Jason Isbell takes home three awards at Americana Music Association honors
by Luke Taylor
September 13, 2018
On Wednesday, Sept. 12, the 17th annual Americana Honors & Awards show took place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. The three-and-a-half-hour ceremony featured stunning music performances punctuated by occasional technical difficulties. Hosts Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale of the Milk Carton Kids provided constant patter and levity throughout an evening that saw Jason Isbell take home awards in three categories.
Standout musical highlights of the evening included Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Irma Thomas's performance of "Time Is On My Side," and Brandi Carlile's performance of her song, "The Joke," a nominee for Song of the Year, an award that would go to Isbell for "If We Were Vampires" (which The Current's listeners voted the No. 1 song of 2017 in the year-end Top 89 poll).
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit also won the award for Duo/Group of the Year and for Album of the Year, taking home that prize for their Dave Cobb-produced The Nashville Sound.
John Prine, meanwhile, took home the prize for Artist of the Year. Bluegrass guitarist Molly Tuttle won Instrumentalist of the Year, while blues guitarist Buddy Guy won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist.
Rosanne Cash was the recipient of the "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award, presented in partnership with the First Amendment Center at Middle Tennessee State University. In her acceptance speech, Cash brought the Ryman audience to their feet several times, including when she acknowledged that Sept. 12, 2018, is the 15th anniversary of the passing of her father, Johnny Cash, and when she called for stricter gun control laws and for equal pay for women.
The program was streamed live on video via NPR Music and VuHaus, as well as broadcast live on three radio stations in Nashville, including public radio station WMOT. Encore presentations are planned for CMT, which is set to broadcast a special featuring performance highlights on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m. Central, followed by a special broadcast on the PBS television series Austin City Limits in February 2019.
Here is a complete summary of the 2018 awards:
Album of the Year:
The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, produced by Dave Cobb
Artist of the Year:
John Prine
Song of the Year:
"If We Were Vampires," Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, written by Jason Isbell
Duo/Group of the Year:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Emerging Artist of the Year:
Tyler Childers
Instrumentalist of the Year:
Molly Tuttle
"Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award, presented in partnership with the First Amendment Center:
Rosanne Cash
Americana Trailblazer Award:
k.d. lang
Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist:
Buddy Guy
Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance:
Irma Thomas
Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive:
Cris Williamson and Judy Dlugacz of Olivia Records
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