The Americana Music Award Nominees were released today, and read by none other than Emmy Lou Harris and Todd Snider this morning at the W.O. Smith School of Music. Leading the way in this talented group of nominees for 2010 are Dave Rawlings, who is nominated in 4 of the 6 named categories, along with Oscar winner Ryan Bingham in 3 categories. Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard are also nominated in more than one category as well. When I first studied this list, several questions came to mind. First of all, since when is Hayes Carll, Ryan Bingham, and Corb Lund considered “New & Emerging Artists?” While each is well deserving of any award nomination they may achieve, their presence on the Americana music scene is anything but new and emerging. They are the virtual cream of the crop! Secondly, I find it interesting that the Hayes Carll/Ray Wylie Hubbard song “Drunken Poets Dream” is up for Song of the Year. After all, Hayes released this song on his own record, plus won Song of the Year in 2008 for “She Left Me For Jesus” from that same record. Guess that speaks volumes for Hayes and his “Trouble In Mind” record. The omission of a few great artists irritates me as well. Scott Miller, Jason Eady, and Malcomb Holcomb each released material deserving award recognition. If the New & Emerging Artist category is any reflection on where the selection process is now, perhaps we will see these three in the category in a few years. It seems the selection committee is playing a bit of catch up. The awards show takes place in the midst of the 11th annual Americana Festival and Conference, slated for Sept. 8–11 and based at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown hotel. The festival includes more than 100 music showcases at numerous Nashville venues. Given the choices below…here are my own selections: ALBUM OF THE YEAR – A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment – Ray Wylie Hubbard ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Ryan Bingham DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR – Band of Heathens (this should be a definite IMO) INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR – Dave Rawlings NEW & EMERGING ARTIST – Hayes Carll SONG OF THE YEAR – The Weary Kind – Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

The 2010 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards nominees

ALBUM OF THE YEAR The List, by Rosanne Cash A Friend of a Friend, by Dave Rawlings Machine Downtown Church, by Patty Griffin A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C), by Ray Wylie Hubbard ARTIST OF THE YEAR Ryan Bingham Patty Griffin Levon Helm — tie Steve Earle — tie Ray Wylie Hubbard DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR The Avett Brothers Carolina Chocolate Drops Band of Heathens Dave Rawlings Machine INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR Buddy Miller Dave Rawlings Will Kimbrough Sam Bush NEW & EMERGING ARTIST Sarah Jarosz Ryan Bingham Hayes Carll — tie Corb Lund Joe Pug SONG OF THE YEAR “The Weary Kind," written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, performed by Ryan Bingham "Drunken Poets Dream," written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard, performed by Ray Wylie Hubbard "Ruby," written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch, performed by Dave Rawlings Machine "I and Love and You," written and performed by The Avett Brothers