Billy Strings has reached yet another milestone.
The bluegrass sensation landed his first ever Artist of the Year award at this year’s Americana Music Association Honors & Awards last night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
This was just another achievement for Strings this year, following the release of his widely acclaimed album, Renewal, produced by Jonathan Wilson, one of our favorites of 2021 here at Whiskey Riff.
The project was his best work to date, boasting hits like “Know It All” and “Love And Regret.”
In celebration of the record, he will host his two-day Renewal event later this month in Buena Vista, Colorado, which will be available for live streaming through nugs.net.
As far as the rest of the event goes, Allison Russell brought home Album of the Year with her Outside Child album.
Brandi Carlile, who has won two Artist of the Year awards, won Song of the Year with her pandemic-based ballad, “Right On Time.”
The War and Treaty won Duo/Group of the Year, beating out the likes of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
Other highlights of the night included Luke Bell’s friend, JP Harris, paying tribute to his buddy who passed away a few weeks back after a long battle with mental illness. Harris performed Bell’s song “The Bullfighter.”