2009 Americana Music Awards Winners

The Americana Music Association will hold its 10th Annual festival and conference in Nashville this September 16-19, with a Sep. 17 awards ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium. Buddy Miller, who received five nominations from the AMA, was musical director of the ceremony. Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale hosted. Performers for the 2009 festival will be announced later this summer. Here are the 2009 nominees (winners in bold):

Album of the Year
Real Animal - Alejandro Escovedo
WINNER: Written in Chalk - Buddy and Julie Miller
Jason Isbell & the 40 Unit - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Midnight at the Movies - Justin Townes Earle

Artist of the Year
Alejandro Escovedo
WINNER: Buddy Miller
Justin Townes Earle
Raul Malo

Instrumentalist
Buddy Miller
Gurf Morlix
Jerry Douglas
WINNER: Sam Bush

New and Emerging Artist
Band of Heathens
Belleville Outfit
WINNER: Justin Townes Earle
Sarah Borges

Song of the Year
WINNER: "Chalk" (purchase/download) written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin
"Country Love" (purchase/download) written and performed by the Gourds
"Homeland Refugee" (purchase/download) written by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, performed by the Flatlanders
"Rattlin' Bones" (purchase/download) written and performed by Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
"Sex and Gasoline" (purchase/download) written and performed by Rodney Crowell

Duo/Group of the Year
WINNER: Buddy and Julie Miller
The Flatlanders
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
Reckless Kelly

For more on the Americana Music Association Festival and Conference, visit americanamusic.org.