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Celebrate the 2020 Americana Honors and Awards winners, including the Highwomen and John Prine

Amanda Shires, founder of the Highwomen, and John Prine performing together at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2017.
Amanda Shires, founder of the Highwomen, and John Prine performing together at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2017.Rick Diamond/Getty Images
  Play Now [1:51:24]

by Mike Pengra and Luke Taylor

December 15, 2020

The winners of the 2020 Americana Music Association's Honors and Awards were quietly announced Tuesday on social media. Supergroup the Highwomen took home awards in three categories, and the great John Prine was posthumously awarded Artist of the Year.

Nominees for this year's honors were announced on June 15, and at that time, the hope was to gather at the Ryman Auditorium on September 16 for the Americana Music Association's usual gala performances and awards ceremony. The pandemic, of course, scuttled those plans.

Circumstances notwithstanding, Radio Heartland's Mike Pengra celebrates this year's honorees with an hourlong program showcasing the music. The program aired Tuesday, Dec. 15, and you can listen to the show in the audio player above.

Here are the 2020 Americana Music Association Honors & Award nominees and the winners in each category:

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
WINNER: The Highwomen

 

Emerging Act of the Year


Black Pumas
Katie Pruitt
Aubrie Sellers
Billy Strings
Kelsey Waldon
WINNER: Black Pumas

Duo/Group of the Year


Black Pumas
Drive-By Truckers
The Highwomen
Buddy & Julie Miller
Our Native Daughters
WINNER: The Highwomen

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
WINNER: "Crowded Table"

Artist of the Year


Brandi Carlile
Brittany Howard
John Prine
Tanya Tucker
Yola
WINNER: John Prine

Instrumentalist of the Year


Ellen Angelico
Annie Clements
Brittany Haas
Zachariah Hickman
Rich Hinman
WINNER: Brittany Haas

Americana Music Association