Americana Awards: Billy Strings, Allison Russell and more newcomers rule the night

After volleying between two of the genre’s giants for the last five years, Americana music’s highest honor went to someone new, and one of its brightest young stars, to boot.

Modern bluegrass phenom Billy Strings was named Artist of the Year at the 2022 Americana Honors & Awards, held Wednesday at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. True to his hard-touring ways, however, he was unable to accept the award in person, as he's on the road in New England.

Strings' first-ever win capped a night ruled by new talents at the ceremony — held annually at the outset of the weeklong "AmericanaFest," presented by the Americana Music Association.

The prize for Album of the Year went to Allison Russell's "Outside Child," the critically acclaimed solo debut by a Canadian-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter. Last year, Russell told The Tennessean the album was “a chronicle of my road map out of a very abusive childhood.”

“I wasn't lucky with the family I was born to, fostered by, adopted by,” she said from the podium Wednesday. “But I have been unbelievably lucky because of music. Music saved me. This community saves me every day. You uplift us every day. I'm so grateful.”

Russell’s victorious night extended to one of her collaborators — multi-instrumentalist and composer Larissa Maestro — who was named Instrumentalist of the Year.

“I didn't think this kind of thing was a possibility for me until last year,” Maestro said, mentioning Nashville drummer Megan Coleman – who became the first woman of color to be nominated for the prize in 2021 – along with other groundbreaking nominees in recent years.

“Those are doors that got swung open for me to be here right now.”

During her joyous performance of “You’re Not Alone,” Russell gave each member of her band a turn in the spotlight. Harmonizing with her at center stage was her friend and champion, Brandi Carlile – also currently the Americana Music Association’s most high-profile pal.

Carlile, a two-time Artist of the Year, added another trophy to her collection on Wednesday, winning Song of the Year for her pandemic-informed ballad “Right On Time.”

“God, I love this place,” Carlile proclaimed from the podium alongside bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth, who co-wrote the song with her and producer Dave Cobb.

Shortly after their electrifying performance of “That’s How Love Is Made” (one of the night’s best), The War and Treaty was named Duo/Group of the Year. The husband and wife duo beat out the likes of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in their category.

“Our road has been long, it’s been hard, but it’s been worth it,” said Tanya Trotter.

“If you want to know what Americana music is,” Michael Trotter Jr. added, “It's the sound of family.”

Just three years prior, the Trotters won their first Americana award for Emerging Act of the Year. On Wednesday, that award went to newcomer Sierra Ferrell, who released her celebrated debut, “Long Time Coming,” last year. She also stole the show early on with the hot jazz-inspired “At the End of the Rainbow.”

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Along with nearly two dozen performances – making it one of the most dense and diverse nights of live music the Ryman sees all year – Wednesday’s show also packed in six Lifetime Achievement award presentations.

One of those was a complete surprise to the crowd, as well as its recipient, Buddy Miller. The songwriter, producer and longtime leader of the show’s house band stood with his mouth agape as friend Robert Plant appeared to present a special honor – which Plant dubbed “The Buddy.”

Previously announced honorees included Nashville gospel vocal group The Fairfield Four, Folk/rock duo The Indigo Girls, late country legend Don Williams, Stax Records executive Al Bell and “Wicked Game” singer-songwriter Chris Isaak.

Several departed figures received tributes throughout the evening, as well, including independent country singer Luke Bell, who was found dead less than a month ago after going missing in Arizona.

Bell’s friend, JP Harris, told the audience he “willfully (took) his own life after a difficult and long battle with severe mental illness,” and called for them to support “independent networks providing the desperately needed assistance that our healthcare system will not.” He performed Bell’s “The Bullfighter.”

Presenter Shannon Sanders paid tribute to Dr. Paul T. Kwami, musical director of 2021 award recipients The Fisk Jubilee Singers, who died on Saturday at age 70. In the penultimate performance of the evening, Nashville vocal group The McCrary Sisters, now a trio, paid tribute to their late sibling and bandmate Deborah McCrary with a minor-key rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

“One of the last things she said to the three of us before she passed away was, ‘Don't leave me,’” Regina McCrary said.  “So everywhere we go, we promised that we would say her name.”

The sisters also led the house band in a show-closing, all-star performance of The Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” a Stax hit in tribute to Bell. They were flanked by art-rock vocal duo Lucius on one side, Ferrell and a cowboy-roping friend on the other, as Russell and others sang and danced along.

It called to mind a comment made by Carlile earlier in the evening as she introduced the Indigo Girls. She, like countless others under this tent, have had trouble pinpointing the answer to the question, “What is Americana?”

“Is it a genre? Is it a philosophy? Is it country music for liberals,” she asked, as the audience laughed and cheered.

“I never know. I don't really know exactly how to answer this, but I do know that it is me. And I know that it's ahead of the curve and that it's doing its best to be on the right side of history.”

Americana Honors & Awards 2022 winners

Album of the Year: Outside Child, Allison Russell; Produced by Dan Knobler

Artist of the Year: Billy StringsSong of the Year: "Right On Time," Brandi Carlile; Written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim HanserothDuo/Group of the Year: The War and TreatyEmerging Act of the Year: Sierra FerrellInstrumentalist of the Year: Larissa Maestro

Lifetime Achievement honorees

Legacy of Americana Award, presented in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music: Fairfield FourPresident’s Award: Don Williams (posthumous) Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance: Chris IsaakLifetime Achievement Award for Executive: Al BellSpirit of Americana Award: Indigo Girls

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Americana Awards: Billy Strings, Allison Russell, newcomers rule the night