Branson Show Awards announces 2025 nominees

Nominees were recently announced for the upcoming Branson Show Awards. Founded by Gary Wackerly and currently owned by Michael Wackerly, James Kast and Benton Wackerly, the Branson Show Awards honors the best of the best among Branson entertainers.  

Following are the 2025 Branson Show Awards nominees:                            

For Band of the Year:

Double Diamond Show Band – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Legends Band – Pepsi Legends Theater

Royal Rhythm Crew & B-Town Horns – Clay Cooper Theatre

Pink Floyd Band – Columns Concert & Event Center

Nashville Roadhouse Band – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Nominees for Bass/Upright of the Year include:

David Clark – Columns Concert & Event Center

Larry Allred – Grand Country Music Hall

Justin Herzog – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Camby Henson -- Clay Cooper Theatre

Brian Zerbe – Pepsi Legends Theater

Drummer of the Year Nominees are:

Corbin Riggs – Columns Concert & Event Center

Caleb Rust – Columns Concert & Event Center

Tim Pope – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Brian Duvall – Reza Live Theatre

Drew Lanning – Majestic Theatre

In the category of Fiddler of the Year, nominees are:

Wayne Massengale – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Nathan Agdeppa – Grand Country Music Hall

Louis Darby – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Tina Sibley – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Amy Dutton Arambulo – The Dutton Family Theater

Instrumentalist of the Year nominees are:

Michael T Hermsmeyer – Americana Theatre

Jonathan Black – Clay Cooper Theatre

John Lance – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Forest Herzog – Majestic Theatre

Jamie Haage – Grand Country Music Hall

For Keyboard Player of the Year, nominees include:

Lyman Clark – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Tracy Heaston – Grand Country Music Hall

Jim Garstang – Grand Country Music Hall

David Brooks – Sun Theatre

Lee Hendrix – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

The Guitarist of the Year nominees are:

Jordan Crane – Columns Concert & Event Center

Jacob Nelson – King’s Castle Theatre

Zach Peddie – Majestic Theatre

Donnie Ray Stevens – Sun Theatre

Mark Boyd – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

The nominees for Steel Player of the Year are:

Gene Mulvaney – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Michael T. Hermsmeyer – Americana Theatre

Greg Moody – Grand Country Music Hall

Bruce Leighton – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Robbie Springfield – Grand Country Music Hall

Comedian of the Year nominees are:

Jordan Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre

Terry Wayne Sanders – Americana Theatre

Jamie Haage – Grand Country Music Hall

Jarrett Daugherty – Grand Country Music Hall

Matt Gumm – Clay Cooper Theatre

Dance Troupe of the Year nominees include:

Hot Rods & High Heels – Clay Cooper Theatre

Clay Cooper Country Express Cloggers – Clay Cooper Theatre

MJ The Illusion Dancers – Reza Live Theatre

Spirit of the Dance – King’s Castle Theatre

Legends Dancers – Pepsi Legends Theater

For Duet of the Year, the nominees are:

Michael/Jen Frost – Americana Theatre

Megan/Brandon Mabe – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Jonathan/Deana Edwards – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Justin Sassanella/Clint Nievar – Pepsi Legends Theater

Tammy/Tonya Bilyeu – Grand Country Music Hall

Emcee of the Year nominees include:

Mike Patrick – Grand Country Music Hall

Brandon Mabe – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Denny Yeary – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Jason Hughes – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Clay Cooper – Clay Cooper Theatre

In the category of Vocal Group of the Year, this year's nominees are:

Nashville Roadhouse Singers – Nashville Roadhouse Theatre

Hughes Brothers – Hughes Brothers Theatre

New South – Grand Country Music Hall

SIX – Pepsi Legends Theater

Back to the Bee Gees – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Nominees for Patriotic Salute of the Year are:

Dan Wagner, Johnny Cash & Friends – Majestic Theatre

Hamners’ Unbelievable Variety – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Duttons – The Dutton Family Theatre

Baldknobbers – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Lasting Impressions – Columns Concert & Event Center

The nominees for Tribute Artist of the Year include:

Dean Z – Clay Cooper Theatre

Dan Wagner – Majestic Theatre

Mike Walker – Columns Concert & Event Center

Matthew Boyce – Majestic Theatre

Michael Knight – Reza Live Theatre

For Illusionist of the Year, the nominees are:

Rick Thomas – Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre

Dave Hamner – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Reza – Reza Live Theatre

Gary Carson – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Phil Dalton – Reza Live Theatre

Tribute Show of the Year nominees include:

Johnny Cash & Friends – Majestic Theatre

A Garth Tribute – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

MJ The Illusion – Reliving the King of Pop – Reza Live Theatre

Dean Z – Clay Cooper Theatre

Legends in Concert – Pepsi Legends Theater

In the category of Comedy Show of the Year, the nominees are:

Matt Gumm & Company – Clay Cooper Theatre

C.J. Newsom Classic Country & Comedy – Americana Theatre

Branson Murder Mystery – Majestic Theatre

Branson Comedy Factory – Columns Concert & Event Center

Redneck Comedy Bus Tour

For Gospel Show of the Year, the nominees are:

New South Gospel – Grand Country Music Hall

Southern Gospel Sundays – Americana Theatre

Ozarks Gospel – Grand Country Music Hall

Smoke on the Mountain – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Absolutely Country Definitely Gospel – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Family Show of the Year nominees are:

Pets & Giggles – Grand Country Music Hall

Under The Sea – Columns Concert & Event Center

Shanghai Circus – Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre

Once Upon a Fairy Tale – Majestic Theatre

Hamners’ Unbelievable Magic Show – Hamners’ Variety Theater

The New Show of the Year nominees include:

Bon Jour – Columns Concert & Event Center

Ray on My Mind – Sun Theater

Pink Floyd Experience – Columns Concert & Event Center

The Sound of Simon & Garfunkel – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Patsy Cline & Friends – Americana Theater

Nominees for Morning Show of the Year are:

Doug Gabriel – Ultimate Variety Show – Reza Live Theatre

A Neil Diamond Tribute – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Down Home Country – Grand Country Music Hall

Matt Gumm & Company – Clay Cooper Theatre

Platters Golden Sounds – Branson Hot Hits Theatre

Matinee Show of the Year nominees are:

Elvis Live in Concert – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

#1 Hits of the 60’s & More – Clay Cooper Theatre

Carpenters Once More – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theatre

MJ The Illusion – Reliving the King of Pop – Reza Live Theatre

The Petersens – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

For Early Evening Show of the Year, the nominees include:

George Jones & Friends – IMAX Little Opry Theatre

Re–Vibe – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Back to The Bee Gees – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Branson Murder Mystery – Majestic Theatre

Thank you for the Music/ABBA – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Evening Show of the Year nominees are: 

Legends in Concert – Pepsi Legends Theater

The Duttons – The Dutton Family Theater

Nashville Roadhouse Live – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Anthems of Rock – King’s Castle Theatre

Grand Jubilee – Grand Country Music Hall

Nominees for Female Vocalist of the Year for 2025 are:

Anna Marie Watson – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Sade Shine – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Jamie Gumm Bainbridge – Clay Cooper Theatre

Ashley Dawn – Pepsi Legends Theater

Cadence Miller – Majestic Theatre

Female Entertainer of the Year nominees include:

Phaedra Clemons – Sun Theater

Cadence Miller – Majestic Theatre

Diana Lynn – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Chelsie Boyd Odom – Hamners’ Variety Theater

CJ Newsom – Americana Theatre

Male Vocalist of the Year nominees are:

Stevie Lee Woods – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Tim Hadler – Jerry Presley’s God & Country Theater

Shane VanCamp – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Doug Gabriel – Reza Live Theatre

Alan Asbury – Clay Cooper Theatre

For Male Entertainer of the Year, this year's nominees are:

Michael Knight – Reza Live Theatre

Dean Z – Clay Cooper Theatre

James Allen – Hamners’ Variety Theater

Stevie Lee Woods – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Mike Walker – Columns Concert & Event Center

Nominees for Entertainers of the Year for 2025 include:

Nashville Roadhouse Live – Nashville Roadhouse Theater

Grand Jubilee – Grand Country Music Hall

The Duttons – The Dutton Family Theater

Hughes Brothers Music Show – Hughes Brothers Theatre

Baldknobbers – Hughes Brothers Theatre

The Branson Show Awards will be held on Sunday, September 7, at the Nashville Roadhouse Theater.