They’re here: the list of nominees for the Americana Music Association’s 2025 Honors & Awards were just released and let’s just say it’s a breath of fresh air this year, with a few returning favorites and some new names joining the list for the first time.
MJ Lenderman leads the pack with three nominations total, including one for Song of the Year with “Wristwatch,” Album of the Year with Manning Fireworks, and also for Emerging Act of the Year. Lenderman’s nods in both an emerging category and two major categories is quite the unusual feat, and proves that the singer/songwriter might just be on a fast-track trajectory to household name status.
Following closely behind him is Americana superstar Charley Crockett nominated for both Album of the Year with Lonesome Drifter and Artist of the Year while veteran favorites Gillian Welch & David Rawlings also snagged two nods for Duo/Group of the Year and Album of the Year for Woodland.
There were a few surprises in the list this year, as to be expected: Jason Isbell’s masterful acoustic album Foxes in the Snow marked the longtime, critical favorite’s sole nomination this year while Americana darlings Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings, and Waxahatchee also only snagged one each.
Any dashed hopes of fans were soothed with the presence of a few new promising names that appeared: Maggie Antone, Joy Oladokun, Maggie Rose, and Julian Baker & TORRES (a Macon native!) received much deserved recognition among their peers.
There’s something delightful to be said about all the recipients of nods this year, which means the awards show itself will no doubt bring many stellar performances and grand moments when it takes the stage at the Ryman Auditorium on September 10, 2025.
Below is a full list of the 2025 nominees:
Album Of The Year:
Lonesome Drifter, Charley Crockett; Produced by Charley Crockett & Shooter Jennings
Foxes in the Snow, Jason Isbell; Produced by Jason Isbell & Gena Johnson
Manning Fireworks, MJ Lenderman; Produced by Alex Farrar & MJ Lenderman
South of Here, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats; Produced by Brad Cook
Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings; Produced by David Rawlings
Artist Of The Year:
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell
Joy Oladokun
Billy Strings
Waxahatchee
Duo/Group Of The Year:
Julien Baker & TORRES
Dawes
Larkin Poe
The Mavericks
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Emerging Act Of The Year:
Noeline Hofmann
MJ Lenderman
Medium Build
Maggie Rose
Jesse Welles
Instrumentalist Of The Year:
Fred Eltringham
Alex Hargreaves
Megan Jane
Kaitlyn Raitz
Seth Taylor
Song Of The Year:
“Johnny Moonshine,” Maggie Antone; Written by Maggie Antone, Natalie Hemby & Aaron Raitiere
“Ancient Light,” I’m With Her; Written by Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins
“Wristwatch,” MJ Lenderman; Written by MJ Lenderman
“Sunshine Getaway,” JD McPherson; Written by Page Burkum, JD McPherson & Jack Torrey