Justice Served: Jason Isbell Wins 2016 Grammy for Best Americana Album / American Roots Song

jason-isbell

NOTE: Make sure to join Saving Country Music Monday night for the Grammy Awards LIVE blog.

Justice has finally been done, and the current King of Americana finally has his Grammy. Actually, he now has two of them. Alabama-born songwriter Jason Isbell walked away with Best Americana Album honors at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards for his latest record Something More Than Free during the pre-telecast awards Monday afternoon (2-14), as well as Best American Roots song for “24 Frames.”

The wins come after not even receiving a nomination two years prior for Isbell’s album Southeastern. Though Jason Isbell has been more decorated in the past two years at the Americana Music Awards than any other artist, and may be the artist most synonymous with the “Americana” subgenre these days, the more widely-recognized and distinguished honor of a Grammy had eluded him. But not any more.

jason-isbell-grammysIsbell beat out Brandi Carlie, The Mavericks, the Punch Brothers, and Americana elders Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell’s latest collaborative effort to earn the Best Americana Album distinction. It’s also yet another honor for Dave Cobb, who produced the record.

The Best Americana Album Grammy is one of numerous distinctions Something More Than Free has racked up. Upon its release on July 17th, 2015, it debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Country, Rock, and Folk charts, slightly edging out country powerhouse Alan Jackson for the top spot in country.

“My life turned around a few years ago and I started working harder, and documenting the changes,” Isbell said in his acceptance speech. “All the people that helped me get sober, and taught me how to work again, thank you for that. I’m just happy to be able to work now and have a family, and take care of them when they need me, and be taken care of when I need it. And it’s nice to make records and write songs to keep track of that and explain my own feelings to myself. So it’s really great when that gets recognized.”

Isbell also thanked his wife Amanda Shires, Thirty Tigers, his manager Traci Thomas, and others.

Other pre-telecast winners include Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn for Best Folk Album, The Steeldrivers “The Muscle Shoals Recordings” for Best Bluegrass Album, and Best American Roots Performance went to Mavis Staples for “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.”

Here’s a cell video until better video can be found:

Jason Jason Isbell accepting Americana album of the year!! Congrats!!

Posted by Rodney Hall on Monday, February 15, 2016

© 2023 Saving Country Music