Henley will be feted as a "trailblazer" in recognition of his status as "an icon of California-tinged country-rock", while mandolin player Skaggs will be celebrated as an instrumentalist, and Los Lobos will pick up the title in the performance category for changing the "look, sound and language of roots music, making it more inclusive and reflective of the American story".

Fellow honourees Buffy Sainte-Marie will be presented with the Spirit of Americana-Free Speech in Music award for her music and political activism, and musical duo Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will be honoured in the songwriting category.

Each of the artists will also perform at the Nashville, Tennessee ceremony on 16 September (15), when Lucinda Williams, Sturgill Simpson and Shakey Graves will lead the main field of nominees with three nods apiece.

Last year's (14) lifetime achievement honours went to Loretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Flaco Jimenez and Taj Mahal.