Americana Crowns Its Champions in Nashville — And September 21 Is a Big Day in Rock History

Molly Tuttle and Tyler Childers take top Americana honors, Tom Petty and Robert Plant get lifetime nods, Washington moves to keep AM radio in your dashboard, and today's date carries some serious classic-rock history.

Good morning from Pretoria Fields Radio. The music world spent last week in Nashville, where AMERICANAFEST wrapped up its 2026 run and the 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards filled the Ryman Auditorium on September 16. Bluegrass guitar wizard Molly Tuttle walked away with Artist of the Year, Tyler Childers took Album of the Year for 'Snipe Hunter,' and Brandi Carlile won Song of the Year for 'Returning to Myself.' Gillian Welch and David Rawlings were named Duo/Group of the Year — a well-earned nod for two of the finest roots musicians working today.

The night got even sweeter for classic-rock fans: Lifetime Achievement honors went to Dolly Parton, Robert Plant, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Petty's longtime keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell were both on the AMERICANAFEST showcase bill, so the Heartbreakers' spirit was very much in the building.

Now flip the calendar to today, because September 21 is quietly one of the busiest dates in rock history. On this day in 1968, Jimi Hendrix released his towering cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower.' In 1979, Cheap Trick dropped 'Dream Police.' In 1985, Dire Straits hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Money for Nothing' and stayed there three weeks. And in 1984, the first commercial CD ever pressed in America rolled off the line in Indiana — Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the U.S.A.' That's 42 years of the compact disc on this soil.

Today also marks fifteen years since R.E.M. — Georgia's own, out of Athens — announced their breakup after 31 years together. Around here, that one still stings a little. Happy birthday as well to former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, born on this day in 1947.

In radio news, the House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act this week on a voice vote and sent it on to the Senate — a bill broadcasters have championed to keep AM receivers in new cars as a public-safety lifeline. And mark your calendars: the FCC and FEMA will run a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on November 17 at 2:20 p.m. Eastern.

On the road, the classic-rock calendar is in full swing: Iron Maiden's Run For Your Lives tour and the Foo Fighters both play through late September, Santana settles into his Las Vegas residency this very week, and Journey's Final Frontier Tour rolls on through the end of November. Plenty of reasons to keep the radio on — and we'll be right here when you do.

— The Pretoria Fields Radio news desk