The 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at Ryman Auditorium the in Nashville, Tennessee. The marquee event for the Americana Music Association, artists are awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The show was livestreamed on the Circle YouTube channel and on the AMA's Facebook page, plus live radio broadcasts on SiriusXM and local Tennessee stations WSM, WMOT and WRLT. An hour-long special of highlights aired on PBS in November as part of Austin City Limits. The Milk Carton Kids returned to host the ceremony, having previously hosted in 2018 and 2019.
Charley Crockett and Margo Price lead the member-voted nominations, with three each, followed by Allison Russell with two. In addition to the six competitive categories, five lifetime achievement awards and one special award (to Russell) were also presented at the ceremony.
Performers Performers were announced on September 14, 2023. All performers were backed by the All-Star Americana House Band led by Buddy Miller (guitar) and featuring Brady Blade (drums), Catherine Popper (bass), Fred Eltringham (drums), Jen Gunderman (piano), Jim Hoke (pedal steel), Larry Campbell (fiddle/mandolin/guitar) and The McCrary Sisters (vocals). + Artist(s) Song(s) Logan Ledger Tribute to Jimmy Buffett "Come Monday" Sunny War "Whole" 49 Winchester "Russell County Line" Adeem the Artist "Middle of a Heart" Bettye LaVette "In the Meantime" William Prince "When You Miss Someone" S.G. Goodman "Space And Time" The Milk Carton Kids Noah Kahan "American Tune" Nickel Creek "Where the Long Line Leads" Rufus Wainwright Logan Ledger "Ol' '55" The War and Treaty "Stretch Out" Margo Price "Been To The Mountain" Allison Russell "Eve Was Black" Patty Griffin "Shine a Different Way" Bonnie Raitt "Made Up Mind" Buddy Miller "We're Leavin'" Brandy Clark Brandi Carlile "Dear Insecurity" Hermanos Gutiérrez "Hermosa Drive" Angel Olsen "Big Time" The Avett Brothers "I Wish I Was" Larry Campbell The Avett Brothers Bettye LaVette Nickel Creek SistaStrings Billy Strings Margo Price The Milk Carton Kids Angel Olsen Rufus Wainwright S.G. Goodman William Prince Jim Lauderdale Allison Russell Brandi Carlile Shovels & Rope Noah Kahan Steve Jordan The McCrary Sisters Tribute to Robbie Robertson "Cripple Creek"
Winners and nominees The eligibility period for the 22nd Americana Music Honors & Awards is April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The nominees were announced by Gina Miller on May 9, 2023, at a ceremony at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville which features performances from Margo Price, S.G. Goodman and The McCrary Sisters. Artist of the YearAlbum of the Year Billy Strings Charley Crockett Sierra Ferrell Margo Price Allison Russell Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? - Tyler Childers Big Time - Angel Olsen El Bueno y el Malo - Hermanos Gutiérrez The Man from Waco - Charley Crockett Strays - Margo PriceSong of the YearEmerging Act of the Year "Just Like That" - Bonnie Raitt "Change of Heart" - Jeremy Ivey and Margo Price "I'm Just a Clown" - Charley Crockett "Something in the Orange" - Zach Bryan "You're Not Alone" - Allison Russell S.G. Goodman Adeem the Artist William Prince Thee Sacred Souls Sunny WarDuo/Group of the YearInstrumentalist of the Year The War and Treaty 49 Winchester Caamp Nickel Creek Plains SistaStrings (Chauntee and Monique Ross) Isa Burke Allison de Groot Jeff Picker Kyle Tuttle
Honors The 2023 Lifetime Achievement honorees were announced on September 8, 2023.
Americana Trailblazer Award
Nickel Creek
Legacy of Americana Award
Bettye LaVette
Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive
George Fontaine Sr
Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance
The Avett Brothers
Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting
Patty Griffin
Spirit of Americana Award
Allison Russell
Presenters Presenters were announced on September 14, 2023. Dom Flemons - presented Instrumentalist of the Year Buddy Miller - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive Pete Muller - introduced Adeem the Artist Noelle Taylor and Steve Jordan - presented Legacy of Americana Award The War and Treaty - introduced William Prince Silas House - introduced S.G. Goodman Shovels & Rope - presented Emerging Act of the Year and introduced The Milk Carton Kids with Noah Kahan Kacey Musgraves - presented Americana Trailblazer Award Warren Zanes - introduced Rufus Wainwright John Seigenthaler, Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson - presented Spirit of Americana Award Jessi Colter - introduced Margo Price John Oates and William Bell - presented Duo/Group of the Year and introduced Allison Russell Sarah Silverman - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting Jed Hilly - introduced Bonnie Raitt Lyle Lovett - presented Song of the Year and introduced Hermanos Gutiérrez Teddy Thompson - introduced Angel Olsen Anthony Mason - presented Album of the Year Brandi Carlile - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance Jim Lauderdale - presented Artist of the Year
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