Neil Young to Be Saluted at AmericanaFest Pre-Grammy Concert Featuring Jesse Welles, Margo Price, Rhiannon Giddens and More

The Americana Music Association has announced that legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young will be honored at this year's Americana Pre-Grammy Salute. The annual tribute concert, a staple of Grammy Week, is scheduled for the eve of the awards at the iconic Troubadour club in West Hollywood.

A partial lineup features several artists who are nominees for the following night's Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena. This group includes Jesse Welles, Margo Price, Rhiannon Giddens, the trio I'm With Her, Maggie Rose, Molly Tuttle, and Sierra Hull. They will be joined by an eclectic roster of performers such as the Milk Carton Kids, Chris Pierce, Young the Giant, Katie Pruitt, Leif Vollebekk, Gold Star, Evangeline, and Alex Amen. According to show producer Michelle Aquilato, approximately six more artists will be added to the bill in the days leading up to the event.

The nominated performers span multiple roots genres. Margo Price is recognized in traditional country categories, while I'm With Her, Jesse Welles, and Sierra Hull have nominations in American roots and song categories. Both Welles and Molly Tuttle are contenders for best Americana album, and Hull is nominated for best bluegrass album. Furthermore, the event showcases three of the five nominees for best folk album: Giddens, I'm With Her, and Welles. This convergence highlights the deep connections between the Americana community and the broader Grammy recognition landscape.

Proceeds from the $200 tickets, available on the Troubadour's website, will benefit MusiCares as well as the Americana Music Association and Foundation. The event transitioned last year into an officially sanctioned Grammy Week function, aligning with its charitable focus. "We are proud to continue our longstanding pre-Grammy salute tradition," said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association. He added, "Our organization prides itself on community. We hope this evening helps bring everyone together, as we pay it forward." The intimate club setting at the Troubadour—a legendary venue that launched careers from Elton John to The Eagles—provides a fittingly historic backdrop for honoring a figure of Young's stature.

This celebration continues a tradition founded to acknowledge Grammy-winning or nominated artists within the Americana sphere. "It's been really fun to put these incredibly talented musicians together and task them with choosing a song from an incredible songwriter," Hilly noted last year, referencing past honorees like John Prine, Willie Nelson, and Loretta Lynn. The 2025 salute honored John Hiatt with a cast including Brandy Clark and Tom Morello. Previous years have paid tribute to icons such as Paul Simon (2024), Lucinda Williams (2023), and Emmylou Harris, who was honored twice (2013 and 2018). The event has been held at the Troubadour every year except 2018, when the Grammys were held in New York City. Music historian Dr. Evelyn Shaw commented, "These salutes are vital; they create a living bridge between music's foundational legends and the artists carrying those traditions forward, all while supporting the industry's safety net through MusiCares."