2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards Nominees Revealed

The 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards nominees have been revealed, and artists including the Cactus Blossoms, Leona Williams, Jake Penrod, the Dallas Moore Band and many more are up for honors at the upcoming ceremony.

In 2017, the Ameripolitan Music Awards will return to Austin's Paramount Theatre, on Feb. 15. During the awards show, male, female and group winners in categories for Western swing, honky-tonk, rockabilly and outlaw music will be crowned, and honors for Ameripolitan DJ, Ameripolitan Venue, Ameripolitan Festival and Ameripolitan Musician will also be handed out.

The term "Ameripolitan" comes from Dale Watson, who also created the Ameripolitan Music Awards; the word describes music that “honors tradition while demonstrating exceptional originality, creativity and musicianship.” According to the awards' website, the Ameripolitan Music Awards were "created to benefit and acknowledge artists whose work does not readily conform to the tastes of today’s 'country' or other music genres and organizations. It also provides fans with a means of finding these artists and their music."

At the 2016 Ameripolitan Music Awards, Charley Pride, Wanda Jackson and Red Simpson were honored with the Master Award (Pride) and Founder of the Sound Awards (Jackson and Simpson). Pride was only the second recipient of the Master Award, following the late Ray Price. At the time, Watson said of Pride, “Charley Pride’s music spans several generations, blazed new trails and has never compromised his roots. This makes him perfect for the highest honor we can bestow, the Ameripolitan Master Award.”

To see a complete list of 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards nominees, visit the awards show's Facebook page. Voting to determine 2017's winners begins on Dec. 18 and ends on Jan. 8.