Some of the biggest artists and emerging acts in Americana came together for the genre’s massive annual celebration at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday night (Sept. 10). The 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards, hosted by John C. Reilly, offered an opportunity to spotlight the musicians who left a lasting mark on their musical community over the past year.
The Americana Music Association revealed this year’s roster of award winners, naming Sierra Ferrell as Artist of the Year, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as Duo/Group of the Year, and MJ Lenderman as Emerging Act of the Year. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats‘ South of Here edged out Welch and Rawlings, Lenderman, Charley Crockett, and Jason Isbell to earn the trophy for Album of the Year. I’m With Her, the celebrated project of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins, snagged the Song of the Year Award for their track “Ancient Light.” Seasoned fiddle player Alex Hargreaves, who is a current full-time member of Billy Strings’ touring band, was also crowned this year’s Instrumentalist of the Year.
Joe Henry, Old 97s, and Darrell Scott were chosen as this year’s Americana Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. Acclaimed vocalists The McCrary Sisters accepted this year’s Legacy of Americana Award, while breakout artist Jesse Welles was presented with the Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award by John Fogerty, who bookended the ceremony by performing a trio of classic Creedence Clearwater Revival hits.
Attendees were also treated to live performances by Reilly, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Dawes, I’m With Her, JD McPherson, Old 97s, Joy Oladokun, Medium Build, Maggie Antone, and Noeline Hofmann.
A complete list of nominees and winners is below. The 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards were held during AmericanaFest 2025, the yearly festival and conference held in downtown Nashville. You can find out more about the event, which runs from Sept. 9-13, by visiting the Americana Music Association’s official website.
2025 Americana Honors & Awards Categories + Winners:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
- Lonesome Drifter, Charley Crockett
Produced by Charley Crockett & Shooter Jennings - Foxes in the Snow, Jason Isbell
Produced by Jason Isbell & Gena Johnson - Manning Fireworks, MJ Lenderman
Produced by Alex Farrar & MJ Lenderman - South of Here, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats [WINNER]
Produced by Brad Cook - Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Produced by David Rawlings
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
- Charley Crockett
- Sierra Ferrell [WINNER]
- Joy Oladokun
- Billy Strings
- Waxahatchee
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR:
- Julien Baker & TORRES
- Dawes
- Larkin Poe
- The Mavericks
- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings [WINNER]
EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR:
- Noeline Hofmann
- MJ Lenderman [WINNER]
- Medium Build
- Maggie Rose
- Jesse Welles
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR:
- Fred Eltringham
- Alex Hargreaves [WINNER]
- Megan Jane
- Kaitlyn Raitz
- Seth Taylor
SONG OF THE YEAR:
- “Johnny Moonshine,” Maggie Antone
Written by Maggie Antone, Natalie Hemby & Aaron Raitiere - “Ancient Light,” I’m With Her [WINNER]
Written by Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins - “Wristwatch,” MJ Lenderman
Written by MJ Lenderman - “Sunshine Getaway,” JD McPherson
Written by Page Burkum, JD McPherson & Jack Torrey - “Heartless,” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Written by Nathaniel Rateliff
