Sierra Ferrell, Nathaniel Rateliff, I’m With Her & MJ Lenderman Among 2025 Americana Honors & Awards Winners

Sierra Ferrell earned the Artist Of The Year honor for the second straight year at last night’s 2025 Americana Honors & Awards. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, I’m With Her and MJ Lenderman were among the other winners at the event held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Ferrell defended her Artist Of The Year title against fellow nominees Billy Strings, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun and Waxahatchee. Ferrell was not at The Ryman because she is currently on tour.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats won Album Of The Year for their Brad Cook-produced South Of Here. MJ Lenderman was named Emerging Act Of The Year and I’m With Her’s “Ancient Light” won Song Of The Year.

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings were named Duo/Group Of The Year. Fiddler Alex Hargreaves, who plays in Billy Strings’ band, was given the Instrumentalist Of The Year Award.

Darrell Scott was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Hayes Carll. Also earning a Lifetime Achievement Award was songwriter Joe Henry, who was presented the honor by Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell. Cash also spoke before The Old 97’s accepted their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rising singer-songwriter Jesse Welles was recognized in the Spirit Of Americana – Free Speech In Music category. Longtime Americana Awards performers The McCrary Sisters were bestowed the Legacy Award.

The program was hosted by actor/musician John C. Reilly, who teamed with Margo Price on “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and also covered Tom Waits’ “Picture In A Frame.”

Many of the nominees performed at the event that closed with veteran rocker John Fogerty leading a collaborative finale featuring a medley of Creedence Clearwater Revival classics.

View the 2025 Americana Music Awards at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville: