The Americana Music Association has unveiled the nominees for its 24th annual Americana Honors & Awards. This year’s nominations were announced via social media by Brandi Carlile, Kashus Culpepper, S.G. Goodman, Jim Lauderdale, Kacey Musgraves, and Molly Tuttle.
Winners will be revealed during the 2025 Americana Honors & Awards ceremony, set to take place Wednesday, September 10, at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. The event is the flagship of AMERICANAFEST, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a five-day festival running September 9–13.
The Honors & Awards recognize outstanding achievement across six member-voted categories. In addition, the ceremony pays tribute to Lifetime Achievement recipients, including the Legacy of Americana Award—presented in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music.
A full list of this year’s nominees follows:
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
Tickets for the Americana Honors & Awards are on sale now. For more information about the Association or to purchase passes for AMERICANAFEST 2025, head here.
