Sierra Ferrell
Wednesday evening, the Ryman once again played host to a phenomenal assembly of talent as fans flocked in for the 24th Americana Honors and Awards. The happening — each year it feels like a star-studded concert during which an awards ceremony happens to break out — is the keystone event of AmericanaFest, which continues through Saturday.
The event recognized the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement honorees, who this year included legendary Nashville gospel ensemble and frequent AmericanaFest performers The McCrary Sisters. The group received the Legacy Award, co-presented with the National Museum of African American Music. Rising singer-songwriter Jesse Welles received the Spirit of Americana Award, co-presented with the First Amendment Center, and alt-country aces Old 97’s and outstanding seasoned songwriters Joe Henry and Darrell Scott were recognized as well.
In the member-voted categories, world-traveling and multifaceted Nashville singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell repeated her 2024 win for Artist of the Year, while North Carolina rocking songsmith MJ Lenderman (who appeared on the cover of our AmericanaFest preview issue last week) was crowned Emerging Artist of the Year. Despite folk living legend Gillian Welch’s modest appraisal of her and David Rawlings’ chances of winning any of the three awards they were nominated for during our recent interview, the pair took home a well-deserved trophy for Duo of the Year.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and producer Brad Cook made Album of the Year with South of Here, and I’m With Her — that’s the harmonizing, songwriting, multi-instrumentalist trio of Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins — earned Song of the Year with “Ancient Light.” Rounding out the slate of winners is New York-residing fiddler Alex Hargreaves, whom you’ve seen onstage with Billy Strings and who is this year’s Instrumentalist of the Year.
