UPDATE (Sept. 4): Joe Henry, The McCrary Sisters, Old 97’s, Darrell Scott, and Jesse Welles are this year’s lifetime achievement honorees who will be honored at the 2025 Americana Honors & Awards. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Henry has won three Grammys as a producer in three different categories. He won for producing Solomon Burke’s Don’t Give Up on Me in 2003 (best contemporary blues album), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott’s A Stranger Here in 2010 (best traditional blues album) and Carolina Chocolate Drops’ Genuine Negro Jig in 2011 (best traditional folk album).
Scott has received four Grammy nods in country and American roots music categories.
“This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees represent the heart and soul of the Americana community, from the legendary to the next generation of stars.” Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association and Foundation, said in a statement. “It’s a privilege to recognize and celebrate these incredible artists whose expertise in their craft has left an indelible mark.”
The Americana Honors & Awards ceremony serves as the hallmark event of the association’s annual AMERICANAFEST, taking place Sept. 9-13 in Nashville.
PREVIOUSLY (June 10): Sierra Ferrell, who won artist of the year at last year’s Americana Honors & Awards, is nominated in that category again this year, along with Billy Strings, who won in 2022-23; Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun and Waxahatchee.
Ferrell is vying to become the second woman to win artist of the year twice and the first to do so in back-to-back years. Brandi Carlile won in 2019 and 2021. For his part, Strings would become just the second artist to win three or more times. The late John Prine won four times.
MJ Lenderman, Charley Crockett, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings were each nominated in multiple categories. Lenderman is up for album of the year for Manning Fireworks, song of the year for “Wristwatch” and emerging act of the year. Crockett is up for album of the year for Lonesome Drifter and artist of the year. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats are up for album of the year for South of Here and song of the year for “Heartless.” Welch & Rawlings are nominated for album of the year for Woodland and duo/group of the year.
Larkin Poe, which won duo/group of the year last year, is nominated again in that category, as is the 2015 winner, The Mavericks. Jason Isbell, a three-time winner for album of the year, is nominated again this year for Foxes in the Snow.
The 24th annual Americana Honors & Awards will be held on Sept. 10 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
Artist of the Year
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell
Joy Oladokun
Billy Strings
Waxahatchee
Album of the Year
Lonesome Drifter, Charley Crockett; Produced by Charley Crockett & Shooter Jennings
Foxes in the Snow, Jason Isbell; Produced by Jason Isbell & Gena Johnson
Manning Fireworks, MJ Lenderman; Produced by Alex Farrar & MJ Lenderman
South of Here, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Produced by Brad Cook
Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings; Produced by David Rawlings
Song of the Year
“Johnny Moonshine,” Maggie Antone; Written by Maggie Antone, Natalie Hemby & Aaron Raitiere
“Ancient Light,” I’m With Her; Written by Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins
“Wristwatch,” MJ Lenderman; Written by MJ Lenderman
“Sunshine Getaway,” JD McPherson; Written by Page Burkum, JD McPherson & Jack Torrey
“Heartless,” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Written by Nathaniel Rateliff
Duo/Group of the Year
Julien Baker & TORRES
Dawes
Larkin Poe
The Mavericks
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Emerging Act of the Year
Noeline Hofmann
MJ Lenderman
Medium Build
Maggie Rose
Jesse Welles
Instrumentalist of the Year
Fred Eltringham
Alex Hargreaves
Megan Jane
Kaitlyn Raitz
Seth Taylor