2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards

The 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at Ryman Auditorium the in Nashville, Tennessee. The marquee event for the Americana Music Association, artists are awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The show was livestreamed on the Circle YouTube channel and on the AMA's Facebook page, plus live radio broadcasts on Sirius XM and local Tennessee stations WSM, WMOT and WRLT. An hour-long special of highlights aired on PBS in November as part of Austin City Limits. The Milk Carton Kids returned to host the ceremony, having previously hosted in 2018 and 2019.

Charley Crockett and Margo Price lead the member-voted nominations, with three each, followed by Allison Russell with two. In addition to the six competitive categories, five lifetime achievement awards and one special award (to Russell) were also presented at the ceremony.

Performers
Performers were announced on September 14, 2023. All performers were backed by the All-Star Americana House Band led by Buddy Miller (guitar) and featuring Brady Blade (drums), Catherine Popper (bass), Fred Eltringham (drums), Jen Gunderman (piano), Jim Hoke (pedal steel), Larry Campbell (fiddle/mandolin/guitar) and The McCrary Sisters (vocals).

Winners and nominees
The eligibility period for the 22nd Americana Music Honors & Awards is April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The nominees were announced by Gina Miller on May 9, 2023, at a ceremony at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville which features performances from Margo Price, S.G. Goodman and The McCrary Sisters.

Honors
The 2023 Lifetime Achievement honorees were announced on September 8, 2023.

Americana Trailblazer Award

 * Nickel Creek

Legacy of Americana Award

 * Bettye LaVette

Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive

 * George Fontaine Sr

Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance

 * The Avett Brothers

Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting

 * Patty Griffin

Spirit of Americana Award

 * Allison Russell

Presenters
Presenters were announced on September 14, 2023.
 * Dom Flemons - presented Instrumentalist of the Year
 * Buddy Miller - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive
 * Pete Muller - introduced Adeem the Artist
 * Noelle Taylor and Steve Jordan - presented Legacy of Americana Award
 * The War and Treaty - introduced William Prince
 * Silas House - introduced S.G. Goodman
 * Shovels & Rope - presented Emerging Act of the Year and introduced The Milk Carton Kids with Noah Kahan
 * Kacey Musgraves - presented Americana Trailblazer Award
 * Warren Zanes - introduced Rufus Wainwright
 * John Seigenthaler, Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson - presented Spirit of Americana Award
 * Jessi Colter - introduced Margo Price
 * John Oates and William Bell - presented Duo/Group of the Year and introduced Allison Russell
 * Sarah Silverman - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting
 * Jed Hilly - introduced Bonnie Raitt
 * Lyle Lovett - presented Song of the Year and introduced Hermanos Gutiérrez
 * Teddy Thompson - introduced Angel Olsen
 * Anthony Mason - presented Album of the Year
 * Brandi Carlile - presented Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance
 * Jim Lauderdale - presented Artist of the Year