Simpson, Williams, Shakey Graves Lead 14th Annual Americana Awards Nominees

Pictured (L-R): Abi Tapia of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Joey Ryan & Kenneth Pattengale of the Milk Carton Kids, Nikki Lane, Jed Hilly of the Americana Music Association, Abigail Washburn, Bela Fleck, and John Hiatt. Photo: Terry Wyatt / Getty Images

Sturgill Simpson, Lucinda Williams, and Shakey Graves lead the nominees for the 14th annual Americana Honors & Awards, which were announced Thursday (May 14) at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater in Nashville.

Simpson earned nods in the Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (for “Turtles All The Way Down”), Album of the Year (for Metamodern Sounds in Country Music) categories.

Williams also earned nods for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (for Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone), and Song of the Year (for “East Side of Town”).

Newcomer Shakey Graves was named as an Emerging Artist of the Year nominee. He also garnered a Song of the Year nomination for “Dearly Departed,” and Album of the Year nod for And The War Came.

Other notables in the Artist of the Year category include Lee Ann Womack, Jason Isbell, and Rhiannon Giddens. Womack earned an additional nomination in the Album of the Year category for her Frank Liddell-produced project The Way I’m Livin‘.

Among the performers during the nominations ceremony were hosts/performers The Milk Carton Kids, along with Song of the Year nominee John Haitt, Emerging Artist of the Year nominee Nikki Lane, and Duo/Group of the Year nominees Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn.

The 14th annual Americana Honors & Awards will be held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 16 as part of 16th annual Americana Music Festival and Conference.

Album of the Year
And The War Came – Shakey Graves; Produced by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Chris Boosahda
Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone – Lucinda Williams; Produced by Lucinda Williams, Tom Overby and Greg Leisz
Metamodern Sounds In Country Music – Sturgill Simpson; Produced by Dave Cobb
The Way I’m Livin’ -Lee Ann Womack; Produced by Frank Liddell
Tomorrow Is My Turn – Rhiannon Giddens; Produced by T-Bone Burnett

Artist of the Year
Rhiannon Giddens
Jason Isbell
Sturgill Simpson
Lucinda Williams
Lee Ann Womack

Duo/Group of the Year
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
The Lone Bellow
The Mavericks
Punch Brothers
Shovels & Rope

Song of the Year
“Dearly Departed” – Shakey Graves; Written by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Esme’ Patterson
“East Side Of Town” – Lucinda Williams; Written by Lucinda Williams
“Terms Of My Surrender” – John Hiatt; Written by John Hiatt
“Turtles All The Way Down” – Sturgill Simpson; Written by Sturgill Simpson
“You’re The Best Lover That I Ever Had” – Steve Earle & the Dukes; Written by Steve Earle

Emerging Artist of the Year
First Aid Kit
Houndmouth
Nikki Lane
Doug Seegers
Shakey Graves

Instrumentalist of the Year
Hubby Jenkins
Laur Joamets
Greg Leisz
John Leventhal
Stuart Mathis