News and Interviews

2025 Americana Honors & Awards nominees announced

by Luke Taylor

June 10, 2025

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) MJ Lenderman, Buddy Miller and Waxahatchee perform onstage for the 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 18, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) MJ Lenderman, Buddy Miller and Waxahatchee perform onstage for the 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 18, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Updated Sept. 8: To include the Lifetime Achievement Honorees

The Americana Music Association on Tuesday announced its nominees for the 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards. In a video posted to YouTube, Americana artists Kacey Musgraves, Kashus Culepper, S.G. Goodman, Jim Lauderdale, Brandi Carlile and Molly Tuttle each took turns, via remote video, announcing the nominees across six categories, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year.

The list features many artists familiar to The Current and to Radio Heartland, including Sierra Ferrell, Joy Oladokun, Charley Crockett, Waxahatchee, JD McPherson, Nathaniel Rateliff, MJ Lenderman, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. It’s worth noting that at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards, Sierra Ferrell won Artist of the Year; she is nominated in that category again this year, creating the possibility that she could take home that award for the second year in a row.

The 24th Annual Americana Honors & Awards will be presented on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the Ryman Auditorium, the signature event of the annual AmericanaFest.

Here is the complete list of nominees:

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; Produced by Brad Cook

Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings; Produced by David Rawlings

Artist of the Year

Charley Crockett

Sierra Ferrell

Joy Oladokun

Billy Strings

Waxahatchee

Duo/Group of the Year

Julien Baker & TORRES

Dawes

Larkin Poe

The Mavericks

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Emerging Act of the Year

Noeline Hofmann

MJ Lenderman

Medium Build

Maggie Rose

Jesse Welles

Instrumentalist of the Year

Fred Eltringham (drums)

Alex Hargreaves (violin)

Megan Jane (drums)

Kaitlyn Raitz (cello)

Seth Taylor (guitar)

Related: Sarah Jarosz plays songs from "Polaroid Lovers" at The Current (features Seth Taylor on guitar)

Song of the Year

"Johnny Moonshine," Maggie Antone; Written by Maggie Antone, Natalie Hemby & Aaron Raitiere

"Ancient Light," I'm With Her; 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

Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Joe Henry

McCrary Sisters

Old 97’s

Darrell Scott

Jesse Welles

Americana Music Association - official site

2025 Americana Honors & Awards nominees announced