Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard lead Americana Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Singer songwriter Brandi Carlile has had a productive year and that’s led her to be the leading nominee at the Americana Honors and Awards for her roles as a solo artist, a member of the group The Highwomen, as a producer and as a songwriter.
In the nominations announced Monday for its September awards show, the Grammy-winning artist has a total of seven nominations, including artist of the year as a solo artist and duo/group of the year with The Highwomen, which includes Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby. Rocker Brittany Howard, who has won Grammys with her band Alabama Shakes, is up for five nominations, including artist of the year and album of the year for her solo album “Jaime.”
The late John Prine, who died in April of COVID-19 complications, is nominated as artist of the year again, after having won it in 2018. Also nominated as artist of the year were Tanya Tucker and Yola.
The Americana Music Association said the winners will be announced during its awards show at the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sept. 16, but said plans are still unfolding for the show. The association said they are monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and will follow state, local and national guidelines as they approach the show date.
This year, the award categories were expanded from four nominees to five, with the exception of song of the year.
Album of the year nominees include Tucker’s comeback album, “While I’m Livin,’” which was produced by Carlile, The Highwomen’s self-titled debut, Tyler Childer’s “Country Squire,” and Nathaniel Rateliff’s “It’s Still Alright.”