Billy Strings, Tyler Childers Win Big at 2023 Americana Music Awards
See full winners and photos below.
For 22 years now, the Americana community has been rising up to attempt to highlight the music and artists that are often overlooked or put out to pasture by the country music industry in Nashville. But with the rising popularity of independent artists, Americana has taken on and entirely different complexion where it’s quickly becoming an equal to the country music industry.
When you have arena acts such as Tyler Childers and Billy Strings challenging the status quo in country, it’s no longer about offering a hand up. It’s more about offering a more healthy alternative.
As part of the week-long AmericanaFest in Nashville this week, the Americana Music Association conducted their annual awards ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium. Though Charley Crockett and Margo Price were the most nominated artists in 2023 with considerations in both the Album, Song, and Artist of the Year categories, it was Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, The War & Treaty, S.G. Goodman, and Bonnie Raitt walking away with the big honors.
Billy Strings became the Americana Artist of the Year for the second year in a row, bolstered by his massive sold-out arena shows, and his recent traditional bluegrass tribute album to his pops, Me/And /Dad. The War & Treaty were also repeat winners in the category of Americana Duo or Group of the Year, speaking to their continued rise in the country and Americana realm.
Bonnie Raitt and her song “Just Like That” continue their incredible run by winning the Americana Music Award for Song of the Year. Some may remember in February at the Grammy Awards, Raitt shocked the popular music world by winning the all-genre Song of the Year for “Just Like That,” after picking up Best American Roots Songs as well. At 73, Raitt continues to prove she’s still a vital songwriter.
Album of the Year was awarded to Tyler Childers for his 3-disc Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? despite receiving mixed reviews. In 2018 after his album Purgatory won in the same category, Childers said in his acceptance speech, “As a man who identifies as a country music singer, I feel Americana ain’t no part of nothin’. It is a distraction from the issues that we are facing on a bigger level as country music singers.”
Nonetheless, the Americana community continues to show their support for Childers. He was not in attendance to accept the award, but Kentucky poet laureate and Childers friend Silas House accepted for him.
S.G. Goodman also won for Emerging Artist of the Year. Along with releasing two critically-acclaimed albums in Old Time Feeling (2020) and Teeth Marks (2022), Goodman’s profile has also been bolstered by Tyler Childers covering the fellow Kentuckian’s song “Space and Time” in concert, and now on his new album Rustin’ In The Rain. S.G. performed the song right before winning Emerging Artist.
“Y’all are great for allowing a slow talker to make an acceptance speech,” Goodman said. “I’ve got a list as long as my leg of people to thank…”
See a full list of nominees and winners below.
Other awards went to The Avett Brothers and Nickel Creek for the Trailblazer Award, Patty Griffin was awarded the Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting, and Bettye LaVette accepted the Legacy of Americana Award. Presenters included Brandi Carlile, comedian Sarah Silverman, and Kacey Musgraves made a surprise appearance to hand out the Trailblazer Award to Nickel Creek.
Bettye LaVette brought the house down when she was reading off her acceptance speech and said, “I’m suffering from a disease called CRS … can’t read shit.” She later took a more thankful tone, saying, “After hiding in plain sight, it feels good to finally be acknowledged.”
While receiving the Trailblazer Award, Seth Avett said the band never wanted to be called rock, and never wanted to be called country, because they both felt too limiting. But when it came to Americana, it felt just right. “It’s so beautiful to be called that, and we never want out.”
Other surprise presenters included Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, also known as The Tennessee Three. No, this was not the backing band for Johnny Cash, but the members of the Tennessee State House who were reprimanded after attempting to stop down proceedings to push for gun legislation in light of the school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. They presented Allison Russell with the Spirit of Americana/Free Speech in Music Award.
But just as much as the awards, it was the performances that helped mark the 2023 Americana Music Awards. The show was opened by Logan Ledger paying tribute to Jimmy Buffett by singing “Come Monday,” and was closed by a tribute to Robbie Robertson through an all-star rendition of “Up On Cripple Creek.”
The debut album of Tom Waits, Closing Time released in 1973, was also paid tribute, with Rufus Wainwright singing the opening song “Ol’ ’55” that was eventually covered by The Eagles. He was accompanied by Logan Ledger.
Other performers included surging country soul outfit 49 Winchester, Adeem the Artist, 2022 Album of the Year winner Allison Russell, Angel Olsen, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Margo Price, The Milk Carton Kids with Noah Kahan, Rufus Wainwright, Sunny War, and William Prince.
The Americana Music Awards were streamed on multiple formats, and will be edited for proper rebroadcast via Austin City Limits at a later date.
2023 Americana Music Awards Winners
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Big Time, Angel Olsen; Produced by Angel Olsen and Jonathan Wilson
Can I Take My Hounds To Heaven?, Tyler Childers; Produced by Tyler Childers – WINNER
El Bueno y el Malo, Hermanos Gutiérrez; Produced by Dan Auerbach
The Man from Waco, Charley Crockett; Produced by Bruce Robison
Strays, Margo Price; Produced by Margo Price and Jonathan Wilson
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell
Margo Price
Allison Russell
Billy Strings – WINNER
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR:
49 Winchester
Caamp
Nickel Creek
Plains
The War and Treaty – WINNER
EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR:
Adeem the Artist
S.G. Goodman – Winner
William Prince
Thee Sacred Souls
Sunny War
SONG OF THE YEAR:
“Change of Heart,” Margo Price; Written by Jeremy Ivey, Margo Price
“I’m Just a Clown,” Charley Crockett; Written by Charley Crockett
“Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt; Written by Bonnie Raitt – WINNER
“Something in the Orange,” Zach Bryan; Written by Zach Bryan
“You’re Not Alone,” Allison Russell featuring Brandi Carlile; Written by Allison Russell
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR:
Isa Burke
Allison de Groot
Jeff Picker
SistaStrings – Chauntee and Monique Ross – WINNER
Kyle Tuttle
All photos by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos
September 20, 2023 @ 10:01 pm
Billy Strings shows are top notch. Especially when he plays multiple nights. Tickets are reasonable enough to go multiple nights. A different show every night. He is gonna be an icon. Like the bob marley of bluegrass where the whole genre is changed. He has a great team. He will always be a touring force and a long career. All the power to him. A+ level talent.
September 21, 2023 @ 2:29 am
Agreed, saw him in Berlin this summer and the show was mind melting. Never saw a band so tight.
September 21, 2023 @ 10:34 am
I was lucky enough to catch him at the Capitol in BG back in 2017 or so before he shot into the stratosphere and you could tell he was miles ahead in sheer talent. A guaranteed can’t miss talent…
September 21, 2023 @ 4:38 pm
Have you seen him since they added Alex Hargreaves? Ive been blown away by how well he fits in with the band. Pre-Alex Billy shows were phenomenal but they’re unworldly with him. I leave every show speechless. Next one I’m going to is in December and I’m counting down the days!
September 21, 2023 @ 4:47 pm
No I haven’t. We’ve had a 3rd kid recently so my show going days are on hiatus for a bit but I have watched some videos since they added the fiddle player. That guy is a big time talent and more than carries his own weight. I think he definitely elevates the band.
September 22, 2023 @ 7:54 am
I agree 100%.. Alex has put them over the top.
One of my favorite things now is getting the reaction of first timers to a Billy show.
My wife’s first show (she is now addicted to Billy Shows), and this was in the small club days before Alex, was “He just melted my face off”. Although that night, he had that Asian Flute Playing lady with him for a part of the show.
I was talking with this guy walking out of my last show saying he’s been to all kinds of concerts, but he could just feel Billy Strings all the way down through his spine. LOL
September 21, 2023 @ 12:41 am
Hounds for best album was a terrible choice. I like a track or two, but it was underwhelming, and really just a head scratcher overall with its 8 songs done 3 different ways. I guess the Americana overlords bought whatever he was trying to sell, there. Problem is, I don’t think anyone else did. There were definitely most deserving albums, but he’s the big star so they gave it to him.
September 21, 2023 @ 7:07 am
“Hounds” received a 4/10 review here. A lot of the reviews for the album were mixed, and it also didn’t get reviews in places that a Tyler Childers album normally would. I think this is probably a case where they’re rewarding the artist, not the album. The Grammy Awards are guilty of this, but Americana tends to get it more right. I also don’t understand why they continue to give attention to an artist that made a concerted effort to distance from them and is almost guaranteed not to show up. But hey, it’s not like the CMAs are ever going to recognize Tyler, so …
September 21, 2023 @ 7:14 am
I actually like the first and third discs of Hounds, and I still hate that it was chosen as top album. It just didn’t even make my top 10 albums of last year.
In defense of the third disc of Hounds, it is really fun to exercise to, and the reptitive dance beat nature of the arrangements is hypnotic and even spiritually elevating in my humble opinion. I especially find the interviews with people about their idea of what heaven would be like to be very moving. That does not make for Americana album of the year in what was an amazing year for the genre.
September 22, 2023 @ 6:14 am
I agree with you on disc 3, I just wish it was maybe a digital download or something. It turned so many people off from the album that already rubbed folks the wrong way with its limited songs, especially originals. I think disc 3 just took folks over the edge and now point that animosity toward Childers as a person, though he is still selling out venues so I guess he is sitll doing all right.
September 27, 2023 @ 6:47 am
I didn’t purchase Hounds and just stream it, so I don’t feel like I was short changed for the album. As long as people were aware it of the number of songs and that it would be three versions of each, then it’s on them for buying a physical copy of a triple album they haven’t heard IMO. I forget the details, so maybe it wasn’t clear what people were pre ordering at the time.
I think the bigger issue I have with Hounds is how disc 1 and 2 sound nearly the same. I understand why he wanted three versions of the songs, but he only put two cuts out really. He should have either left the tacked on horns sections on the cutting room floor, or reimagined disc 2 as the New Orleans version of these songs. Sierra Ferrell could have been a great influence or even collaborator to make that sound happen.
September 21, 2023 @ 7:44 am
The Avett Bros opened my eyes to the Americana/independent country world in college and were far and away my favorite group in my early 20s. Amazing songwriters and performers that eventually led me to finding people like Sturgill and Isbell as I got older, and I haven’t looked back. Happy to see them getting the love they deserve.
September 21, 2023 @ 10:19 am
Thanks, Trigger. You just saved me some money. I was about to renew my Americana membership, but, now, that’s not happening. I have not seen the awards presentation, but having the so-called “Tennessee Three” appear on the program is nothing short of an insult to all defenders of the Constitution of the USA.
September 21, 2023 @ 11:35 am
Some real odd choices and nominations here. In nearly every category I’m baffled at the choices nd nominees aside from Strings. SG Goodman is totally mediocre, forgettable indie rock. Not even close to Americana.
Ditto Angel Olsen who got fairly stale. She was heavily pushing crazy “plan-demic” stuff for a bit too. Also hardly Americana given her back catalogue.
That Childers album was bad.
September 21, 2023 @ 3:17 pm
Tiger,
The whole Americana thing is odd to me.
September 21, 2023 @ 11:57 am
I don’t always dress like Colonel Sanders, but when I do, I want to look like I made out with Ronald McDonald before eating him.
September 21, 2023 @ 1:07 pm
Happy for Billy.
Happy for the Avetts.
Don’t understand the Childers album winning.
September 21, 2023 @ 3:57 pm
Hounds is such an imperfect project yet i still love it. The songs i love it it i truly love and are some of my favorites. And they’re even better live. However as a whole the project fails as a concept album because hallelujah and jubilee are basically the same and I personally pretend joyful noise doesn’t exist. Overall if i were just rating the hallelujah id give it a 8/10 but the album as a whole is a 5/10.
September 21, 2023 @ 6:59 pm
Was Turnpike too late to be a 2023 nominee? I realize the album just came out but am surprised they were shut out of all categories.
September 21, 2023 @ 10:56 pm
Eligibility ended at the end of March, so it would not be eligible until next year.
September 21, 2023 @ 7:24 pm
I get some folks don’t dig Americana, but I’ve never understood why some resent the genre exists. As a catch-all for American roots music that ain’t quite country, ain’t quite rock, and values singer-songwriters it’s existence makes sense to me. Maybe the genre is a bit of mongrel (ain’t they all), and it’s definitely a haven for po-faced urban hipsters putting on southern accents, but it’s also given a lot of folks I love a home they wouldn’t otherwise have if they had to rely on country or rock fans alone. I know people like Robert Earl Keen have embraced it and are grateful the genre exists. Anywho.
September 22, 2023 @ 6:27 am
As someone who used to run a venue that catered mostly to Americana crowds, I think it is the artists who have the biggest issue with it. Many want to be on commercial radio and part of the zeitgeist but are too trad, too singer-songwriter, too adult (for the most part), or their audiences are too old, and so there is some resentment with the classification. When I used to call an agency for booking availability and I told them it was a 600 seat venue, they immediately transferred me to whatever agent handled Americana, so I can understand how some artists see it is a bit of a purgatory of playing smaller venues longer than some of their peers.
I do think we are in a really exciting time when so many of those industry created barriers of the Americana label are going away and wider audiences are finding these artists without the middlemen of terrestrial radio and the “paying your dues” portion of a career where you tour relentlessly opening for other artists.
September 21, 2023 @ 8:18 pm
While they undoubtedly award and promote a lot of great music and I’m glad someone is doing that, my problem with the term is that it seems like a surrender and not just for the country genre. Bonnie Raitt has been performing since the ’70s and has never had an album or single on the country chart as far as I can tell. Rock radio had no problem playing artists like her and other rootsy artists in the ’70s or ’80s alongside Van Halen or Queen (even Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” was a rock top 10). Relegating artists like her to their own distinct genre gives them an excuse not to play them now and the mainstream rock genre is worse because of it. And the same is true of country. There has always been pop country, but Buck Owens and Jim Reeves used to be played back to back. A country artist marketing themselves as anything other than country signals that they’re ok with someone like Luke Bryan being the only thing most people think of when they hear the term “country music.”
In my opinion, there is nothing at all wrong with terms like “rock,” “country,” and “R&B,” except that the music currently marketed to the mainstream in those genres is subpar. And that’s at least partially due to the best artists vacating those genres. The Americana Music Association was formed in 1999. George Jones had a top 40 hit the same year in the country genre. Tom Petty had a top ten rock hit that year, one of 13 top ten rock hits he had in the 1990s, including four number ones. If an artist that sounded like either of them were coming up today, they’d be labeled as Americana and all of the mainstream country and rock fans would miss out on them.
September 21, 2023 @ 11:06 pm
^
September 21, 2023 @ 9:46 pm
Caamp was robbed. “Lavender Days” is the CD of the year, the one on repeat.