In reviewing the recently released nominations for the 2023 Americana Music Awards, I was pleased to see that one of my favorite collaborations of the past year is being recognized.

In 2022, the Grammy-nominated Allison Russell and Grammy Award-winning Brandi Carlile released a new song together, You’re Not Alone. A version of the song originally appeared on the acclaimed 2019 debut album by Our Native Daughters, a group that features Russell along with MacArthur Fellow Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Amythyst Kiah.

Billboard wrote the following about Russell and Carlile’s performance when they played it at the 2022 Americana Music Association Awards.

One of the evening’s most orotund, soul-elevating moments was undoubtedly Russell and Carlile teaming for “You’re Not Alone,” supported by a group of ace musicians.

“Our circle is unbroken. Our circle is whole. None above, none below, all of us equal under the listening sky,” Russell said, a joyous summation of the love in the room that evening.

You’re Not Alone is one of five nominees in the 2023 “Song of the Year” category, so I thought it would be great to revisit that performance. You can watch the official music video, filmed at Red Rocks, here.

The winners will be announced during the Americana Honors & Awards on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The celebrated program is the hallmark event of AMERICANAFEST, which returns for its 23nd year on Sept. 19-23, 2023.

More to come…

DJB