Joan Baez photo courtesy of the Americana Music Association.
July 17, 2008 — Folk singer Joan Baez will receive the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award during the Sept. 18 Americana Honors & Awards, held at the Ryman Auditorium. The AMAs are just one of several trophy ceremonies on the docket for Nashville this fall.
The presentation will be made by Steve Earle, a former Free Speech winner who also produced Joan’s next album, Day After Tomorrow, which will be released Sept. 9. Joan’s name was already invoked at an awards event this year. Emmylou Harris, during her Country Music Hall of Fame induction, cited Joan as one of her first influences.
Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, the Americana Honors will also see John Hiatt, Jason & The Scorchers and "Austin City Limits" producer Terry Lickona receive Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Americana event will be followed by several other trophy presentations. The International Bluegrass Music Association hands out its awards Oct. 2 with the Grascals hoping to add to their two-year reign as Entertainer of the Year.
Collin Raye hosts the 14th annual Inspirational Country Music Awards in Hendersonville, Tenn., on Oct. 16, with "Angels In Waiting" singer Tammy Cochran and gospel act the Isaacs already among the artists confirmed to appear.
Country’s most prestigious honors, the Country Music Association Awards, have been pegged for Nov. 12 at the Sommet Center in Nashville. A host for that show, which will air live on ABC-TV, has yet to be named.