-         The Gibson Lifetime Achievement for Performing, awarded to Chris Hillman, who received an Advanced Jumbo Guitar

-         The Gibson Lifetime Achievement for Songwriting, awarded to Cowboy Jack Clement, who received a J-100 AN Guitar.

-         The Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award, presented to Steve Earl, who received an Original Jumbo guitar and also performed during the awards show.

Gibson headstocks were used for all other awards presented throughout the evening including Album of the Year ( Loretta Lynn-Van Lear Rose), Artist of the Year (Loretta Lynn), Song of the Year (Rodney Crowell-“Fate’s Right Hand”), Instrumentalist of the Year (Will Kimbrough), New/Emerging Artist of the Year (Mindy Smith), President’s Award (The Carter Family), and The Lifetime Achievement Award-Executive (Jack Emerson).

The Americana Music Association Awards has gained solid artist and industry respect and garnered press in The Wall Street Journal, The NY Times, The Tennessean and variety of national publications. The AMA was the stage for the last live performance of  Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (‘02) and this year saw performances by Shelby Lynne, Chris Hillman, Slaid Cleaves & Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mindy Smith, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rodney Crowell and many others.

Here’s a gallery from photographer Sandy Campbell:

Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale addresses the crowd.	Country artist Marty Stuart thought carefully about his presentation.

Song of the Year Award recipient Rodney Crowell, tears it up onstage with his J-50.

Shawn Camp posed backstage with his new Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500RA.	Gibson’s Nina Miller presents the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award recipient Steve Earl with a new Original Jumbo guitar.

Steve Earl performs for the crowd with a Vintage Roy Smeck Radio Grand.	Steve Earl checks out his new Original Jumbo.