Johnny Cash Makes Surprise Appearance At Inaugural Americana Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Johnny Cash Official Website) - Jim Lauderdale may have been named Artist of the Year, but a rare public appearance by Johnny Cash provided the highlight of the Americana Music Association's first awards show Friday (Sept. 13) night in Nashville.

The ailing 70-year-old singer brought the audience at the Hilton Suites to its feet as he came out to accept the Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award, presented by the Nashville-based First Amendment Forum. In accepting the speech, Cash read his 1974 poem "Ragged Old Flag."

He returned to the stage later that evening to accompany his wife June Carter Cash on two songs, the Carter Family's "Sinking in the Lonesome Sea," and "Temptation," an old pop hit recorded by Jo Stafford, Bing Crosby, and others.

Jason & the Scorchers frontman Jason Ringenberg hosted the 3-year-old organization's ceremony, opening with a rendition of Merle Haggard's "Rainbow Stew." Lauderdale won not only the top artist trophy, but Song of the Year as well, for his "She's Looking at Me," which he recorded with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Union Station Dobro player Jerry Douglas was named Instrumentalist of the Year.

Buddy and Julie Miller won Album of the Year for their self-titled album of duets. The couple performed a new song called "Quecreek," about the nine Pennsylvania miners rescued from a flooded shaft, that will appear on Buddy's forthcoming Midnight and Lonesome album.

Emmylou Harris, T-Bone Burnett, and Billy Joe Shaver received Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the late Doug Sahm was honored with the AMA's inaugural President's Award.