Ferrell wins big at Americana awards

Brandy Clark won Song of the Year for "Dear Insecurity," Larkin Poe was Duo/Group of the Year, The Red Clay Strays received Emerging Act of the Year and Grace Bowers was Instrumentalist of the Year.

Ferrell earned both of the night's top awards with her first Artist of the Year honors and Album of the Year for her 2024 record, "Trail of Flowers," produced by Eddie Spear and Gary Paczosa.

Clark's "Dear Insecurity" was a collaboration with her 2024 self-titled album producer, Brandi Carlile, and written by herself and songwriter Michael Pollack. Larkin Poe, the sister duo outfit, won their first Duo/Group of the Year award, along with other first time winners, The Red Clay Strays and Bowers, a guitarist.

Highlights from the evening include Don Was receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from surprise presenter Martina McBride; Allison Moorer, singer-songwriter and sister of Shelby Lynne, presenting Lynne with her Lifetime Achievement Award; and Song of the Year winner Brandy Clark delivering Dwight Yoakam his Lifetime Achievement honor.

Buddy Miller — Americana stalwart, songwriter, musician, producer and 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient — returned as musical director for the Americana All-Star Band, featuring Bryan Owings, Don Was, Jerry Pentecost, Jen Gunderman, Jim Hoke, Larry Campbell and the McCrary Sisters.

Duane Betts opened the show with a performance of the Allman Brothers' classic, "Blue Sky," to honor his father Dickey, who died in April. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gram Parsons' "Grievous Angel," Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell closed the evening with "Return of the Grievous Angel."

Rev. Gary Davis posthumously received the Legacy of Americana Award (in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music [NMAAM]).

Performers included The Blind Boys of Alabama, Brandy Clark with SistaStrings, Charles Wesley Godwin, Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakam, Fantastic Negrito, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jobi Riccio, Kaitlin Butts, Larkin Poe, The Milk Carton Kids, Noah Kahan, Sarah Jarosz, Shelby Lynne, Sierra Ferrell, Turnpike Troubadours, The War and Treaty, Waxahatchee with MJ Lenderman and Wyatt Flores.

The 23rd Annual Americana Honors & Awards is the hallmark event of AMERICANAFEST week, which continues through Saturday.