# Molly Tuttle, Brandi Carlile win big at Americana Awards

> The 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards celebrated roots music with lifetime honors for Tom Petty, Robert Plant, and Dolly Parton.
- Title: Molly Tuttle, Brandi Carlile win big at Americana Awards
- Summary: The 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards celebrated roots music with lifetime honors for Tom Petty, Robert Plant, and Dolly Parton. Americana music brings…
- Keywords: molly tuttle, brandi carlile, tyler childers, americana honors awards, tom petty, heartbreakers, robert plant, dolly parton, ryman auditorium, nashville, lifetime achievement award, americana music association
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/lists/americana-honors-awards-winners-list-2026
- Author: Jessica Nicholson
- Published: 2026-09-17T15:29:31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: molly tuttle, brandi carlile, tyler childers, americana honors awards, tom petty, heartbreakers, robert plant, dolly parton, ryman auditorium, nashville, lifetime achievement award, americana music association
## Molly Tuttle wins artist of the year
Tuttle claimed her first artist of the year honor at the 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards on September 16 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, following the release of her pop-inflected album So Long Little Miss Sunshine.

> I am shocked, so honored to just see my name up there with musical heroes.
## Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers honored
The Heartbreakers reunited for their first performance together since 2017, opening the ceremony with Chris Stapleton and receiving the lifetime achievement award alongside the late Tom Petty.

> It heals and makes you feel good and makes you wanna drive too fast and it makes you wanna play music.
## Robert Plant takes the stage
Robert Plant received the lifetime achievement award and performed a mini-set including Angel Dance and the gospel song Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down.
## Dolly Parton honored posthumously
Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 at age 80, received the lifetime achievement award weeks after her passing. Emmylou Harris introduced a pre-recorded video acceptance speech Parton had filmed before her death.

> I will always love you.
## Brandi Carlile wins song of the year
Brandi Carlile took song of the year for Returning to Myself, presented by Bernie Taupin, who called Americana the heart of American music.

> Americana is the heart of American music.
## Tyler Childers wins album of the year
Tyler Childers' Snipe Hunter, produced with Rick Rubin and Nick Sanborn, took the album of the year award at the ceremony.
## Tributes to fallen artists
The ceremony honored musicians who passed away over the past year, including Todd Snider with a performance of Play a Train Song, and concluded with a multi-artist tribute to the Mavericks' Raul Malo.
## Americana music brings communities together
The 25th annual ceremony showcased the genre's power to unite different musical styles and communities, with performances spanning country, soul, gospel, and rock traditions.
## Key takeaway

Americana music brings together different styles and communities while honoring the artists who shaped the genre.