Smithville’s Fourth of July festivities came to an end last Saturday evening, culminating in the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival’s musical duel known as the Fiddle Off. Reigning champion and this year’s Junior Fiddler, Tyler Andal of Nashville, faced off with the Senior Fiddler Bonnie Norris, also of Nashville. Andal would come out on top, making him a three-time champion, having also won in 2015 and 2024.
As the Grand Champion, Andal took home the Berry C. Williams Memorial award, and will again be invited by the Grand Ole Opry to play a ‘fiddle tune’ for the Opry square dancers’ LIVE performance during a selected show. The Grand Ole Opry has partnered with the Smithville Jamboree since 2022 to offer this exciting opportunity to the fiddle champion, as a way to honor the tradition and talent of country music fiddlers.
Jamboree President Kim Luton presented the award to Andal around 12:15 a.m. Sunday morning at the end of the competition. Andal also won two others awards over the weekend, First Place for Flat Top Guitar, and Contest Fiddle, known as the Neil Dudney Memorial Award.
Other competition winners for the Saturday events are as follows:
Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39) - sponsored by Gayla Hendrix, Attorney at Law: First place went to Jacob Campbell of Smithville, while second was given to Matthew Campbell of McMinnville. Trebel Chunn of Greenbrier claimed third place
Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages 40 & Over) - sponsored by Cheryl’s Beau Bees: Jason Wade of Smyrna was awarded first place, while second place went to Ann Bane of Smyrna. Third place was presented to Shawna Taylor of Murfreesboro.
Senior Buck Dancing (Ages 40 & Over) - sponsored by Fiesta Jalisco: The first-place winner was Ann Bane of Smyrna, with second place given to Shawna Taylor of Murfreesboro. Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet won third place.
Senior Clogging (Ages 40 & Over) - sponsored by Evins Mill Resort and Retreat: First place went to Jason Wade of Smyrna, while second place was won by Heather Brown Curry of Springfield. The third-place winner was Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet.
Bluegrass Banjo - sponsored by Deering Banjo: Chuck Holcomb of Winchester won first place while second place went to Joey Gipson of Manchester. Third place was presented to Derek Stone of Chattanooga.
Bluegrass Band - sponsored by the IBMA: The Rambler Band of Nashville won first place, while Dave Edgington of Nashville and the Blue Moon Strings Band won second. Third place went to The Center Hill Collective of Smithville.
Flat Top Guitar - sponsored by The Purple Door: Tyler Andal of Nashville took the top spot, while Nick Norris of Nashville came in second. Third place went to Rob Pearcy of Smyrna.
Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award) - sponsored by the Dudney Family: Tyler Andal of Nashville claimed first, while second place went to Bonnie Norris of Nashville. Third place was presented to Summer Edgington of Nashville.
NCHC Precision Dancing - sponsored by Magnolia Roots: Tennessee Stompers of Greenbrier claimed first, while Triple Star Sterling of Hurricane Mills came in second.
NCHC Traditional Line Dancing - sponsored by The Male Room Brotique: First place went to Guyan River Cloggers of Ranger, WV, while second place was presented to Tennessee Dance Alliance of Mount Juliet. Triple Star Eclipse of Hurricane Mills came in third.
Junior Fiddlers (Ages 13-39) - sponsored by the Smithville Review: Tyler Andal of Nashville took the top prize, while Sarah Hathaway of Bowling Green, KY came in second. Summer Edgington of Nashville was third.
Senior Fiddlers (Ages 40 & Over) - sponsored by WJLE Radio: Bonnie Norris of Nashville was the first-place winner, while second place went to Joseph Overton of Smithville. Third place was presented to Brent Frailicks of Lebanon.
Square Dancing - sponsored by TN Entertainment Commission: Smithville Select of Smithville took the top spot, while Rocky Top Revue of Franklin came in second. Tennessee Dance Alliance of Mount Juliet was third.
Several awards were presented earlier in the day, including those for musician beginners, with a Columbia girl repeating as top fiddler. This year’s James G. “Bobo” Driver Memorial award winner is Ella Derby. She was named the best fiddler in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners. The award is in honor of the man who started the children’s competition during the 1980s. Members of Mr. Driver’s family joined Derby onstage to present the award.
Another top award was presented to Kade Stewart of Anderson, AL. He was named the winner of the Nolan Turner Memorial Entertainer of the Year. The award is sponsored by the Turner family, and is presented to the best overall instrumental entertainer among winners in the dobro guitar, mandolin, five string banjo, and flat top guitar competition. Turner, who died in October 2017, was a long-time Jamboree photographer. Stewart earned first place in the beginner dobro guitar; second place in the beginner five string banjo and flat top guitar events, and earned third in beginner mandolin.
Other winners in the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners are as follows:
Beginner Fiddle - sponsored by the S&B Design: First Place went to Ella Derby of Columbia, with Kadence Edgington of Nashville taking second. Third place went to Sophie Gruber of Meridanville, AL.
Beginner Buck Dancing - sponsored by DeKalb Title: Levi Campbell of McMinnville won the top spot, while Lyla Mae Wharton of Mount Juliet won second. Third was presented to Adley Wharton of Mount Juliet.
Beginner Clogging - sponsored by Cody Tipton, Realtor: Lyla Mae Wharton of Mount Juliet claimed first place, while second went to Adley Wharton of Mount Juliet. Third was given to Ryman Harris of Rockvale.
Beginner Dobro Guitar - sponsored by Three Nails Lounge & Spa: Kade Stewart of Anderson, AL was the man on top.
Beginner Mandolin - sponsored by The Attic on Walnut Street: Silas Pegg of Gallatin won first, while second went to Sophie Gruber of Meridanville, AL. Third was presented to Kade Stewart of Anderson, AL.
Beginner Five String Banjo - sponsored by Legacy Haus: First place was given to Immanuel Roberts of Fort Payne, AL, while second went to Kade Stewart. Third place was claimed by Ryker Lemons of Murfreesboro.
Beginner Flat Top Guitar - sponsored by Cross Driven Motorsports Exhaust: First place was presented to Collette Rainwater of Murfreesboro. Second went to Kade Stewart while third went to Joel Roberts of Fort Payne, AL.
