It started with a question: what happens when you put a camera three feet away from some of the greatest bluegrass musicians alive and just let them talk?

That question became My Bluegrass Story. And the answer, apparently, is Emmy-nominated television.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced the nominees for the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, and My Bluegrass Story is among six programs nominated for Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program. The winner will be announced during the Daytime Emmys Creative Arts and Lifestyle ceremony on June 17, airing live at 8 p.m. CT on Watch.TheEmmys.TV and via The Emmys apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku.

The Concept

Tanner+West partnered with the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum to develop and produce the series. The idea came out of a conversation between Jason Tanner and Hall of Fame Executive Director Chris Joslin, both asking the same question any good storyteller eventually asks: what do people not know yet that they would want to?

The format is deceptively simple. Each 26-minute episode is built around a single artist. Long-form interviews. A live solo performance filmed inside the Hall of Fame, surrounded by artifacts and plaques of past inductees. And a personal memento the artist brought with them, something meaningful to their career, left behind at the Hall as part of a continuing exhibit.

No host. No desk. No panel. Just the artist, the camera, and a conversation most audiences have never gotten to hear.

The Artists

The show features some of the most significant names in the genre: Hall of Fame members Del McCoury and Doyle Lawson. Grammy winners Rhonda Vincent and Tammy Rogers of The Steeldrivers. IBMA award winners Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Russell Moore, Becky Buller, and Joe Mullins. Emerging artists Noah Wall of The Barefoot Movement, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, and Tony Kamel.

Each episode goes somewhere most music television never does: into the background stories, the childhood influences, the meaning behind specific songs, and the moments of doubt and clarity that shaped a career. Then the performance, live and intimate, filmed close enough to feel like a private concert.

"These are blow-your-mind performances," Tanner said. "Just to see the level of dedication, talent, and passion these artists have is amazing and inspiring."

The Production

Tanner+West produced and edited every episode of the series. Jason Tanner directed alongside Dave Docimo of Wavelength Films, Grant Peele of Muse Storytelling, and Dan Miller of Bluegrass Unlimited. David Grinnell served as director of photography, producer, and editor. Jared Tanner handled audio direction and editing.

The show initially aired on RFD-TV, reaching more than 52 million homes across 100+ cable providers, satellite, and streaming platforms. Full episodes are available free on the show's YouTube channel.

"The award show will be held in Los Angeles in June," Tanner said. "We plan to represent bluegrass music and the craft of storytelling in Hollywood."

The ceremony airs June 17 at 8 p.m. CT on Watch.TheEmmys.TV.