Molly Tuttle, Brandi Carlile Are the Big Winners at 2026 Americana Honors & Awards
Dolly Parton was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, which she accepted in a video recorded before her death
The 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards ceremony took place at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on September 16. Big winners at the event included Molly Tuttle, Brandi Carlile, and Tyler Childers. Tuttle, who released the pop-infused album So Long Little Miss Sunshine this year, secured her first artist of the year award. She expressed shock and honor at sharing the stage with musical icons during her acceptance speech.
The evening kicked off with Chris Stapleton and The Heartbreakers performing renditions of "American Girl," "You Wreck Me," and "Breakdown." The Heartbreakers, reunited since 2017, received the lifetime achievement award, which was accepted by Petty's daughter Adria Petty. Tom Petty, who didn't care much for the music industry, focused on the music community, expressing his love for his late bandmates.
Lifetime achievement awards were also presented to Robert Plant and Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25. Emmylou Harris honored Parton with a video acceptance speech she had filmed beforehand. Harris spoke about Parton's role in shaping her career and the impact of roots music, which inspired her to return to East Tennessee in 1997 and record her album Hungry Again.
Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her paid tribute to Dolly Parton with a rendition of "Coat of Many Colors," eliciting a standing ovation from the audience. Other notable performances included Boy Golden's potent rendition of "Suffer," Kashus Culpepper's rugged country-soul on "Jenni," and Mon Rovia's powerful "Heavy Foot."
Molly Tuttle joined forces with Ketch Secor to perform Tuttle's "Rosalee," while Margo Price delivered the soaring "Hard Headed Woman" and "Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down." I’m With Her performed "Wild and Clear and Blue," while Jesse Welles captivated the crowd with his harmonica skills and sharp lyrics in "The Nerd Reich." Bernie Taupin then presented the song of the year award to Brandi Carlile for her hit "Returning to Myself."
Throughout the ceremony, Buddy Miller led the Americana All-Star Band, featuring various renowned musicians. The evening also paid respect to lost artists like the late Todd Snider, commemorated by Hayes Carll and Elizabeth Cook in their performance of "Play a Train Song." The Americana Honors & Awards concluded with a multi-artist tribute to The Mavericks' Raul Malo, singing "Dance The Night Away."
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