay Cooper Theatre).

KIDS CHOICE AWARD NOMINEES are: Rick Thomas Mansion of Dreams (Moon River Theatre), Amazing Pets (Grand Country Music Hall), Shanghai Circus (Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theater). Reza Edge of Illusion (Branson Famous Theatre) and Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show (Hamners Variety Theater).

NOMINEES FOR LEAD GUITARIST OF THE YEAR include: Jordan Crane (Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theatre), Jack Cartheart (Kings Castle Theatre), Mark Boyd (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), Dino Strunk (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Jacob Nelson (Kings Castle Theatre) and Grant Moody (Branson Famous Theatre).

FOR MALE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, Nominees are: Dean Z. (Clay Cooper Theatre), Doug Gabriel (Branson Famous Theatre), Matt Gumm (Clay Cooper Theatre), Stevie Lee Woods (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Clay Cooper (Clay Cooper Theatre).

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Barry Arwood (Majestic Theater), George Dyer (Americana Theater), Doug Gabriel (Branson Famous Theatre), Stevie Lee Woods (Nashville Roadhouse Theater) and Dan Keeton (Branson Famous Theatre).

FOR MATINEE SHOW OF THE YEAR, Nominees are: Dean Z Ultimate Elvis (Clay Cooper Theatre), #1 Hits of the ‘60s (Clay Cooper Theatre), Awesome ‘80s (Americana Theater), Elvis –Story of a King (Americana Theater), Liverpool Legends (Moon River Theatre) and New Jersey Nights (Kings Castle Theatre).

MORNING SHOW OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: Doug Gabriel (Branson Famous Theatre), Broadway to Buble (Americana Theater), Down Home Country (Grand Country Music Hall), Hot Rods and High Heels (Clay Cooper Theatre), All Hands on Deck (Dutton Family Theater) and Sons Music Celebration (Majestic Theater).

NEW SHOW OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Elvis—Story of a King (Americana Theater), America’s Top Country Hits (Americana Theater), An Evening with Shoji (IMAX Little Opry Theater), Ric Steel (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), and Patsy to Patsy (Branson Hot Hits Theater).

FOR PATRIOTIC SALUTE OF THE YEAR, Nominees are: All Hands on Deck (Dutton Family Theater), Clay Cooper Country Express (Clay Cooper Theater), Grand Jubilee (Grand Country Music Hall), Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety Show (Hamners’ Variety Theater) and Absolutely Country/Definitely Gospel (Majestic Theater).

STEEL PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: Gene Mulvaney (Grand Country Music Hall), Tim Prososki (Grand Country Music Hall), George Geisser (IMAX Little Opry Theatre), Greg Moody (Branson Famous Theatre) and Michael Hermsmeyer (Nashville Roadhouse Theatre).

NOMINEES FOR TRIBUTE ARTIST OF THE YEAR are: Keith Allyn (Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theater), Dean Z (Clay Cooper Theatre), Jerry Presley (Jerry Presley’s God and Country Theater), Matthew Boyce (Americana Theater) and Paula Erlene Williamson (Branson Hot Hits Theater).

TRIBUTE SHOW OF THE YEAR NOMINEES include: Dean Z Ultimate Elvis (Clay Cooper Theatre), Liverpool Legends (Moon River Theatre), Platters-The Golden Sounds (Branson Hot Hits Theater), Back to the Bee Gees (Hamners’ Variety Theater), Legends in Concert (Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre) and Dean Martin and Friends (Nashville Roadhouse Theater).

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR NOMINEES are: Pierce Arrow (Pierce Arrow Theater), New South (Grand Country Music Hall), SIX (Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre), Motown and More (Nashville Roadhouse Theater), and Dancing in the Streets- The Sounds of Motown (The Ruby Room at The Majestic Theater).

The Branson Show Awards are slated for September 11 at 5 p.m. at the Branson Roadhouse Live Theater.