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PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WYMT) – Its no secret that the Appalachian Mountains have produced talented musicians, artists and writers, and many of them gathered under one roof on Saturday for the Appalachian Arts & Entertainment Awards (APPY’s) in Prestonsburg.
“You know, when you’re a musician, you’re kind of involved in an informal family and its kind of cool to see all your different family members that you don’t even know, and you’re meeting them, its kind of like one big reunion,” said Adam Williamson, a Best Wind and Brass Nominee.
The APPY’s not only recognizes Appalachians in country or bluegrass music, but the awards span across different genres.
“Its pretty interesting, a lot of country artists are around here, not many rap,” said Carter “Lil Cartier” Maynard, a Best Hip Hop Nominee. “But Jack Harlow, EST coming out of Kentucky, its helping out a lot. And Bryson Tiller, too.”
Educators, TV personalities and writers were also recognized during the ceremony.
“Its really neat that I had the opportunity to be included,” said Lyssa Culbertson, a Best Blog & Best Author Nominee. “It includes other arenas in art and entertainment so even though I write about music, normally I wouldn’t be up for something like this.”
The event was emceed by Tayla Lynn and Tre Twitty, the grandchildren of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, who said it’s nice to have an awards ceremony that honors the mountains and the talent within them.
“There’s so many stars born in these hills,” said Lynn. “I mean, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, Crystal Gayle, Patty Loveless, Chris Stapleton.”
Music journalist and event co-coordinator Jessica Blankenship added that the APPY’s not only recognizes the talent that comes from the mountains but it also helps to paint a positive image of the Appalachian region.
Below is the list of winners:
Best Album of the Year
The Josephines – “Cocaine or Cowboys” (KY)
Best EP of the Year
Sean Whiting (KY)
Best Album Art
Melissa Abney (KY)
Best Original Song
Zoe Howard and Yellow Line – “Walkin’ Each other Home” (KY)
Best Female Vocalist
Hannah Bethel (TN)
Best Male Vocalist
Cole Chaney (KY)
Best Songwriter
Hailey Newman (KY)
Best Americana
Spooky Fox (KY)
Best Bluegrass
Wolfpen Branch (KY)
Best Blues
Mystery Meat Blues Band (KY)
Best Country
Courtney Mason (KY)
Best Gospel
Awaken Worship (KY)
Best Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World
Appalatin (KY)
Best Hip Hop
Carter Maynard (KY)
Best Pop
Phourist and the Photons (KY)
Best Rock
Jordan Allen (KY)
Best Cover Band/Variety Act
Eight Daze Sober (KY)
Best Bassist
Brandon Johnson (KY)
Best Drummer/Percussionist
Ben Caldwell (KY)
Best Guitarist
Cody Lee Meece (KY)
Best Keyboardist
Alex Marcum (KY)
Best Strings/Non-Guitar Bass
Justin Riley (KY)
Best Wind and Brass
Tommy Cate (KY)
Best Live Music Venue
The Corbin Arena (KY)
Best Music Festival
Manchester Music (KY)
Best Radio DJ
Loretta Friend – V 99.3 The Coyote (KY)
Best Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer
Dwayne King (KY)
Best High School Band
Boyd County High School Band (KY)
Best High School Choir
Johnson Central High School Choir (KY)
Best Music Educator
Clyde Porter (KY)
Art Categories
Best Art Educator
Tammy Clemmons (KY)
Best Digital Mixed Media Artist
Jerielle Hanlon/KY Pop Art (KY)
Best Cartoonist/Illustrator
Shawn Wallace (VA)
Best Photographer
Greg Davis (KY)
Best Logo Design/Graphic Designer
Chris Burkhardt (KY)
Best Painting
Lena Marie Auxier (KY)
Best Sculpture
Payton Martin (KY)
Best Tattoo Artist
John Haywood (KY)
Other Entertainment Categories
Best TV Personality
Lacey Roberts –InFocUS (OH)
Best Podcast
Jamey Johnson – “Sound of Sports” (KY)
Best Acting/Drama/Speech Educator
Artist Collaborative Theater (KY)
Best Dance Educator
Michelle Barbee-Smith (KY)
Best Original Movie/Short Film/Documentary
Grayson Gallery (KY)
Best Vlogger
Tipper Presley (KY)
Best Author
Lindsay Gargotto – “When the Poppy Sheds” (KY)
Best Poet
Khalisa Rae – “Ghost in a Black Girls” (NC)
Best Blog
Lyssa Culbertson – Hillbilly Hippie Music Review” (AL)
Community Arts & Entertainment Award
Jonathan Webb of AppHarvest
Star City Award
Loretta Lynn
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