Americana Music Association Honors & Awards
Even in 2026, when everyone knows everything, and the computers know even more than that, it’s still possible to keep a secret. According to AMA Executive Director Jed Hilly, the reunion of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers had been in the works for nine months, but the announcement wasn’t made until Wednesday, so when Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Ron Blair and Stan Lynch took the Ryman stage with Chris Stapleton in the lead, there were still plenty of folks who weren’t emotionally prepared for the first chords of “American Girl.” Even Stapleton was so “enthralled,” according to Campbell, that he missed the first line of the song (note – no one cared a whit). This was part of Tom and his band receiving a Life Achievement Award from the AMA on the occasion of their 50th anniversary, to be celebrated later this year. For tonight, the focus was on those classic Petty songs. After “American Girl,” the band launched into “Breakdown,” then swapped out drummers (Lynch out, Steve Ferrone in) and brought all-purpose Heartbreaker Scott Thurston for “You Wreck Me.” After the insane high receded a bit, Stapleton came out to present the award to Adria Petty, guardian of her father’s legacy, who called his songs “defiant, hopeful music.” Tench and Campbell also spoke, with Petty’s longtime songwriting partner choking back tears while saying, “Tom, I miss rockin’ around with you.”
Historically, this would’ve been a memorable evening already, but we had awards to give out! After a one-year absence, The Milk Carton kids returned to host the event, introducing a theme of sorts for the evening – eschewing AI for real, human-made music. Emerging Artist nominees had their chance to shine, with highlights being Kashus Culpepper and Boy Golden (the latter, Canadian singer-songwriter Liam Duncan, may end up with the biggest bump of the evening after his band’s knockout performance of “Suffer”).
Two other Lifetime Achievement Awards were doled out during the event. Emmylou Harris introduced her good friend, the late Dolly Parton, who had recorded a video after learning of her selection. Perhaps knowing that she wouldn’t be with us long, Dolly (looking sparkly and spectacular) ended her message with, “Just know that I will always love you.” Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her paid musical tribute to the Tennessee legend with a vocally stunning “Coat of Many Colors.” Later, Buddy Miller introduced Robert Plant, feted for his work with Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett. Plant shouted out a litany of great American roots artists, suitably ending with Dolly, before taking the mic and digging deep into the American song book with “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down” and “Angel Dance.” Even at age 78, Plant is still a Golden God.
As for the annual awards, well, your favorite music writer went a stunning 0-6 on his picks, so let’s talk about winners instead. Tyler Childers’ Snipe Hunt was chosen Album of the Year (Childers, characteristically, was not present). Molly Tuttle surprised as the Artist of the Year and paid tribute to her father, Jack, her music teacher. Duo/Group of the Year was Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Speaking of Welch, Emerging Act winner Ken Pomeroy exclaimed that she’d “already won the night by sitting next to Gillian Welch.” Instrumentalist of the Year Mandy Fer, who plays with Allison Russell and Amos Lee (among many, many others) celebrated winning after growing up in a scene with a “void of women as lead guitarists.” And Bernie Taupin presented the award for Song of the Year, stating that “these people don’t need me to tell them how to write songs,” before handing the award for “Returning to Myself” to Brandi Carlile, who was clearly moved by receiving the honor from one of her own heroes.
Tributes to those we lost were spread across the evening. Hayes Carll and Elizabeth Cook celebrated Todd Snider’s upcoming album, My Second Rodeo, before performing his most famous work, “Play a Train Song.” And the ceremony wrapped with a tribute to Mavericks frontman Raul Malo, with Emerging Artist nominee Mon Rovia leading the cast in “Dance the Night Away.”
Fruition at Station Inn
After the rather hefty Awards show, there was time to walk across town (in a still-sweltering 85 degrees) to the Station Inn for an 11pm date with Fruition. The Portland-based band had stripped themselves down to a threesome for the evening (Mimi Naja, Jay Cobb Anderson and Kellen Asebroek all sharing vocals and instruments). Highlights included “Nobody is Free,” a sharp-edged political song smoothed over with sweet mandolin from Naja, and the un-mic’d “At the End of Day,” a soothing lullaby to wrap Day 2.
Find more details here: http://www.americanamusic.org
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: Show Review: AmericanaFest 2026 Day 1