That’s the year, not over two thousand awards. Paste reports: “Last night, the 15th annual Americana Music & Awards Show was held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. The Americana Music Association prides itself on honoring and preserving the roots of American folk music, which was reverently done with last night when Lifetime Achievement Honoree Bob Weir opened the ceremony with Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”
The big night for Americana and folk musicians did not disappoint for singer-songwriter Jason Isbell, proving that 2016 is his year. He won the Grammy for Best Americana Album in February and added to his accolades last night after winning album of the year for 2015’s Something More Than Free and Song of the Year for “24 Frames.”
Artist of the Year went to Chris Stapleton, whose album, Traveller, made him an overnight success. Margo Price won Emerging Artist of the Year for her debut album Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, an album that fuses classic country elements with brazen songwriting.
Last night’s festivities signaled the start of the 17th annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, which lasts until Sept. 25. For more information about the Americana Music Association, you can visit their website here. See below for a complete list of last night’s winners, and beneath that, find video from Isbell’s performance in the Paste offices circa 2010.
Americana Music Honors & Awards 2016 Winners:
Album of the Year: Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell, Produced by Dave Cobb
Artist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
Group/Duo of the Year: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Song of the Year: “24 Frames” Jason Isbell; Written by Jason Isbell
Emerging Artist of the Year: Margo Price
Instrumentalist of the Year: Sara Watkins
Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music Award co-presented by the Americana Music Association and the First Amendment Center: Billy Bragg
Lifetime Achievement Award, Trailblazer: Shawn Colvin
Lifetime Achievement Award, Songwriting: William Bell
Lifetime Achievement Award, Performance: Bob Weir
Lifetime Achievement Award, WagonMaster: Jim Lauderdale
President’s Award: Woody Guthrie”
