Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder

Over the course of his 40 plus year career, Ricky Skaggs has won 14 Grammy Awards, 8 CMA Awards, 9 ACM Awards, 11 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards, and 2 Dove Awards. He is the elder statesman of bluegrass, having performed with Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs before he was 8 years old. With mandolin as his main instrument, Skaggs has shared the stage in recent years with Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Ralph Stanley, Ry Cooder, Emmylou Harris and even the jam band Phish. He was the youngest person ever to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1982. Legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once credited Skaggs with "single-handedly saving country music," and he continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music.