The 2011 Americana Music Association AwardsHear performances by Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, The Civil Wars and many more, recorded live at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
Alison Krauss and Buddy Miller kicked off the evening with a tribute to the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award 10 years ago and is credited with revitalizing interest in Americana music.
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Emmylou Harris performs the hymn "I'll Fly Away," which was part of the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack.
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Host Jim Lauderdale introduces the night's show.
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Lucinda Williams took home a Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Lucinda Williams choked up during her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech when she thanked her husband and manager Tom Overby.
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After accepting her award, Lucinda Williams performed the title song to her latest album, "Blessed."
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Raul Malo and Carrie Rodriguez announced the winner of the Instrumentalist of the Year award.
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Buddy Miller accepts the award for Instrumentalist of the Year.
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On top of winning Instrumentalist of the Year, Buddy Miller also led the Americana Music Awards house band.
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Jed Hilly, the Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, introduces a performance by Amos Lee.
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The Avett Brothers accept the award for Group of the Year.
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Gregg Allman handed out a Lifetime Achievement Award to FAME Studios owner Rick Hall.
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Artist of the Year nominee Elizabeth Cook performed her Song of the Year nominee, "El Camino."
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Keb Mo announced the winner of the Artist of the Year award.
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Justin Townes Earle won Song of the Year for "Harlem River Blues."
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Artist of the Year nominee Hayes Carll performs during the Americana Music Awards.
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New Artist of the Year nominee Jessica Lea Mayfield is backed by Group of the Year winners The Avett Brothers.
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Jessica Lea Mayfield (right) lost out to Mumford & Sons (not pictured) for New Artist of the Year.
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Alison Krauss introduces Lifetime Achievement Award winner — and Union Station collaborator — Jerry Douglas.
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Dobro master Jerry Douglas accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday night.
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Jerry Douglas can add this Lifetime Achievement Award to his 12 Grammy Awards.
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Justin Townes Earle performs his Song of the Year, "Harlem River Blues."
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New Artist of the Year nominees The Secret Sisters perform on Thursday night.
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Amos Lee performs during the awards show.
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NPR Music and Folk Alley returned to Nashville on Thursday night to present a live webcast of the Americana Music Association's 10th annual honors and awards show from the Ryman Auditorium.
This Year's Winners
Instrumentalist of the Year: Buddy Miller
Duo/Group of the Year: The Avett Brothers
Song of the Year: "Harlem River Blues" by Justin Townes Earle
This year's five Lifetime Achievement Award honorees stand out as some of the most innovative and inspirational leaders in the music world.
Lucinda Williams received the Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting. A three-time Grammy winner, Williams was named "America's best songwriter" by Time magazine in 2002. Albums such as Car Wheels on a Gravel Road received almost unanimous critical acclaim, and earned the reclusive Williams legendary status rare for musicians her age.
Dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas was distinguished as an outstanding instrumentalist for his solo work and collaboration with Alison Krauss and Union Station. He has won 12 Grammy Awards, a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and was named the Artist in Residence for the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
Gregg Allman received tonight's honor for performance. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Allman Brothers Band founder is known for his powerful voice, for his work on Hammond B3 Organ, and for composing much of the Allman Brothers Band's material alongside Dickey Betts.
As owner of the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., Rick Hall has recorded some of the most significant musicians in American history, including Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Wilson Pickett and Etta James. He was presenteded with the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for an Executive.
The Trailblazer Award is for "Whispering" Bob Harris, who has been widely acknowledged for his long-running rock, country and folk program on BBC Radio 2, culminating in his appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for his services to music broadcasting. Harris also helped found Time Out magazine and pioneer the BBC's digital station BBC6.
