One of many coolest occasions in all of nation music is not going to occur in 2025. The Dale Watson-founded Ameripolitan Awards has introduced that as a result of funding points, it is not going to be returning in February as deliberate. This doesn’t imply the top of Ameripolitan. Nevertheless it does imply an indefinite pause.
As we neared mid December with no bulletins of nominees or occasions for 2025, the writing began appearing on the wall. On Saturday (12-14), Dale Watson confirmed the information.
“Yearly Celine [Lee] and I work tirelessly beginning proper after the awards are over,” Dale Watson mentioned. “Proper after clear up, I pay the left over bills which matches into the tens of 1000’s. I personally can’t afford it anymore. I want the awards might proceed and if some financial windfall occurred to sponsor it, it could be on like Donkey Kong … I’m unhappy that deserving newcomers is not going to get the popularity this 12 months, however we are going to attempt to highlight them by means of our socials.”
The information comes after what many long-time Ameripolitan attendees considered the best 12 months for the occasion in 2024. The awards themselves had been held at Austin’s Moody Theater the place Austin Metropolis Limits is taped, and had been later broadcast on AXS TV. The awards present itself is only one portion of the Ameripolitan expertise. Showcases that includes previous, current, and future nominees occur all through the weekend as properly.
The Ameripolitan Awards had been based in 2014 after Blake Shelton made his infamous feedback referring to basic nation music followers as “Outdated farts and jackasses.” The primary 12 months of the awards was held in a Wyndham lodge ballroom in Austin. Within the subsequent years, they graduated to the Paramount Theater in Austin earlier than shifting to Memphis for numerous years, introduced at The Guesthouse at Graceland lodge.
Since 2014, Ameripolitan has handed out awards within the Honky Tonk, Outlaw, Western Swing, And Rockabilly classes to dozens of deserving artists who in any other case may not obtain recognition from mainstream nation award reveals. Ameripolitan has been a proving floor, a launching pad, in addition to a second to pay tribute to dwelling legends who additionally go criminally neglected.
“Now, this doesn’t imply Ameripolitan is gone,” Dale Watson assures. “We’ll nonetheless sponsor bundle reveals that may characteristic Ameripolitan up-and-comers and winners of previous Awards. As well as we’re in talks for an Ameripolitan Present on a preferred format. It’s my perception that we’ll discover funding to proceed the awards possibly subsequent 12 months, and possibly go the baton to another person who GETS it … Maintain the religion. Let’s hope it’s a short lived set again.”
After nation legend Daybreak Sears received the primary ever Ameripolitan award in 2014, tearfully accepting it and saying she had by no means received something in her life, it underscored the significance of the awards. Later that 12 months, she would go away from Most cancers.
2024 Ameripolitan winners included Kaitlin Butts, Reckless Kelly, Billy Don Burns, Kelsey Waldon, Brennen Leigh, Sterling Drake, Teddy and the Tough Riders, Kyle Eldridge, and the Carolyn Sills Combo amongst others.
