Stuart Duncan (left) congratulates Jim VanCleve after presenting him with his National Fiddler Hall of Fame award at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone, North Carolina, Sunday, October 4, 2026. Photo credit: Jamey Booher Photography
Stuart Duncan Surprises VanCleve with Award Presentation; Sam Bush Joins Celebration at Appalachian Theatre in Boone, North Carolina
BOONE, N.C. — October 6, 2026 — GRAMMY-winning fiddler, producer and Appalachian Road Show co-founder Jim VanCleve was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 4, during a special concert at the historic Appalachian Theatre of the High Country in Boone, North Carolina. The evening featured a performance by newgrass pioneer Sam Bush, who was also inducted, and a surprise appearance by fellow National Fiddler Hall of Fame member Stuart Duncan, who has been a major influence on VanCleve’s playing and presented VanCleve with his award.
Duncan’s unannounced arrival brought an unexpected personal touch to the ceremony, surprising VanCleve and the audience. Appalachian Road Show also performed during the celebration. For the encore, the celebration also brought VanCleve, Bush and Duncan together onstage with fiddles in hand, giving the evening a musical moment to match the milestone.
“To receive this honor back home in the North Carolina mountains, with Appalachian Road Show and my family beside me, meant the world to me. Being there with Sam Bush, and then having Stuart Duncan walk out to present the award, I can’t imagine anything being more meaningful,” said VanCleve. “Having two of my biggest heroes there and getting to make music together in that moment made an already special night absolutely magical. I’m so grateful to the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, my family, my bandmates and everyone who has encouraged me along the way. This music has given me a wonderful life, and Sunday night is something I’ll carry with me forever.”
A Sarasota, Florida, native raised in Canton, North Carolina, VanCleve was introduced to music by his father and grandfather and won fiddle contests as a youngster. By 16, he was a member of Lou Reid & Carolina; at 18, he joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. He later helped establish Mountain Heart in 1998, and The Appalachian Road Show in 2018, building a career that connects Appalachian traditions with an adventurous approach to contemporary bluegrass.
The induction comes as The Appalachian Road Show’s Della Jane’s Heart, released by Billy Blue Records, is nominated for 2026 IBMA Album of the Year. The band is also nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year. Winners will be announced October 22 at the 37th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The National Fiddler Hall of Fame recognizes contributions to fiddling and works to preserve the instrument’s musical heritage through education and promotion.
For more information, visit TheAppalachianRoadShow.com and NationalFiddlerHallofFame.org.
Appalachian Road Show on tour:
OCT 08 Waldron, Ark. / Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival
OCT 10 Athens, Tenn. / Pumpkintown Festival
OCT 15 Manteo, N.C. / Bluegrass Island Music Festival
OCT 24 Maggie Valley, N.C. / Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival
OCT 29 Nashville, Tenn. / The Station Inn (with Skip Ewing)
OCT 31 Ellijay, Ga. / First Baptist Church - Ellijay Fall Festival
NOV 21 Easton, Md. / A. Curtis Andrew Auction
DEC 12 Leesburg, Va. / Luckett's Bluegrass
DEC 13 Prince Frederick, Md. / Southern Maryland Bluegrass Concert Series
For more information, visit TheAppalachianRoadShow.com and NationalFiddlerHallofFame.org.
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ABOUT JIM VANCLEVE:
GRAMMY-winning musician, producer, composer and recording engineer Jim VanCleve has spent nearly three decades building one of the most distinctive musical voices in contemporary bluegrass. A founding member of Mountain Heart and The Appalachian Road Show, his virtuosic fiddling, compositions, arrangements and emotionally charged performances have helped expand the possibilities of modern bluegrass while remaining deeply rooted in the Appalachian traditions that shaped him.
VanCleve has performed or recorded with artists including Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, James Taylor, Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Zach Top. His original composition “Nature of the Beast” earned a GRAMMY nomination, while his compositions and arrangements have been performed by musicians around the world. In 2026, VanCleve was selected for induction into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, recognizing his musicianship, innovation and lasting contribution to American fiddling.
ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN ROAD SHOW:
Formed in 2018, The Appalachian Road Show celebrates the music, history, culture and enduring spirit of Appalachia through world-class musicianship, soaring harmonies and authentic storytelling. Featuring Barry Abernathy, Jim VanCleve, Darrell Webb, Todd Phillips and Zeb Snyder, the acclaimed group has earned multiple No. 1 recordings, numerous IBMA nominations and 2021 IBMA Awards for New Artist of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year.
The band’s latest album, Della Jane’s Heart, is nominated for 2026 IBMA Album of the Year, with The Appalachian Road Show also nominated for 2026 Instrumental Group of the Year.
For more information, visit TheAppalachianRoadShow.com.
