Americana Music Association Reveals 2025 Lifetime Achievement Honorees

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Darrell Scott, Jesse Welles and Joe Henry; (L-R, bottom row): McCrary Sisters and Old 97’s

The Lifetime Achievement Honorees for the Americana Music Association’s 24th annual Americana Honors & Awards set for Sept. 10 have been announced.

This year’s group of recipients will be celebrated during the upcoming ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium and includes Joe Henry, McCrary Sisters, Old 97’s, Darrell Scott, and Jesse Welles.

Joe Henry‘s career has spanned nearly four decades, and albums like Trampoline, Scar, and Civilians are touchstones of Americana music, marked by their subtle arrangements and his warm voice that carries a gentle authority. Over the years, he has worked with producer T Bone Burnett, jazzman Ornette Coleman, New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint, and longtime collaborators David Piltch, Patrick Warren, and his son, Levon Henry. He embraces imperfection as a source of beauty, reminding us that the most profound truths often emerge from the quietest moments.

The McCrary Sisters embody the soul-deep power of gospel by blending righteous harmonies, lived experience, and unstoppable energy into their sound. Daughters of the late Reverend Samuel H. McCrary, a founding member of the Fairfield Four, the sisters were born into gospel royalty and raised in Nashville’s rich spiritual and musical traditions. Their sound is equally fluent in soul, blues, and funk, reflecting the sisters’ deep individual and collective histories. Their music is praise, but it is also protest, comfort, connection, and call to action. The McCrary Sisters will receive the Legacy award, co-presented with the National Museum of African American Music.

Old 97’s crashed onto the scene in the early ’90s with a wild blend of Texas twang, garage-band swagger, and heart-on-sleeve songwriting that helped define the alt-country sound. Formed in Dallas in 1993, the band built a reputation for their explosive live shows, razor-sharp lyrics, and a sound that honored country roots while refusing to be confined by them. Alongside peers like Uncle Tupelo and Whiskeytown, they laid the groundwork for the Americana movement. With more than three decades on the road and no signs of slowing down, Old 97’s prove that Americana music can be rowdy, literate, rebellious, and completely their own.

Darrell Scott has become one of the most admired songwriters and musicians in roots music. His nuanced guitar playing attracted the likes of Guy Clark, and his lyrics have appealed to country, folk, bluegrass and Americana listeners for decades. Scott’s rich baritone enchanted folk festival audiences as well as mainstream country artists who revered his storytelling, and Patty Loveless, Brad Paisley and Chris Stapleton have all put their personal touch on Scott’s classic, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.” His catalog also includes radio hits such as Sara Evans’ “Born to Fly” and Travis Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” and The Chicks recorded versions of “Heartbreak Town” and “Long Time Gone” for their albums.

Jesse Welles channels the grit and poetry of rock’s golden age through a lens all his own. With a voice that balances intensity and weary soul, Welles crafts songs that echo the voice of Woody Guthrie: honest, jagged, and prescient. He weaves humor into serious themes and his songwriting often cuts into the heart of present-day social issues, touching on themes like isolation, inequality, injustice, and the emotional toll of modern life. Rather than shying away from uncomfortable truths, he leans into them, using his platform to reflect the world as it is – messy, beautiful, and worth questioning. Welles will receive the Spirit of Americana Award, co-presented by the First Amendment Center.

“This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees represent the heart and soul of the Americana Community. From the legendary to the next generation of stars. It’s a privilege to recognize and celebrate these incredible artists whose expertise in their craft has left an indelible mark,” says Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association and Foundation.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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