George Strait to Present Jim Lauderdale with Americana Honor

single-door-in-pure-white-space-emaits-light-bruce-rolff

The Americana Honors and Awards have seen some pretty high tone dignitaries make their way onto the stage during their 17-year run, but the 2016 installment may see some of the biggest star power yet. It has been announced that “King” George Strait will make a rare public appearance after his official touring retirement to present Jim Lauderdale with the Wagonmaster Award named for country music icon Porter Wagoner during the September 21st awards at the Ryman Auditorium.

The reason George Strait is in the unique position to bestow the award to Jim Lauderdale is due to Strait recording over a dozen Jim Lauderdale songs during his career, and counting. Lauderdale, whose name has become synonymous with Americana, is the Americana Awards’ annual Master of Ceremonies, and was the very first Americana Artist of the Year in 2002 when the awards began.

The Americana Honors & Awards are part of the greater Americana Music Conference happening between September 20th and 25th in Nashville, drawing folks from all around the country and world. Nominees for the awards were announced in May, and recently the Americana Music Association announced an initiative called #roadtoamericanafest, encouraging bands, artists, fans, media, and others to spread interest in the awards organically. Also as part of the initiative, Americana is giving away a trip to AmericanaFest.

Jim Lauderdale is one of the most prolific artists in Nashville, having recorded nearly 30 records since 1991, and lending his voice to many recordings. It was Lauderdale’s snubbing by the country music industry that partially inspired Americana to form as an alternative to the mainstream. Here is a list of the Jim Lauderdale songs George Strait has recorded:

“The King of Broken Hearts” — Pure Country Soundtrack
“Where the Sidewalk Ends” — Pure Country Soundtrack
“I Wasn’t Fooling Around” — Easy Come, Easy Go
“Stay Out of My Arms” — Easy Come, Easy Go
“Nobody Has to Get Hurt” — Lead On
“What Am I Waiting For” — Lead On
“Do the Right Thing” — Blue Clear Sky
“We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This” — One Step at a Time/Latest Greatest Straitest Hits
“One of You” — Always Never the Same
“What Do You Say to That” — Always Never the Same
“Don’t Make Me Come Over There (and Love You)” — George Strait
“She Used to Say That to Me” — Honkytonkville
“Twang” — Twang
“I Gotta Get to You” — Twang

© 2023 Saving Country Music