The Weary Ramblers have taken home the highest honor at the 22nd Annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA), with their song “Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue” earning both the Overall Grand Prize and Best Country/Bluegrass Song. For a track built on subtlety and emotional weight rather than flash, the win feels especially fitting.
“We are honored to have won the top prize of the International Acoustic Music Awards! We’re excited to now be a part of this elite club of winners,” the duo shared.
“Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue” leans into the quiet power of acoustic storytelling, delivering a sense of lived-in melancholy that lingers long after the final note. It’s a song that doesn’t demand attention but holds onto it anyway, rooted in Americana tradition while still feeling immediate and unforced.
The duo—comprised of Chad Elliott and Kathryn Severing Fox—bring deep individual pedigrees into a collaboration that feels both grounded and expansive. Elliott, often described as “Iowa’s Renaissance man,” has spent more than two decades on the road and written over 1,500 songs, while also working as a painter, sculptor, and author. His songwriting carries that breadth, blending folk roots with a reflective, almost painterly sense of detail. Fox, a DownBeat award-winning musician dubbed a “fiddler extraordinaire,” has performed and recorded with a striking range of artists, including George Benson, The Eagles, Pharrell Williams, and Gloria Estefan. Her versatility brings both technical precision and emotional depth to the duo’s sound.
Together, the Weary Ramblers strike a balance that feels increasingly rare—polished but not overproduced, seasoned but not jaded. Iowa Public Radio called them “nothing short of an Iowa-based super duo,” and this latest recognition only reinforces that reputation.
The IAMA has long been known for spotlighting artists who go on to make a wider impact, with past winners including Meghan Trainor, Dom Flemons, and Ellis Paul. That legacy adds weight to the Ramblers’ win, placing them in a lineage of artists who have translated acoustic authenticity into broader recognition. Industry voices continue to emphasize the awards’ role in championing genuine artistry, with radio host Bud Johnson noting it as “a nice incentive for developing music artists,” while WNCW music director Martin Anderson noted that “many of the winners of IAMA exceeded my expectations.” Public radio host Al Kniola echoed the sentiment, describing IAMA as “a good organization that encourages artistry,” and WLRN’s Michael Stock added, “It’s great that IAMA keeps on encouraging the artistry of acoustic music.”
This year’s winners also highlighted the diversity within the acoustic space, with standout tracks across categories ranging from instrumental to alternative and folk. Still, “Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue” stands out as a defining moment—less for its sweep of awards and more for the way it embodies the enduring appeal of stripped-down, emotionally resonant songwriting.
Find more information on winners and finalists here.
