Americana Music Honors & Awards

Americana Honors & Awards
Awarded for	Outstanding achievements in the music industry
Country	United States
Presented by	Americana Music Association
First awarded	2002
Official website	americanamusic.org
Television/Radio coverage
Network	PBS (2011–present) AXS TV (2012–present)

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.^[1] 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), and Bonnie Raitt (2012) 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 the Jim Lauderdale, while the All Star Band was led by Buddy Miller. The 2012 Honors & Awards show was aired live on AXS TV^[2] and later aired on Austin City Limits on PBS^[3] and replayed on AXS TV.

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.^[4]

Below is the Criteria for each of the following categories:^[4]

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.

Americana Awards Recipient History

All awards history information is also available on the Americana Music Association's Website.^[4]

Album of the Year

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)

Song of the Year

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 Scott
2006 – "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)