Americana Loves the Dead

Johnny Cash honoured with artist, song and album of the year awards
NASHVILLE (AP) — A week after his death, Johnny Cash was honoured with artist, song and album of the year awards at the Americana music awards show.
Friday’s show was the second for the Americana Music Association, a group that promotes more traditional country music than much of the contemporary pop-oriented sounds of Nashville.
Cash won song of the year for Hurt, a stirring anti-drug song written by Trent Reznor of the rock group Nine Inch Nails, and album of the Year for American IV: The Man Comes Around, the latest in a series produced by rock-rap producer Rick Rubin.
Cash was selected artist of the year for his work on the song and album.
Kris Kristofferson, a singer-songwriter and actor who was Cash’s friend for 30 years and co-wrote his hit Sunday Morning Coming Down, received the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award, presented by the First Amendment Center along with the AMA.
Kristofferson, who also wrote Me and Bobby McGee, is a longtime activist for social justice and human rights.
Other 2003 winners were dobro player Jerry Douglas, instrumentalist; the Band singer Levon Helm, lifetime achievement award for performer; country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, president’s award; producer and Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, lifetime achievement for executive; and singer-songwriter John Prine, lifetime achievement for songwriter.
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On the Net:
Americana Music Association, http://www.americanamusic.org/