Actor Steve Martin will defend his title as Entertainer of the Year at the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards next month.

Martin's band Steep Canyon Rangers, which took home the honor last year, will go head-to-head for the prize with The Gibson Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, which received the most nods, a total of nine.

Other notable mentions include late guitarist Doc Watson, who scored a posthumous nomination in the Instrumental Performers of the Year category, and singer/songwriter Vince Gill, who is up for Male Vocalist of the Year.

The trophies will be handed out at the annual awards ceremony on September 27th in Nashville, Tennessee, and The Jerk star-turned-banjo player Martin hopes the group will again emerge victorious.

In a post on Twitter.com, he writes, "Thrilled to be nominated with SteepCanyon Rangers as Entertainer of the year by the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association)."