The Americana Music Honors & Awards is the marquee event for the Americana Music Association. Beginning in 2002, the Americana Music Association honors distinguished members of the music community. Six member-voted awards and several Lifetime Achievement Awards are handed out while over 2000 artists, music-loving fans and entertainment industry executives look on.
The Honors & Awards have featured a variety of musical events, including Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s last live performance together. Artists such as The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Robert Plant & His Band of Joy, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, Rosanne Cash and John Fogerty have also performed for the event, and special appearances by artists like Kris Kristofferson (2003), Billy Bob Thornton (2005), Rosanne Cash (2006), Bonnie Raitt (2012/2016) and George Strait (2016) demonstrate the significance of the genre and awards show.
The Honors & Awards show was first broadcast on national television in 2005. Also in 2005, SiriusXM, BBC2, and Voice of America began broadcasting the show on radio. PBS began airing an abbreviated version during Austin City Limits in 2011.
The Americana Honors & Awards Show returned to the historic Ryman Auditorium on September 12, 2012. It was once again hosted by Jim Lauderdale, while the All Star Band was led by Buddy Miller. The 2012 Honors & Awards show was aired live on AXS TV and later aired on Austin City Limits on PBS and replayed on AXS TV.
The eligibility period for the Americana Music Association’s “Of The Year” categories typically runs from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. Only active members of the Americana Music Association may participate in the Nomination and Election process. The winners are announced at the annual Americana Music Honors & Awards show.
Below is the Criteria for each of the following categories:
Album of the Year – Americana albums released during the eligibility period.Song of the Year - Americana songs released from Albums released during the eligibility period.Artist of the Year – An Artist who has had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.Emerging Artist of the Year – Solo artist, duo, or group having an exemplary year and first blush of national public awareness through overall recognition and activity, whether through album, song, radio airplay, sales, publicity, touring, or other criteria during eligibility period who has not previously been nominated in any category.Duo/Group of the Year - Duo/Group - have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity, whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.Instrumentalist of the Year : An award given to a collaborative musician having an exemplary year within the eligibility period based on overall recognition and activity, whether through work on an album, song, touring, or other criteria.All awards history information is also available on the Americana Music Association's Website.
2016 - Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell (Southeastern Records)2015 – Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone by Lucinda Williams (Highway 20 Records)2014 – "Southeastern" by Jason Isbell (Southeastern Records)2013 – Old Yellow Moon by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell (Nonesuch)2012 – This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark by Various Artists, Produced by Tamara Saviano and Shawn Camp (Icehouse Music)2011 – Band of Joy by Robert Plant (Rounder Records)2010 – The List by Rosanne Cash (Manhattan)2009 – Written in Chalk by Buddy & Julie Miller (New West)2008 – Raising Sand by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant (Rounder)2007 – Children Running Through by Patty Griffin (ATO)2006 – Childish Things by James McMurtry (Compadre)2005 – Universal United House of Prayer by Buddy Miller (New West)2004 – Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn (Interscope)2003 – American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash (Lost Highway)2002 – Buddy & Julie Miller by Buddy & Julie Miller (Hightone)2016 - "24 Frames" by Jason Isbell; appears on Something More Than Free (Southeastern Records)2015 – "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson; appears on Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (High Top Mountain Records, Loose Music)2014 – "Cover Me Up" by Jason Isbell; appears on "Southeastern" (Southeastern Records)2013 – "Birmingham" by Shovels & Rope; appears on O' Be Joyful (Dualtone)2012 – “Alabama Pines” by Jason Isbell; appears on Here We Rest (Lightning Rod)2011 – “Harlem River Blues” by Justin Townes Earle; appears on Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot)2010 – "The Weary Kind" by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett; appears on Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (New West)2009 – "Chalk" by Julie Miller; appears on Written in Chalk by Buddy & Julie Miller (New West)2008 – "She Left Me for Jesus" by Brian Keane and Hayes Carll; appears on Trouble in Mind by Hayes Carll (Lost Highway)2007 – "Hank Williams' Ghost" by Darrell Scott; appears on Invisible Man by Darrell Scott2006 – "We Can't Make It Here" by James McMurtry; appears on Childish Things by James McMurtry (Compadre)2005 – "Worry Too Much" by Mark Heard; appears on Universal United House Of Prayer by Buddy Miller (New West)2004 – "Fate's Right Hand" by Rodney Crowell; appears on Fate's Right Hand by Rodney Crowell (DMZ/Epic)2003 – "Hurt" by Trent Reznor; appears on American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash (Lost Highway)2002 – "She's Looking At Me" by Jim Lauderdale; appears on Lost In The Lonesome Pines by Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys (Dualtone)2016 – Chris Stapleton2015 – Sturgill Simpson2014 – Jason Isbell2013 – Dwight Yoakam2012 – Gillian Welch2011 – Buddy Miller2010 – Ryan Bingham2009 – Buddy Miller2008 – Levon Helm2007 – Patty Griffin2006 – Neil Young2005 – John Prine2004 – Loretta Lynn2003 – Johnny Cash2002 – Jim Lauderdale2016 – Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell2015 – The Mavericks2014 – The Milk Carton Kids2013 – Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell2012 - The Civil Wars2011 – The Avett Brothers2010 – The Avett Brothers2009 – Buddy & Julie Miller2008 – Alison Krauss & Robert Plant2007 – The Avett Brothers2006 – Drive-By Truckers (first year)2016 – Sara Watkins (fiddle)2015 – John Leventhal (guitar)2014 – Buddy Miller (guitar)2013 – Larry Campbell (guitar)2012 – Dave Rawlings (multiple instruments)2011 – Buddy Miller (guitar)2010 – Buddy Miller (guitar)2009 – Gurf Morlix (multiple instruments)2008 – Buddy Miller (guitar)2007 – Buddy Miller (guitar)2006 – Kenny Vaughan (guitar)2005 – Sonny Landreth (slide guitar)2004 – Will Kimbrough (guitar)2003 – Jerry Douglas (dobro)2002 – Jerry Douglas (dobro)2016 – Margo Price2015 – Shakey Graves2014 – Sturgill Simpson2013 – Shovels & Rope2012 – Alabama Shakes2011 – Mumford & Sons2010 – Hayes Carll2009 – Justin Townes Earle2008 – Mike Farris2007 – The Avett Brothers2006 – The Greencards2005 – Mary Gauthier2004 – Mindy Smith (first year)2016 – Shawn Colvin2015 – Don Henley2013 – Old Crow Medicine Show2011 – Bob Harris2008 – Nanci Griffith2007 – Lyle Lovett (first year)2016 – Billy Bragg2015 – Buffy Sainte-Marie2014 – Jackson Browne2013 – Stephen Stills2010 – Mary Chapin Carpenter2008 – Joan Baez2007 – Mavis Staples2006 – Charlie Daniels2005 – Judy Collins2004 – Steve Earle2003 – Kris Kristofferson2002 – Johnny Cash2013 – Chris Strachwitz2012 – Dennis Lord2011 – Rick Hall2010 – Luke Lewis2009 – Ken Levitan2008 – Terry Lickona2007 – Mary Martin2006 – Barry Poss2005 – The Rounder Founders: Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton, Bill Nowlin2004 – Jack Emerson2003 – Sam Phillips2002 – T-Bone Burnett2015 – Ricky Skaggs (mandolin)2014 – Flaco Jimenez (accordion)2013 – Duane Eddy (guitar)2012 – Booker T. Jones (piano)2011 – Jerry Douglas (dobro)2010 – Greg Leisz (multiple instruments)2009 – Sam Bush (mandolin)2008 – Larry Campbell (multiple string instruments)2007 – Ry Cooder (slide guitar)2006 – Kenny Vaughan (guitar)2016 – Bob Weir2015 – Los Lobos2014 – Taj Mahal2013 – Dr. John2012 – Bonnie Raitt2011 – Greg Allman2010 – Wanda Jackson2009 – Asleep at the Wheel2008 – Jason & the Scorchers2007 – Joe Ely2006 – Alejandro Escovedo2005 – Marty Stuart2004 – Chris Hillman2003 – Levon Helm2002 – Emmylou Harris2010 – Brian Ahern2009 – Jim Rooney2008 – Tony Brown2007 – Jim Dickinson2006 – Allen Toussaint (first year)2016 – William Bell2015 – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings2014 – Loretta Lynn2013 – Robert Hunter2012 – Richard Thompson2011 – Lucinda Williams2010 – John Mellencamp2009 – John Fogerty2008 – John Hiatt2007 – Willie Nelson2006 – Rodney Crowell2005 – Guy Clark2004 – Cowboy Jack Clement2003 – John Prine2002 – Billy Joe Shaver2016 – Woody Guthrie2015 – B.B. King2014 – Jimmie Rodgers2013 – Hank Williams2009 – Lowell George2008 – Jerry Garcia2007 – Townes Van Zandt2006 – Mickey Newbury2005 – John Hartford2004 – Carter Family2003 – Gram Parsons2002 – Doug Sahm2016 – Jim Lauderdale2007 – Porter WagonerThe inaugural UK AMA awards were presented by the UK Americana Music Association were held at St John at Hackney in London on 3rd February 2016 and was hosted by Bob Harris and Ethan Johns. The second annual UK Americana awards were held on 2nd February 2017 and was again hosted by Harris and Johns.
2017 - Ghost by Lewis & Leigh (produced by Matt Ingram)2016 - What Kind of Love by Danny and the Champions of the World (produced by Chris Clarke and Danny George Wilson)2017 - Angeleno by Sam Outlaw (produced by Ry Cooder and Joachim Cooder)2016 - Blackbirds by Gretchen Peters (produced by Doug Lancio, Barry Walsh and Gretchen Peters)2017 - Yola Carter2016 - Danny and the Champions of the World2017 - Sturgill Simpson2016 - Jason Isbell2017 - "The 4:19" by Al Lewis and Alva Leigh (Lewis & Leigh)2016 - "Clear Water" by Danny George Wilson and Paul Lush (Danny and the Champions of the World)2017 - "Hands of Time" by Margo Price2016 - "Blackbirds" by Gretchen Peters and Ben Glover (Gretchen Peters)2017 - Wildwood Kin2016 - Robert Vincent2017 - CJ Hillman (multiple instruments)2016 - BJ Cole (steel guitar)2017 - Albert Lee2016 - Billy Bragg2017 - Richard Thompson2016 -
