Sierra Ferrell was the big winner at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards, held Wednesday night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The old-timey West Virginia songwriter took home Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her LP Trail of Flowers.
Produced by Eddie Spear and Gary Paczosa, Trail of Flowers showcases Ferrell’s distinctly country and folk songs, like “Dollar Bill Bar” and “American Dreaming.” It beat out projects by Brandy Clark, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Tyler Childers, and Jason Isbell.
On the heels of their first ever CMA Awards nomination, for Vocal Group of the Year, last week, rootsy rock & roll band the Red Clay Strays were named Emerging Act of the Year. Grace Bowers continued her coronation as Nashville’s newest guitar hero by winning Instrumentalist of the Year. And Larkin Poe, the dynamic sibling duo of Rebecca and Megan Lovell, triumphed in the Duo/Group race.
Finally, in the Song of the Year category, Americana favorite Brandy Clark won for “Dear Insecurity,” her collaboration with Brandi Carlile.
Album of the Year
Brandy Clark, Brandy Clark (produced by Brandi Carlile)
The Past Is Still Alive, Hurray for the Riff Raff (produced by Brad Cook)
Rustin’ in the Rain, Tyler Childers (produced by Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps)
Trail of Flowers, Sierra Ferrell (produced by Eddie Spear and Gary Paczosa) – WINNER
Weathervanes, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (produced by Jason Isbell)
Artist of the Year
Tyler Childers
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell – WINNER
Noah Kahan
Allison Russell
Duo/Group of the Year
Black Pumas
Larkin Poe – WINNER
The Milk Carton Kids
Turnpike Troubadours
The War and Treaty
Emerging Act of the Year
Kaitlin Butts
Wyatt Flores
Charles Wesley Godwin
The Red Clay Strays – WINNER
Jobi Riccio
Instrumentalist of the Year
Grace Bowers – WINNER
Maddie Denton
Jamie Dick
Megan McCormick
Joshua Rilko
Song of the Year
“American Dreaming,” Sierra Ferrell (songwriters: Melody Walker and Sierra Ferrell)
“Dear Insecurity,” Brandy Clark (songwriters: Brandy Clark and Michael Pollack) – WINNER
“In Your Love,” Tyler Childers (songwriters: Geno Seale and Tyler Childers)
“Jealous Moon,” Sarah Jarosz (songwriters: Daniel Tashian and Sarah Jarosz)
“Right Back to It,” Waxahatchee feat. MJ Lenderman (songwriter: Katie Crutchfield)