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), Loretta Lynn (2004/2014), Billy Bob Thornton (2005), Bonnie Raitt (2012/2016), Dwight Yoakam (2016) and George Strait (2016) demonstrate the prestige 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. Lauderdale stepped down from hosting duties after the 2017 ceremony and the 2018–19 Honors & Awards were hosted by The Milk Carton Kids. The show did not include a host in 2021.
Nomination process 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 are 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 Act 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.
Competitive awards All awards history information is also available on the Americana Music Association's website.Americana Music Awards Winners
Album of the Year +YearRecipientWorkNomineesRef.2025 Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; produced by Brad CookSouth of Here Lonesome Drifter - Charley Crockett Foxes in the Snow - Jason Isbell Manning Fireworks - MJ Lenderman Woodland - David Rawlings and Gillian Welch2024Sierra Ferrell; produced by Eddie Spear & Gary PaczosaTrail of Flowers Brandy Clark - Brandy Clark The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff Rustin' in the Rain - Tyler Childers Weathervanes - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit2023Tyler ChildersCan I Take My Hounds to Heaven? Big Time - Angel Olsen El Bueno y el Malo - Hermanos Gutiérrez The Man from Waco - Charley Crockett Strays - Margo Price2022Allison Russell, produced by Dan KnoblerOutside Child Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise The Roof Adia Victoria - A Southern Gothic Yola - Stand for Myself2021Sturgill Simpson, Produced by David Ferguson & Sturgill SimpsonCuttin’ Grass - Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) Steve Earle & the Dukes - J.T Valerie June - The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions Sarah Jarosz - World on the Ground2020The Highwomen, Produced by Dave CobbThe Highwomen Nathaniel Rateliff - And It's Still Alright Tyler Childers - Country Squire Brittany Howard - Jaime Tanya Tucker - While I'm Livin'2019John Prine, Produced by Dave CobbThe Tree of Forgiveness Amanda Shires - To the Sunset Lori McKenna - The Tree Yola - Walk Through Fire2018Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Produced by Dave Cobb The Nashville Sound Margo Price - All-American Made Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You Mary Gauthier - Rifles & Rosary Beads2017Sturgill Simpson, Produced by Sturgill SimpsonA Sailor's Guide To Earth Drive-By Truckers - American Band Rodney Crowell - Close Ties Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway Hurray For The Riff Raff - The Navigator2016Jason Isbell, Produced by Dave CobbSomething More Than Free Lucinda Williams - The Ghosts of Highway 20 Parker Millsap - The Very Last Day Chris Stapleton - Traveller2015Lucinda Williams, Produced by Lucinda Williams, Tom Overby, and Greg Leisz Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone Shakey Graves - And The War Came Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin' Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn2014Jason Isbell, Produced by Dave CobbSoutheastern Robert Ellis - The Lights From The Chemical Plant Rosanne Cash - The River And The Thread Sarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From Bones2013Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Produced by Brian AhernOld Yellow Moon Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale - Buddy & Jim Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison - Cheaters Game John Fullbright - From The Ground Up Shovels & Rope - O’ Be Joyful2012Various Artists, Produced by Tamara Saviano This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest2011Robert Plant, Produced by Robert Plant and Buddy MillerBand of Joy Elizabeth Cook - Welder Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues Lucinda Williams - Blessed2010Rosanne Cash, Produced by John LeventhalThe List Dave Rawlings Machine - A Friend of a Friend Patty Griffin - Downtown Church Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C)2009Buddy & Julie Miller, Produced by Buddy & Julie MillerWritten In Chalk Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Justin Townes Earle - Midnight At The Movies2008Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Produced by T Bone Burnett Raising Sand Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind James McMurtry - Just Us Kids Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer2007Patty Griffin, Produced by Griffin McCarthy and Mike McCarthyChildren Running Through Avett Brothers - Emotionalism Bob Dylan - Modern Times Lucinda Williams - West2006James McMurtry, Produced by James McMurtryChildish Things Delbert McClinton - Cost of Living Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives - Soul's Chapel Rodney Crowell - The Outsider2005Buddy Miller, Produced by Buddy MillerUniversal United House of Prayer Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts… Now Mary Gauthier - Mercy Now Tift Merritt - Tambourine2004Loretta Lynn, Produced by Jack WhiteVan Lear Rose Mindy Smith - One Moment More Rodney Crowell - Fate's Right Hand Slaid Cleaves - Wishbones2003Johnny Cash, Produced by Rick RubinAmerican IV: The Man Comes Around Kathleen Edwards - Failer The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music Buddy Miller - Midnight & Lonesome2002Buddy & Julie Miller, Produced by Buddy & Julie MillerBuddy & Julie Miller Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator) The Flatlanders - Now Again Various Artists - Caught In The Webb: Tribute to Webb Pierce
Song of the Year +YearRecipientsWorkNomineesRef2022Brandi Carlile, written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth"Right on Time" “Canola Fields” - James McMurty, written by James McMurtry “Diamond Studded Shoes” - Yola, written by Dan Auerbach, Natalie Hemby, Aaron Lee Tasjan and Yola “Juanita” - Sturgill Simpson feat. Willie Nelson, written by Sturgill Simpson “Persephone” - Allison Russell, written by JT Nero and Allison Russell2021John Prine, written by Pat McLaughlin and John Prine"I Remember Everything" “Black Myself” - Amythyst Kiah, written by Amythyst Kiah “Call Me a Fool” - Valarie June ft. Carla Thomas, written by Valarie June "Dreamsicle" - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, written by Jason Isbell "Long Violent History" - Tyler Childers, written by Tyler Childers2020The Highwomen, written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Lori McKenna"Crowded Table" “And It's Still Alright” - Nathaniel Rateliff, written by Nathaniel Rateliff “Bring My Flowers Now” - Tanya Tucker, written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker “My Love Will Not Change” - Aubrie Sellers feat. Steve Earle, written by Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp “Stay High” - Brittany Howard, written by Brittany Howard “Thoughts and Prayers” - Drive-By Truckers, written by Patterson Hood2019John Prine, written by Pat McLaughlin and John Prine"Summer's End" “By Degrees” - Mark Erelli, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Lori McKenna, Anais Mitchell and Josh Ritter, written by Mark Erelli “Mockingbird” - Ruston Kelly, written by Ruston Kelly “People Get Old” - Lori McKenna, written by Lori McKenna2018Jason Isbell, written by Jason Isbell"If We Were Vampires" “A Little Pain” - Margo Price, written by Margo Price “All the Trouble” - Lee Ann Womack, written by Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack and Adam Wright “The Joke” - Brandi Carlile, written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth2017Rodney Crowell, written by Rodney Crowell"It Ain't Over Yet" “All Around You” - Sturgill Simpson, written by Sturgill Simpson “To Be Without You” - Ryan Adams, written by Ryan Adams “Wreck You” - Lori McKenna, written by Lori McKenna & Felix McTeigue2016Jason Isbell, written by Jason Isbell"24 Frames" “Dime Store Cowgirl” - Kacey Musgraves, written by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally “Hands Of Time” - Margo Price, written by Margo Price “S.O.B.” - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats, written by Nathaniel Rateliff2015Sturgill Simpson, written by Sturgill Simpson"Turtles All The Way Down" “Dearly Departed” - Shakey Graves, written by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Esme Patterson “East Side Of Town” - Lucinda Williams, written by Lucinda Williams “Terms Of My Surrender” - John Hiatt, written by John Hiatt “You're The Best Lover That I Ever Had” - Steve Earle & the Dukes, written by Steve Earle2014Jason Isbell, written by Jason Isbell"Cover Me Up" “The Lights From The Chemical Plant” - Robert Ellis, written by Robert Ellis “The River And The Thread” - Rosanne Cash, written by Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal “Build Me Up From Bones” - Sarah Jarosz, written by Sarah Jarosz2013Shovels & Rope, written by Shovels & Rope"Birmingham" “Good Things Happen to Bad People” - Richard Thompson, written by Richard Thompson “Ho Hey” - The Lumineers, written by Jeremy Fraites & Wesley Keith Schultz “North Side Gal” - JD McPherson, written by JD McPherson2012Jason Isbell, written by Jason Isbell“Alabama Pines” “Come Around” - Sarah Jarosz, written by Sarah Jarosz “I Love” - Patty Griffin, written by Tom T. Hall “Waitin’ On The Sky” - Steve Earle, written by Steve Earle2011Justin Townes Earle, written by Justin Townes Earle“Harlem River Blues” “Down By The Water” - The Decemberists, written by Colin Meloy