Nu-Blu continues to blaze a trail all its own to the forefront of the acoustic music scene with 10 high-profile 2025 Josie Award nominations.
The band, founded and fronted by Carolyn and Daniel Routh, received nods for Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year, all coveted categories.
“It’s still sinking in for us that we’re nominated in so many categories,” Daniel says. “We would’ve been thrilled with just one, but ten!”
The Group of the Year nomination hedges on Nu-Blu’s musicianship, both vocally and instrumentally. This award category also demands the nominee boast an impressive social media presence for consideration.
Nu-Blu’s introspective standard, “Where You’ve Been” clinched the Song of the Year Nomination.
It was Nu-Blu’s powerfully memorable performance for the song, “The Will” that secured a nomination for Video of the Year.
“For us, this is proof our music and story resonate with people,” Carolyn says. “We pour our hearts into our music, and this means it’s touching the hearts of our fans.”
The 2025 Josie Awards Ceremony is set for Sunday, November 2nd at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House. The show celebrates independent musicians and industry professionals with live performances, networking opportunities, and – of course – the award presentations.
Nu-Blu Nominations List
Music Video of the Year (Performance Focused/Duo-Group)
The Will
Musician of the Year (Banjo)
Austin Hefflefinger
Vocalist of the Year – Bluegrass
Carolyn Routh
Daniel Routh
Group of the Year – Bluegrass
Nu-Blu
Musician of the Year (Strings)
Justin Harrison – Mandolin
Song of the Year – Bluegrass
Where You’ve Been
Song of the Year – Gospel/Christian/Inspirational
Jesus Love You – Carolyn Routh, Jody McBrayer
EP/Album of the Year – Multi Genre
Where You’ve Been
Vocal Event of the Year (Male/Female Collaboration)
Carolyn Routh, Sharon White and Ricky Skaggs – The Will
“We’re so honored by these nominations, it’ll be hard to wait till November to see who wins,” Carolyn says.
“Just being there, celebrating our passion for music with other musicians is an award in itself,” Daniel adds. “Of course that doesn’t mean we don’t want to bring home a trophy – or three!”
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Josie Music Awards.
ABOUT NU-BLU
After releasing five Top Ten Billboard albums, North Carolina based Nu-Blu, fronted by husband and wife duo Carolyn and Daniel Routh, quickly established themselves as one of the top Acoustic acts in the music industry. Now celebrating 20 years of entertaining, they deliver a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant, and at every step they prove they’ve got a knack for finding their way into the deeper parts of you.
“Carolyn Routh, to me, is the breathtaking heir to the kingdom that Alison Krauss built…”
— Nashville Entertainment Weekly
Over the years, they’ve turned many heads, garnering major headlines with their George Jones inspired tribute single “Jesus and Jones” featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer ‘Soul Man’ Sam Moore (of the iconic duo Sam and Dave). The award-winning band has also made appearances on Fox News, while also having their music featured on CBS “Sunday Morning.” Recently they have moved into the role of helping bring Bluegrass to the masses, serving as the permanent host of the nationally-syndicated TV show “Bluegrass Ridge,” which airs in 120 million homes worldwide.
Hailing from Siler City, the textbook definition of a picturesque small southern town, Nu-Blu’s heart and soul is husband-and-wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh. Carolyn’s caramel-coated soprano is one of the band’s defining traits, at times a tender lullaby, at times a freight train headed straight for you, but always unwinding a surprising tale. Daniel is the group’s backbone, a multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist who also handles band management. Austin Hefflefinger on banjo, guitar, and vocals, and Justin Harrison on mandolin, fiddle, and percussion round out the quartet’s warm, layered, Appalachian sound. Together they deliver upbeat, blazing-fingers pick work just as well as gentle, heartwarming ballads, and they do it all with a natural togetherness that can’t be faked, forged over hundreds of shows on the road.
RELATED POSTS
April 2025 Release Marks a Pioneering Moment for Award-Winning Bluegrass Band, Nu-Blu
The Malpass Brothers, Dynamic Country Music Duo and TV Hosts, Receive Prestigious Josie Music Award Nominations, Plus The Tex Ritter Award
Bluegrass Ridge TV Marks 25 Years as the Premier Destination Bluegrass Music Videos and Artist News