Americana Music Honors & Awards

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, Loretta Lynn, Billy Bob Thornton, Bonnie Raitt, Dwight Yoakam and George Strait 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.

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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.

Artist of the Year

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Billy Strings
2021	Brandi Carlile
2020	John Prine
2019	Brandi Carlile
2018	John Prine
2017	John Prine
2016	Chris Stapleton
2015	Sturgill Simpson
2014	Jason Isbell
2013	Dwight Yoakam
2012	Gillian Welch
2011	Buddy Miller
2010	Ryan Bingham
2009	Buddy Miller
2008	Levon Helm
2007	Patty Griffin
2006	Neil Young
2005	John Prine
2004	Loretta Lynn
2003	Johnny Cash
2002	Jim Lauderdale

Duo/Group of the Year

Year	Duo/Group	Ref.
2022	The War and Treaty
2021	Black Pumas
2020	The Highwomen
2019	I'm with Her
2018	Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
2017	Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives
2016	Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
2015	The Mavericks
2014	The Milk Carton Kids
2013	Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
2012	The Civil Wars
2011	The Avett Brothers
2010	The Avett Brothers
2009	Buddy & Julie Miller
2008	Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
2007	The Avett Brothers
2006	Drive-By Truckers

Instrumentalist of the Year

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Larissa Maestro
2021	Kristin Weber
2020	Brittany Haas
2019	Chris Eldridge
2018	Molly Tuttle
2017	Charlie Sexton
2016	Sara Watkins
2015	John Leventhal
2014	Buddy Miller
2013	Larry Campbell
2012	Dave Rawlings
2011	Buddy Miller
2010	Buddy Miller
2009	Gurf Morlix
2008	Buddy Miller
2007	Buddy Miller
2006	Kenny Vaughan
2005	Sonny Landreth
2004	Will Kimbrough
2003	Jerry Douglas
2002	Jerry Douglas

Emerging Act of the Year

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2023	S.G. Goodman
2022	Sierra Ferrell
2021	Charley Crockett
2020	Black Pumas
2019	The War and Treaty
2018	Tyler Childers
2017	Amanda Shires
2016	Margo Price
2015	Shakey Graves
2014	Sturgill Simpson
2013	Shovels & Rope
2012	Alabama Shakes
2011	Mumford & Sons
2010	Hayes Carll
2009	Justin Townes Earle
2008	Mike Farris
2007	The Avett Brothers
2006	The Greencards
2005	Mary Gauthier
2004	Mindy Smith

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Americana Trailblazer Award

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2021	The Mavericks
2019	Maria Muldaur
2018	K.d. lang
2017	Iris DeMent
2016	Shawn Colvin
2015	Don Henley
2013	Old Crow Medicine Show
2011	Bob Harris
2008	Nanci Griffith
2007	Lyle Lovett

First Amendment Center and Americana Music Association "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award/Inspiration Award

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Indigo Girls
2021	Carla Thomas
2019	Mavis Staples
2018	Rosanne Cash
2017	Graham Nash
2016	Billy Bragg
2015	Buffy Sainte-Marie
2014	Jackson Browne
2013	Stephen Stills
2010	Mary Chapin Carpenter
2008	Joan Baez
2007	Mavis Staples
2006	Charlie Daniels
2005	Judy Collins
2004	Steve Earle
2003	Kris Kristofferson
2002	Johnny Cash

Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Al Bell
2018	The Olivia Records Founders: Judy Dlugacz and Cris Williamson
2017	The HighTone Founders: Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg
2013	Chris Strachwitz
2012	Dennis Lord
2011	Rick Hall
2010	Luke Lewis
2009	Ken Levitan
2008	Terry Lickona
2007	Mary Martin
2006	Barry Poss
2005	The Rounder Founders: Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton, Bill Nowlin
2004	Jack Emerson
2003	Sam Phillips
2002	T-Bone Burnett

Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2018	Buddy Guy
2017	Hi Rhythm
2015	Ricky Skaggs
2014	Flaco Jimenez
2013	Duane Eddy
2012	Booker T. Jones
2011	Jerry Douglas
2010	Greg Leisz
2009	Sam Bush
2008	Larry Campbell
2007	Ry Cooder
2006	Kenny Vaughan

Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Chris Isaak
2021	Keb' Mo'
2019	Delbert McClinton
2018	Irma Thomas
2017	Robert Cray
2016	Bob Weir
2015	Los Lobos
2014	Taj Mahal
2013	Dr. John
2012	Bonnie Raitt
2011	Gregg Allman
2010	Wanda Jackson
2009	Asleep at the Wheel
2008	Jason & the Scorchers
2007	Joe Ely
2006	Alejandro Escovedo
2005	Marty Stuart
2004	Chris Hillman
2003	Levon Helm
2002	Emmylou Harris

Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2019	Elvis Costello
2017	Van Morrison
2016	William Bell
2015	Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
2014	Loretta Lynn
2013	Robert Hunter
2012	Richard Thompson
2011	Lucinda Williams
2010	John Mellencamp
2009	John Fogerty
2008	John Hiatt
2007	Willie Nelson
2006	Rodney Crowell
2005	Guy Clark
2004	Cowboy Jack Clement
2003	John Prine
2002	Billy Joe Shaver

[National Museum of African American Music]/Americana Music Association Legacy of Americana Award

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	The Fairfield Four
2021	Fisk Jubilee Singers
2019	Rhiannon Giddens
2019	Frank Johnson

President's Award

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Don Williams
2019	Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
2016	Woody Guthrie
2015	B.B. King
2014	Jimmie Rodgers
2013	Hank Williams
2009	Lowell George
2008	Jerry Garcia
2007	Townes Van Zandt
2006	Mickey Newbury
2005	John Hartford
2004	Carter Family
2003	Gram Parsons
2002	Doug Sahm

WagonMaster/Lifetime Achievement Award

Year	Recipient	Ref.
2022	Buddy Miller
2016	Jim Lauderdale
2007	Porter Wagoner

UK Americana Music Association Awards

The inaugural UK AMA awards were presented by the UK Americana Music Association were held at St John at Hackney in London on 3 February 2016 and was hosted by Bob Harris and Ethan Johns. The second annual UK Americana awards were held on 2 February 2017 and the third awards were held on 1 February 2018. The fifth awards were held on 30 January 2020. The 2021 ceremony was held virtually on 29 January due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 ceremony was held at the Hackney Empire and was hosted by Harris and Baylen Leonard on 26 January 2023.

UK Album of the Year

2023 – Superhuman by Ferris & Sylvester
2022 – Stand for Myself by Yola
2021 – In This Town You're Owned by Robert Vincent
2020 – Walk Through Fire by Yola
2019 – Shorebound by Ben Glover
2018 – I'll Make The Most of My Sins by Robert Vincent
2017 – Ghost by Lewis & Leigh
2016 – What Kind of Love by Danny and the Champions of the World

International Album of the Year

2023 – Raise the Roof by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
2022 – Outside Child by Allison Russell
2021 – Old Flowers by Courtney Marie Andrews
2020 – The Highwomen by The Highwomen
2019 – May Your Kindness Remain by Courtney Marie Andrews
2018 – The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
2017 – Angeleno by Sam Outlaw
2016 – Blackbirds by Gretchen Peters

UK Artist of the Year

2023 – Elles Bailey
2022 – Yola
2021 – Robert Vincent
2020 – Yola
2019 – Bennett Wilson Poole
2018 – Emily Barker
2017 – Yola
2016 – Danny and the Champions of the World

International Artist of the Year

UK Song of the Year

2023 - “Car Crash” by Hannah White
2022 – "Willing" by Lady Nade
2021 – "I Don't Wanna Lie" by Yola, Dan Auerbach and Bobby Wood
2020 – "Little Piece of Heaven" by Elles Bailey, Bobby Wood and Dan Auerbach
2019 – "Southern Wind" by Dean Owens
2018 – "Home" by Yola Carter
2017 – "The 4:19" by Al Lewis and Alva Leigh
2016 – "Clear Water" by Danny George Wilson and Paul Lush

International Song of the Year

2023 – "You Are Not Alone" by Allison Russell featuring Brandi Carlile
2022 – "Right on Time" by Brandi Carlile
2021 – Hand Over My Heart by The Secret Sisters
2020 – "Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne" by Amy Speace
2019 – "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile
2018 – "Tenderheart" by Sam Outlaw
2017 – "Hands of Time" by Margo Price
2016 – "Blackbirds" by Gretchen Peters and Ben Glover

Bob Harris Emerging Artist of the Year

2023 – The Hanging Stars
2022 – Lauren Housley
2021 – Robbie Cavanaugh and Demi Marriner
2020 – Ferris & Sylvester
2019 – Curse of Lono
2018 – The Wandering Hearts
2017 – Wildwood Kin
2016 – Robert Vincent

UK Instrumentalist of the Year

2023 – Holly Carter
2022 – Michelle Stodart
2021 – Anna Corcoran
2020 – Siân Monaghan
2019 – CJ Hillman
2018 – Thomas Collison
2017 – CJ Hillman
2016 – B. J. Cole

Australian Americana Music Association Honours

The inaugural annual Australian American Music Honours Night, a celebration of Australian roots music, was held on October 2, 2017. The ceremony, which was televised on the Country Music Channel in early 2018, featured performances from many of Australia's top roots performers alongside Valerie June and Old Crow Medicine Show who acted as "US Americana Ambassadors". The inaugural ceremony also featured the presentation of two honours. The second event was held on October 11, 2018, and featured Margo Price and Joshua Hedley as Americana Ambassadors.