Jason Isbell, Amythyst Kiah Lead Americana Honors & Awards Nominations

Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music Association – Americana Music Awards
Brandi Carlile, Irma Thomas, Courtney Marie Andrews, Tanya Blount and Michael Trotter Jr. of The War and Treaty and Ann McCrary of The McCrary Sisters perform during the 2018 Americana Music Honors and Awards at Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 12 in Nashville.

Veteran artist Jason Isbell and newcomer Amythyst Kiah each received three nominations for Americana Honors & Awards in a livestreamed ceremony from Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music and presented by artist Keb’ Mo’ and Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor.

Isbell received nods for album (Reunions, with his band the 400 Unit), artist and song (“Dreamsicle” with the 400 Unit) of the year while Kiah was nominated for song of the year for “Black Myself,” as emerging artist of the year and as part of Our Native Daughters for duo/group of the year.

Valerie June, who performed during the nominating ceremony, received nods for album of the year (The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers) and song of the year for “Call Me A Fool” with Carla Thomas. Brandi Carlile is also a dual nominee, for artist of the year and in the duo/group of the year for her work with The Highwomen.

Other nominees of note include the late John Prine for song of the year (“I Remember Everything”) and Steve Earle & The Dukes for album of the year for J.T. 

In the major categories, album of the year nominees also include Sturgill Simpson for Cuttin’ Grass – Vol. 1 and Sarah Jarosz for World On The Ground. Artist of the year contenders also include Kathleen Edwards, Margo Price and Billy Strings. Duo/group of the year nods also went to Black Pumas, The War and Treaty, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

Emerging artist of the year nominees include Charley Crocket, Joy Oladokum, Allison Russell and Waxahatchee. Instrumentalist of the year nominees are Megan Coleman, Robbie Crowell, Ray Hacildo, Philip Towns and Kristin Weber. Tyler Childers was also nominated for song of the year for “Long Violent History.”

Additional awards to be announced at a later time are Lifetime Achievement Awards including the National Museum of African American Music co-presented Legacy of Americana Award.

“We’re delighted to see our incredible membership recognize such an array of talent,” Jed HIlly, executive director of the Americana Music Association, said in a statement. “Every one of these musicians is a trailblazer in their own right, and I’m thrilled to see that these nominees and their works have resonated so deeply within our community.”

The winners in each category will be announced during the Americana Honors & Awards Sept. 22 at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, in person again after going virtual last year thanks to the pandemic. The ceremony is the hallmark event of AmericanaFest, returning for its 21st year Sept 22-25 at venues across Music City.