AMA’s 15th Annual Conference and Awards

Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton lead the list of honorees at the 15th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards show September 21^st at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

Stapleton was awarded Artist of the Year honors for his 2015 solo debut Traveller CD, while Isbell was awarded two trophies, one for Album of the Year for his 2015 release, Something More Than Free, and one for Song of the Year for “24 Frames.”

At multiple venue sites around Nashville more than 100 showcase performances took place allowing conference attendees as well as local music lovers the opportunity to sample some of the hottest Americana music today. Newer acts like Jason Eady, and Front Country shared the stages with legends like Buddy Miller, Dwight Yoakam, and Lee Ann Womack throughout the conference week.

At the awards show, Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Shawn Colvin (Trailblazer), William Bell (Songwriting), Bob Weir (Performance), Jim Lauderdale (WagonMaster), Woody Guthrie (President’s Award), and Billy Bragg (Spirit of Americana/Free Speech In Music, co-presented by the First Amendment Center) with the posthumous President’s Award Presented In Honor of Woody Guthrie to Lucinda Williams on behalf of the family.

Jim Lauderdale hosted the awards show for the 14th consecutive year. “What an extraordinary event!” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. “Once again, the Americana community raises the bar of integrity and excellence. It’s such an honor to be in the room with talent of that level.”

The following is a list of this year’s winners:

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

For more information on the Honors & Awards show, AmericanaFest, the Americana Music Conference and membership to the Americana Music Association, please visit: www.americanamusic.org.