Shovels & Rope Gets Nat'l Noms

Associated Press

Some spirited congrats are in order for Charleston's much-loved musical duo Shovels & Rope. Suffice to say that the husband-and-wife act—consisting of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent—have had a pretty good start to 2013. It began with a gig on CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" this past January, continued with a raved-about show at the Charleston Music Hall in March, and now, as of yesterday, the band's been nominated for one of—scratch that—FOUR of the Americana Music Association's 2013 Honors & Awards. 

Up for Album of the Year (O' Be Joyful), Song of the Year ("Birmingham"), and both Emerging Artist and Duo/Group of the Year, they're the top-nominated out of fellow nominees including Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, The Lumineers, Buddy Miller, and Richard Thompson, among others. It looks like Americana fans across the country listened to Grit blogger Tim Brennan when he dubbed Shovels & Rope a band "well worth checking out" last August. 

The duo's response to the big news?  

Well, we don't have to be so humble. Congrats guys! You make the Holy City proud. Winners will be announced September 18, 2013, at the Americana Honors & Awards show in Nashville, as part of the Americana Music Fest (September 18-22, 2013). 

Read Grit bloggers' reviews and notable mentions of the band here: 

"Shovels & Rope: The New Sound of Charleston?," "Charleston Digs Shovels & Rope," "On The Brink of Fame? We'll Find Out..."