Brandi Carlile once again dominates the nominations for the Americana Music Awards, an event which reflects the diversity the American music industry seems to be craving in the wake of the racial tensions enveloping a nation under siege.
Carlile was the 2019 Americana Artist of the Year. And since then she has continued to be a dominant performer in the genre, so it is no surprise that she has been nominated for various categories in the awards which will be presented at the Ryman Auditorium on September 16.
She is once again nominated for Artist of the Year and receives double nods in both Song of the Year and Album of the Year categories.
Her song nominations are "Bring My Flowers Now" by Tanya Tucker, a Grammy-winning song she co-wrote with Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker, and for "Crowded Table" by The Highwomen, which she penned with Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna. In the album category, she is listed as a member of The Highwomen, for their self-titled release, produced by Dave Cobb, and as co-producer, with Shooter Jennings, for Tanya Tucker's While I'm Livin.
Added to that, The Highwomen - an all-star quartet featuring Carlile, Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires - are listed as a finalist for Duo/Group of the Year.
The diversity ticket is represented by a host of black female artists who permeate the various categories.
To the fore is Alabama Shakes vocalist Brittany Howard who gets herself into three categories. She is listed for Artist of the Year and gets an Album of the Year nomination for Jaime. Added to this is a Song of the Year nod for the self-composed "Stay High."
Young black British country-soul artist Yola, who burst onto the scene last year as a nominee for Emerging Act, is among the Artist of the Year finalists.
Added to these are Our Native Daughters – Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Teyla McCalla and Allison Russell – whose 2019 debut album addresses American historical issues that have influenced the identity of black women. The four singer-songwriter collaborators are nominated for Duo/Group of the Year.
The Americana Music Association is adamant that the honors and awards show will go ahead as scheduled, even though the Coronavirus has forced the cancellation of AmericanaFest during which time this showcase event is normally held.
Covid-19 will certainly feature in the awards ceremony as one of the most high-profile victims of the virus – singer-songwriter John Prine – is listed in Americana Artist of the Year. It was a title he won in 2018. No doubt the association will use the occasion to pay a special tribute to the man many regard as the Godfather of Americana Music.
2020 Americana Honors and Awards nominees:
Album of the Year
And It’s Still Alright – Nathaniel Rateliff (Produced by James Barone, Patrick Meese and Nathaniel Rateliff) Country Squire – Tyler Childers (Produced by David Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson) The Highwomen – The Highwomen (Produced by Dave Cobb) Jaime – Brittany Howard (Produced by Brittany Howard) While I’m Livin’ – Tanya Tucker (Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings)
Artist of the Year Brandi Carlile Brittany Howard
John Prine Tanya Tucker Yola
Duo/Group of the Year Black Pumas Drive-By Truckers The Highwomen Buddy & Julie Miller Our Native Daughters
Emerging Act of the Year Black Pumas Katie Pruitt Aubrie Sellers Billy Strings Kelsey Waldon
Instrumentalist of the Year Ellen Angelico Annie Clements Brittany Haas Zachariah Hickman Rich Hinman
Song of the Year “And It’s Still Alright,” Nathaniel Rateliff (Written by Nathaniel Rateliff) “Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker (Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker) “Crowded Table,” The Highwomen (Written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna) “My Love Will Not Change,” Aubrie Sellers featuring Steve Earle (Written by Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp) “Stay High,” Brittany Howard (Written by Brittany Howard) “Thoughts and Prayers,” Drive-By Truckers (Written by Patterson Hood)
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