Americana Music Association Pulls the Plug on Americana Honors & Awards at Ryman Auditorium

If the Americana Awards had gone ahead with their Sept. 16 show, it would have conflicted with the 55th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which are being held in Nashville for the first time.

This year’s nominations for the Americana Honors & Awards were announced on June 15. Even then, there was a note of uncertainty about whether the show at the Ryman would actually happen. A message from the Americana Music Association that day said “We are consistently monitoring the evolving situation regarding COVID-19 and will keep you posted as we approach the ceremony date.”

The late John Prine, who won artist of the year a record three times, is vying for a record-extending fourth award in that category. Prine died on April 7 at age 73.

Brandi Carlile, who won artist of the year last year, is also nominated in the category. She is vying to become just the third repeat winner in the category, following Prine and Buddy Miller.

The other three nominees are Brittany Howard, leader of Alabama Shakes, who released her solo debut album Jamie; Tanya Tucker, who won a Grammy for best country album for While I’m Livin’, and Yola, a Grammy nominee for best new artist.

Hilly noted that COVID-19 has thwarted the American Music Association’s fundraising efforts. “Currently, the team in Nashville is focused on our Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference (Sept. 16-18) in hopes of bringing our tribe together online, and to help to offset the huge losses we have suffered due to the pandemic and the cancellation of AMERICANAFEST 2020. We have also initiated a fundraising campaign to support our newly created Foundation. You can read more about how to support our mission here.”

The Thriving Roots conference features 15 conversation sessions including Carlile and Yola; Jackson Browne and Mavis Staples; Emmylou Harris and documentarian Ken Burns; writer and director Judd Apatow and the Avett Brothers; and Tucker, Lee Ann Womack and Brandy Clark.