The Folk Alliance International (FAI), the foremost global nonprofit for folk music, has unveiled the International Folk Music Awards Artist of the Year, and it’s a tie this time. Carsie Blanton and I’m With Her both took home the award.
Hip-hop artist and TV personality Big Freedia and 2025 GRAMMY award-winner Tank (of Tank and the Bangas), both from New Orleans, were the conference’s 2026 keynote speakers. The nominees for the Artist of the Year, sponsored by the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, included Blanton, I’m With Her, Abbie Gardner, Crys Matthews, Ordinary Elephant, and Sam Robbins.
Blanton is a folk singer and songwriter known for witty lyrics, vocals, and her independent spirit. She blends folk, jazz, and pop influences into music that feels playful and political at once—recognized as “open-hearted protest” music. Blanton’s songs often explore love, social justice, and resilience.
I’m With Her is a critically acclaimed female folk trio consisting of Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan. They won a Grammy Award in 2020 for Best American Roots Song for their track “Call My Name,” from their debut album See You Around. They’ve also received FAI nominations for their folk music, including nods to their album Wild and Clear and Blue and song “Sisters of the Night Watch,” which were nominated for Folk Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
The tie for the FAI Award Artist of the Year celebrates these two extraordinary talents whose creative achievements equally captivated audiences and critics. Rather than choosing just one, the FAI recognized that both artists brought unique innovation, emotional depth, and artistic excellence to their work, making it impossible to single out a sole winner.
This rare outcome highlights the diversity of artistic expression and the strength of multiple voices rising in the field. Both honorees pushed boundaries in their mediums, inspired peers, and contributed meaningfully to the cultural landscape.