Founded in 1999, the association held its inaugural convention in September 2000 at the Hilton Suites in downtown Nashville, featuring performances by Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent, Rodney Crowell, and Jim Lauderdale.

By 2008, the event had expanded to four days and moved its Awards Show to the historic Ryman Auditorium.

[9] Previous musical performances at the conference have included Levon Helm's Ramble at the Ryman, John Fogerty, Grace Potter, The Avett Brothers, The Civil Wars, Bonnie Raitt, Booker T. Jones, Richard Thompson, Alabama Shakes, Punch Brothers, John Fullbright, and Robert Plant with Buddy Miller.

[10][11] The Association's capstone event, the Americana Music Honors & Awards, aired live nationally on September 12, 2012, via AXS TV, broadcast via SiriusXM, WSM radio, and streamed by NPR.org.

Additional international radio broadcasts via BBC2 and Voice of America began airing September 23, 2012.