Buddy & Julie Miller Lead Americana Nominees

Buddy and Julie Miller photo courtesy of New West Records.

May 21, 2009 — Buddy & Julie Miller’s Written In Chalk album took the couple to the head of the class as nominees for the eighth annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards were announced Wednesday in Nashville.

Written is a finalist for Album of the Year, the track "Chalk" is in the running for Song of the Year, and Buddy & Julie were tabbed for Duo Group of the Year. In addition to those three nominations, Buddy picked up two additional bits of recognition as a contender for both Artist and Instrumentalist of the Year.

Written In Chalk — which included guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Robert Plant, who took two trophies at last September’s Americana Honors — was a critics’ favorite upon its release in March, though it emerged at a crucial time for Buddy. Just weeks before it hit the market, he suffered a heart attack and had to undergo bypass surgery during a tour with Emmylou, Patty and Shawn Colvin.

Justin Townes Earle tied Julie for second on the Americana nominee slate with three nods, while Alejandro Escovedo, the Flatlanders, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson copped two apiece.

The Americana Music Association Honors & Awards will be presented at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium Sept. 17.

The complete list of nominees follows:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Real Animal, Alejandro Escovedo
• Written in Chalk, Buddy & Julie Miller
• Jason Isbell & The 40 Unit, Jason Isbell & The 40 Unit
• Midnight At The Movies, Justin Townes Earle

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Buddy Miller
• Justin Townes Earle
• Raul Malo

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
• Buddy Miller
• Gurf Morlix
• Jerry Douglas
• Sam Bush

NEW & EMERGING ARTIST
• Band of Heathens
• Belleville Outfit
• Justin Townes Earle
• Sarah Borges

SONG OF THE YEAR
• "Chalk," written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin
• "Country Love," written & performed by the Gourds
• "Homeland Refugee," written by Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock, performed by the Flatlanders
• "Rattlin’ Bones" written & performed by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
• "Sex And Gasoline," written & performed by Rodney Crowell

DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Buddy & Julie Miller
• Flatlanders
• Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
• Reckless Kelly