The Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 16 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium has been cancelled. The ceremony is usually the centerpiece of AmericanaFest, which typically features more than 100 artists performing at different venues throughout Nashville, however, this year’s AmericanaFest was cancelled earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plans are being made to announce the winners of the 2020 Americana Awards later this fall.

Americana Music Association executive director Jed Hilly released a statement on Sept. 11, which you can read below.

Dear Friends,

I trust you and your loved ones are well. I write today to inform you that despite all our hope, logistical wrangling and passion, we have concluded that it would not be safe to conduct the Americana Honors & Awards at the wonderful and historic Ryman Auditorium next Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

We’ve carefully evaluated safety measures both with an audience and without. It is our conclusion that if just one person walked out of the Ryman with COVID-19, we would not be able to forgive ourselves. We are making new plans to celebrate the nominees and to proclaim the winners later this fall, and we hope to have details on that shortly with an official announcement date soon.

Like so many others in the industry, the impact of COVID-19 has made things difficult for our annual fundraising efforts. Currently, the team in Nashville is focused on our Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference (September 16-18) in hopes of bringing our tribe together online, and to help to offset the huge losses we have suffered due to the pandemic and the cancellation of AMERICANAFEST 2020. We have also initiated a fundraising campaign to support our newly created Foundation and you can read more about how to support our mission here.

Thank you for your enduring support of Americana.

Respectfully,
Jed

The Americana Association will host Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference on Sept. 16-18. The conference will feature close to 70 sessions, including artist, industry and workshop panels, as well as special events and music breaks.

Next year’s AmericanaFest dates have been set for Sept. 21–26, 2021.

See the full list of 2020 nominees below.

Album of the Year
And It’s Still Alright, Nathaniel Rateliff, Produced by James Barone, Patrick Meese and Nathaniel Rateliff
Country Squire, Tyler Childers, Produced by David Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson
The Highwomen, The Highwomen, Produced by Dave Cobb
Jaime, Brittany Howard, Produced by Brittany Howard
While I’m Livin’, Tanya Tucker, Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings

Artist of the Year
Brandi Carlile
Brittany Howard
John Prine
Tanya Tucker
Yola

Duo/Group of the Year
Black Pumas
Drive-By Truckers
The Highwomen
Buddy & Julie Miller
Our Native Daughters

Emerging Act of the Year
Black Pumas
Katie Pruitt
Aubrie Sellers
Billy Strings
Kelsey Waldon

Instrumentalist of the Year
Ellen Angelico
Annie Clements
Brittany Haas
Zachariah Hickman
Rich Hinman

Song of the Year
“And It’s Still Alright,” Nathaniel Rateliff, Written by Nathaniel Rateliff
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker, Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker
“Crowded Table,” The Highwomen, Written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna
“My Love Will Not Change,” Aubrie Sellers featuring Steve Earle, Written by Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp
“Stay High,” Brittany Howard, Written by Brittany Howard
“Thoughts and Prayers,” Drive-By Truckers, Written by Patterson Hood