Sierra Ferrell, Brandy Clark, More Crowned Winners At 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards

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Pictured (L-R): American Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, Jed Hilly; Dave Alvin; Sierra Ferrell and Dwight Yoakam attend the 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards at Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Sierra Ferrell, Brandy Clark and Larkin Poe were among the big winners at The Americana Music Association’s 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards this week at the Ryman Auditorium.

Ferrell earned both of the night’s top honors with her first Artist of the Year trophy and Album of the Year win for her 2024 record, Trail of Flowers, produced by Eddie Spear and Gary Paczosa.

Brandy Clark performs onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Clark won Song of the Year for “Dear Insecurity,” a collaboration with her 2024 self-titled album producer, Brandi Carlile, which she penned with Michael Pollack. Sister duo Larkin Poe won their first Duo/Group of the Year award, along with other first time winners The Red Clay Strays, who were crowned Emerging Act of the Year. Guitar-shredding wonder Grace Bowers took home the Instrumentalist of the Year honor during the evening as well.

Highlights from the ceremony include Don Was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from surprise presenter Martina McBride; Allison Moorer, singer-songwriter and sister of Shelby Lynne, presenting Lynne with her Lifetime Achievement Award; and Clark awarding Dwight Yoakam his Lifetime Achievement honor.

Pictured (L-R): Rebecca Lovell and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe accept the Duo/Group of the Year Award. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Buddy Miller returned as musical director for the Americana All-Star Band, which included Bryan Owings, Don Was, Jerry Pentecost, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, Larry Campbell and the McCrary Sisters.

Duane Betts opened the show with a performance of the Allman Brothers’ classic, “Blue Sky,” to honor his father Dickey, who died in April.

Rev. Gary Davis posthumously received the Legacy of Americana Award in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music. It was presented by Director of Education and Exhibitions of NMAAM Noëlle Taylor, and Executive Director, Creative at BMI Nashville and Americana Board member Shannon Sanders.

Noah Kahan performs onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

The evening included performances by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Clark with SistaStrings, Charles Wesley Godwin, Dave Alvin, Yoakam, Fantastic Negrito, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jobi Riccio, Kaitlin Butts, Larkin Poe, The Milk Carton Kids, Noah Kahan, Sarah Jarosz, Shelby Lynne, Ferrell, Turnpike Troubadours, The War and Treaty, Waxahatchee with MJ Lenderman and Wyatt Flores.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gram Parsons’ Grievous Angel, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell closed the evening with “Return of the Grievous Angel.”

“Tonight was a powerful and heartfelt evening,” shared Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. “It represented the commitment to community, which exemplifies the spirit of Americana. This legacy has stood strong for 25 years and will continue for decades to come.”

Pictured (L-R): Martina McBride and Don Was attend the 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Wyatt Flores performs onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Pictured (L-R): Sterling Glass, Ricky McKinnie of Blind Boys of Alabama, Susan Tedeschi, Joey Williams and JW Smith of Blind Boys of Alabama attend the 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Shelby Lynne accepts the Lifetime Achievement award onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Pictured (L-R): Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty perform onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell perform onstage. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association

Lorie Hollabaugh
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