Americana Music Association Announces 2017 Awards And Honors Nominees

Photo by Lindsey Best

The Americana Music Association just announced the nominees for this year’s Honors and Awards show during a live-streamed event held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on May 9. As part of the proceedings — hosted by the Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan — a number of Americana luminaries performed, including Jerry Douglas, Caitlin Canty, Jason Isbell, and Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers.

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Isbell, whose new album The Nashville Sound is due out June 16, is up for Artist of the Year. Sturgill Simpson racked up three nominations, while Rodney Crowell, Drive-By Truckers and Lori McKenna all notched two a piece.

This year’s Honors and Awards ceremony will take place on September 13 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium as part of the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference. The festival runs from September 12 through September 17.

Check out a full list of nominees below.

Album of the Year:

American Band, Drive-By Truckers, Produced by David Barbe

Close Ties, Rodney Crowell, Produced by Kim Buie and Jordan Lehning

Freedom Highway, Rhiannon Giddens, Produced David Bither, Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell

The Navigator, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Produced by Paul Butler

A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, Sturgill Simpson, Produced by Sturgill Simpson

Artist of the Year:

Jason Isbell

John Prine

Lori McKenna

Margo Price

Sturgill Simpson

Duo/Group of the Year:

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

Drive-By Truckers

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

The Lumineers

Emerging Artist of the Year:

Aaron Lee Tasjan

Amanda Shires

Brent Cobb

Sam Outlaw

Song of the Year:

“All Around You,” Sturgill Simpson, Written by Sturgill Simpson

“It Ain’t Over Yet,” Rodney Crowell (feat. Rosanne Cash & John Paul White), Written by Rodney Crowell

“To Be Without You,” Ryan Adams, Written by Ryan Adams

“Wreck You,” Lori McKenna, Written by Lori McKenna and Felix McTeigue

Instrumentalist of the Year:

Spencer Cullum, Jr.

Jen Gunderman

Courtney Hartman

Charlie Sexton

Todd Rundgren: White Knight