How could someone turn Billy Strings away from the bluegrass scene? You won’t find a lot of modern-day superstars in the bluegrass music scene, and that’s honestly okay, because Billy Strings has it pretty much covered. Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson sometimes dip into the realm of bluegrass, but there’s no one who can fill an arena by flat-pickin’ quite like William Lee Apostol, A.K.A. Billy Strings. Billy Strings didn’t just magically turn into a master bluegrass player overnight. He dedicated himself to playing guitar and learning music at a young age, even studying the likes of bluegrass legends like Doc Watson and trying to emulate the greats. And his parents helped introduce him to a variety of different music, which ultimately shaped him as the impressive artist that he is today. Now, at 32-years-old, there’s not really a song or style that’s off limits for Billy Strings. He’s far and above one of the best, young bluegrass artists in the world, and that’s why he was once again awarded the Entertainer of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s 36th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Strings has previously won that very award in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Though he’s had plenty of success in the bluegrass sphere, it hasn’t always been easy sledding for Billy Strings. In fact, he used his keynote address at the Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards to speak on his initial exclusion from the bluegrass scene, and how other bluegrass musicians weren’t quick to welcome him in: “I remember early in my career being boxed out of many jams. I’d show up to a bluegrass festival so eager to pick with some good musicians only to be met with a bitter resistance. I’m not sure if it’s because I smelled like weed or cussed or had tattoos. I didn’t feel like it was a skill thing because it felt like I could hang, but it just seemed like there was certain folks that didn’t like me. There were times when I went back to my tent almost in tears and didn’t end up playing with anybody. I just wanted to pick and it was weird.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) (@intlbluegrass) Can you believe that? The International Bluegrass Music Association actually broke up his keynote speech into two parts, which really worked out well. What you just watched is the foundation for the call to action that Billy Strings brings upon the bluegrass music community. Since he knows what it feels like, first hand, to not be accepted just because he didn’t “fit the mold” of what typical bluegrass pickers look like, Billy Strings proposed that the bluegrass community keep an open mind. Instead of slamming the door shut like others did to him, he suggests keeping the door cracked open for others to enter in. He uses a tree metaphor that’s much better than the one I just deployed: “We have to continue to welcome new voices whose unique perspectives and experience will enrich our collective artistic expression. We’ve got to allow these fresh ideas to mingle with tradition. By keeping our minds open, we’ll have a more welcoming environment and make way for the whole genre to evolve and thrive. This music has branches now. The trunk of the tree is firmly planted with roots reaching down deeper and stronger than ever. And the beautiful buds on (the) bluegrass tree are blossoming and reaching up towards the big blue sky… I don’t know about you, but I’m glad there’s flowers on this tree. I see no reason to pull out the shears.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) (@intlbluegrass) You can watch the full speech below: The post Billy Strings Says Not Initially Being Accepted Into The Bluegrass Scene Brought Him To Tears: “I Just Wanted To Pick” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.