Americana Award Winners Announced

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant were the big winners at the Americana Music Honors & Awards, Sept. 18, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Alison and Robert, the former Led Zeppelin lead singer, took home Duo/Group of the Year and Album of the Year for Raising Sand. Former member of The Band, Levon Helm, was named Artist of the Year, while John Hiatt received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his songwriting. “It’s unbelievable,” said John of his award. “It’s some kind of dream or something.”

The complete list of winners:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Raising Sand

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Levon Helm

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Buddy Miller

NEW EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Mike Farris

SONG OF THE YEAR

Hayes Carll and Brian Keane, “She Left Me for Jesus”

SPIRIT OF AMERICANA FREE SPEECH IN MUSIC

Joan Baez

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: EXECUTIVE

Terry Lickona

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: INSTRUMENTALIST

Larry Campbell

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: PERFORMANCE

Jason & The Scorchers

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: PRODUCER/ENGINEER

Tony Brown

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: SONGWRITING

John Hiatt

PRESIDENTS AWARD

Jerry Garcia

TRAILBLAZER

Nanci Griffith

• published September 19, 2008
• photo by JASON MOORE