Recent Award Winners
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2013 Belmont Book Award
Diane Diekman, shown with James Akenson (L) and Don Cusic (R) was the 2013 Belmont University Country Music Book of the Year honoree for The Life of Marty Robbins: Twentieth Century Drifter published by the University of Illinois Press.
Past Award Winners
2012
2012 Charlie Lamb Awards
The Charlie Lamb Awards for Excellence in Country Music Journalism are awarded to two distinguished individuals each year. One award recognizes a noteworthy career while the other recognizes a special feature, series, or emerging body of work as the Contemporary category. Pictured left to right are Gary and Peggy Walker (sponsors of the Charlie Lamb Awards), Roni Stoneman (who assisted in presenting the Charlie Lamb Award), Contemporary Category honoree Alanna Nash (selected for her article in Vanity Fair about the legendary photograph of the kiss between Elvis and an unknown young woman), and Don Cusic. Not pictured is Rich Kienzle, winner in the Career Category, who could not be present.
2012 Belmont Book Award
The Belmont Book Award, given for the Best Book on country music, is presented at the annual International Country Music Conference at Belmont University. Pictured are James Akenson, Honoree Nate Gibson (for his book The Starday Story: The House That Country Music Built), and Don Cusic.
2011
Charlie Lamb Awards
Pictured left to right are Peggy Walker, Frances Preston, Gary Walker, Contemporary Charlie Lamb Honoree Peter Cooper, Charlie Lamb, Career Charlie Lamb Honoree Colin Escott
Belmont Book Awards
Pictured are Don Cusic with Belmont Book Award winner Bar Biszick-Lockwood (for her book Restless Giant: The Life and Times of Jean Aberbach & Hill and Range Songs) and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ralph Emery.
2010
Charlie Lamb Awards
Pictured left to right: Belmont Book Honoree Barry Mazor, James Akenson, Buzz Cason, Peggy Walker, Contemporary Charlie Lamb Honoree Derek Halsey, Charlie Lamb, Career Lamb Honoree Walt Trott, Dickey Lee, Gary Walker, Merle Russell, and Don Cusic.
Belmont Book Award
Don Cusic presents the 2010 Belmont Book Award to Barry Mazor (left) for his book "Meeting Jimmie Rodgers."
2009
Charlie Lamb Awards
Pictured left to right: James Akenson, ICMC; Barry Mazor, Charlie Lamb Journalism Award winner; Pat Huber, Belmont Book Award winner; Shelby Singleton; Fred Foster; Charlie Lamb; Alanna Nash, Charlie Lamb Journalism Award winner; Peggy and Gary Walker, endowers of the Charlie Lamb Awards; and Don Cusic, Belmont Univeristy.
Belmont Book Award
Don Cusic presents the 2009 Belmont Book Award to Patrick Huber (right) for his book "Linthead Stomp."
Lifetime Achievement Award
The University of Illinois Press received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for their series "Music in American Life." Pictured left to right: Judith McCullough, former editor at the University of Illinois Press; Don Cusic, Belmont University; and Laurie Matheson, current editor at the University of Illinois Press.
2008
Charlie Lamb Awards
Pictured are (L to R): Gary Walker, Ralph Emery, 2008 Career Honoree Barry McCloud, Jo Walker-Meador, Charlie Lamb, 2008 Contemporary Honoree Beverly Keel, Harold Bradley, and Peggy Walker.
Belmont Book Award
Pictured are (L to R): Harold Bradley, Ralph Emery, Jo Walker-Meador, 2008 Honoree Holly George-Warren, and Don Cusic.
Belmont Award for Books and Country Music
Pictured are (L to R): James Akenson, Ralph Emery, Jo Walker-Meador, Jay Orr Representing Honoree The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Harold Bradley, and Don Cusic.
2007
Belmont Book Award
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America, edited by Paul Kingsbury and Alanna Nash with picture editor F. Lynne Bachleda won the award for calendar year 2006. Pictured are (L to R) F. Lynn Bachleda, Eddy Arnold, Paul Kingsbury and awards Chair Don Cusic.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The "Lifetime Achievement" award for "linking books with country music" was presented to Richard Weize of the Bear Family in Germany. Pictured are Richard Weize and Don Cusic.