Marty Stuart hosted the awards show

Performers:

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder with the Nashville String Machine Orchestra
and Butch Baldassari on mandocello

Andy Leftwich

Cody Kilby

Ricky Skaggs

Paul Brewster

Butch Baldassari

Blue Highway
Left to right: Jason Burleson (banjo), Shawn Lane (mandolin), Wayne Taylor (bass), Tim Stafford (guitar), Rob Ickes (resophonic guitar)

Claire Lynch Band
Left to right: David Harvey (mandolin), Claire Lynch (guitar), Missy Raines (bass), Jim Hurst (guitar)

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
Left to right: Mike Hartgrove (fiddle), Terry Baucom (banjo), Doyle Lawson (mandolin), Darren Beachly (bass), Jamie Dailey (guitar)

The Del McCoury Band with special guest Vince Gill
Left to right: Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Jason Carter (fiddle), Rob McCoury (banjo), Del McCoury (guitar), Alan Bartram (bass), Vince Gill (guitar)

Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers
with special guests Curly Seckler and Ron Stewart

Left to right: Curly Seckler, Larry D. Sparks, and Larry Sparks

The Grascals
Left to right: Danny Roberts (mandolin), Jimmy Mattingly (fiddle), Jamie Johnson (guitar), Terry Smith (bass), Terry Eldredge (guitar), special guest Steve Wariner (guitar), David Talbot (banjo)

The US Navy bluegrass band Country Current

The 2005 Instrumental Awards Winners
Left to right: Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Jim Mills (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitar), Phil Leadbetter (resophonic guitar)

Rhonda Vincent salutes US service men and women

Some of the 2006 Award Winners:

Winners of the Recorded Event of the Year: The Daughters of Bluegrass for their "Back the the Well" CD
Featuring: Lorraine Jordan, Gena Britt, Julie Elkins, Becky Buller, Vickie Simmons, Frances Mooney, Mindy Rakestraw, Jeanette Williams, Beth Lawrence, Angela Oudean, Michelle Nixon, Donica Christensen, Dale Ann Bradley, Heather Berry, Megan McCormick, Valerie Smith, Louisa Branscomb & Dixie Hall

Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent

Emerging Artist of the Year: The Steep Canyon Rangers

Male Vocalist of the Year: Tim O'Brien
Tim also won Song of the Year for his song "Look Down That Lonesome Road"

Hall of Honor Inductees: The Lewis Family, performing with the Isaacs

Bobby Osborne performing with Marty Stuart.  Marty is playing Lester Flatt's guitar