Last night, the Americana Music Association held their 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The star-studded show, which packed plenty of magical moments into its three-hour-plus runtime, was hosted by actor/comedian/musician John C. Reilly and featured performances by John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Joy Oladokun, I’m With Her, S.G. Goodman, and many, many more.
Fiddler Alex Hargreaves, currently touring and recording with Billy Strings, won the first award of the evening, Instrumentalist of the Year, while Appalachian “heavy petal music” starlet-pixie Sierra Ferrell was awarded Artist of the Year. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ latest LP, 2024’s South of Here, won Album of the Year and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings took home a trophy each for Duo/Group of the Year.
Nashville singer-songwriter, session playing stalwart, and community leader Buddy Miller returned yet again as the musical director of the Americana All-Star Band – including Don Was, The McCrary Sisters, Fred Eltringham, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, and Larry Campbell – to supply the evening’s first-class music. Plus, the McCrary Sisters were honored by AMA and the National Museum of African American Music with the Legacy of Americana Award.
There were many more noteworthy moments, performances, and appearances throughout the proceedings, which were livestreamed via NPR Music – watch here to see all that you may have missed. Below, you’ll find a full list of the winners and honorees – with “Of the Year” awardees marked in bold. Americanafest continues through the rest of the week in Nashville, promising even more roots music magic all across Music City.
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
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell
Joy Oladokun
Billy Strings
Waxahatchee
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
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
AMERICANA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES
Joe Henry
Darrell Scott
Old 97’s
LEGACY OF AMERICANA AWARD
(co-presented with the National Museum of African American Music)
The McCrary Sisters
SPIRIT OF AMERICANA FREE SPEECH IN MUSIC AWARD
Jesse Welles
All photos via Getty Images for Americana Music Association, credits as noted.
Lead image: David Rawlings, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Gillian Welch perform during the Americana Honors & Awards; by Erika Goldring.
Alternate images: David Rawlings & Gillian Welch pose backstage with their award for Duo/Group of the year; by Terry Wyatt.
