Proving once again that he's one of country music's most iconic stars, 'A Heart Like Mine' hitmaker Dwight Yoakam has been nominated for Artist of the Year in the Americana Music Awards.

Yoakam's critically acclaimed album '3 Pears' has spent a record-breaking eight weeks at the top of the Americana Charts, the most of any album. '3 Pears' is Yoakam's 26th studio album and his highest-charting Billboard 200 debut, showing that his seven-year hiatus from producing new material was inspiring, for sure. Clearly, everyone was ready for the pioneering country musician to don his trademark cowboy hat once again.

The Americana Music Awards honor distinguished members of the music community, with this year's Artists of the Year nominees including Buddy MillerEmmylou Harris, and Richard Thompson in addition to Yoakam.

With his newest album dominating Best Of 2012 lists -- including NPR, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and American Songwriter, among others -- Yoakam's nomination for this prestigious award is certainly deserved.

He is currently on a North American tour in support of his new album, including a stop at Tennessee's 2013 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

The Americana Music Awards will broadcast live from Nashville’s beautiful Ryman Auditorium on September 18, in conjunction with the Americana Music Festival.

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