Iowa Duo Weary Ramblers Wins Top Honors at International Acoustic Music Awards

Weary Ramblers' song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" takes home the Overall Grand Prize and Best Country Bluegrass Song awards.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Iowa-based duo Weary Ramblers, featuring Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott, have been awarded the Overall Grand Prize and Best Country Bluegrass Song at the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards for their song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue." This latest recognition adds to the duo's growing list of accolades, including a Josie Music Award, Global Music Awards, and the International Blues Challenge.

Why it matters

Weary Ramblers' success highlights the vibrant music scene in Iowa and the duo's ability to transcend genre boundaries, earning acclaim in the country, bluegrass, acoustic, and blues music worlds. Their award-winning song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" features influential bluegrass musician Sam Bush and was co-written by the duo while on tour, showcasing their creative songwriting process.

The details

Weary Ramblers, an Iowa-based duo featuring Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott, were awarded the Overall Grand Prize and Best Country Bluegrass Song at the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards for their song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue." The duo began performing together in 2022 and released their first album in 2024, quickly amassing a long list of achievements, including a Josie Music Award, Global Music Awards, and the International Blues Challenge.

  • Weary Ramblers began performing together in 2022.
  • Weary Ramblers released their first album in 2024.
  • Weary Ramblers' award-winning song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" was released on their second album "Driftwood" in late 2025.
  • Weary Ramblers were awarded the Overall Grand Prize and Best Country Bluegrass Song at the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards.

The players

Weary Ramblers

An Iowa-based duo featuring Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott, known for their unique blend of country, bluegrass, acoustic, and blues music.

Kathryn Severing Fox

One half of the Weary Ramblers duo, known for her contributions to the group's award-winning songs and performances.

Chad Elliott

One half of the Weary Ramblers duo, known for his songwriting and guitar skills that have helped the group earn numerous accolades.

Sam Bush

An influential bluegrass musician who performed mandolin on Weary Ramblers' award-winning song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue."

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What they’re saying

“It is an absolute honor to be awarded this prestigious recognition. Artists like Charlie Parr and Dom Flemons have won the Overall Grand Prize in the past. It's exciting to now be in a club with those kinds of artists.”

— Kathryn Severing Fox, Weary Ramblers member (dmcityview.com)

“It's been a surreal year, and this past month has been incredible. Each recognition is so meaningful, and it's an honor to be recognized in the country, bluegrass, acoustic and blues music worlds. We love being artists that stay out of a box, so being recognized in multiple genres has affirmed our unique path.”

— Kathryn Severing Fox, Weary Ramblers member (dmcityview.com)

“We were touring through the Southeast. We both caught pneumonia on tour, but it didn't stop us from writing. It was late at night as we crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. We saw a sign that read 'Bluegrass Highway,' and a full moon hung on the horizon. We just knew a song needed to be written. With lots of time behind the wheel, we worked out the harmonies as we coughed between verses.”

— Chad Elliott, Weary Ramblers member (dmcityview.com)

What’s next

Weary Ramblers are going on the Legendary Blues Cruise and the Durango Blues Train, and they have tours in different regions starting to line up as a result of their recent accolades.

The takeaway

Weary Ramblers' success demonstrates the vibrant music scene in Iowa and the duo's ability to transcend genre boundaries, earning acclaim in multiple music worlds. Their award-winning song "Kentucky Never Seemed So Blue" showcases their creative songwriting process and collaborative spirit.