The Alabama Folk Heritage Award was established to recognize exemplary folk artists who have made outstanding contributions to their artistic tradition.

Previous awardees include: 

• H. Japeth Jackson - Ozark, AL (1988)
• Johnny Shines - Tuscaloosa, AL (1989)
• Nora Ezell - Eutaw, AL (1990)
• Noah Lacy - Ider, AL (1991)
• Gail Thrower - Atmore, AL (1992)
• Lomia Nunn - Graham, AL (1993)
• Bettye Kimbrell - Mt. Olive, AL (1995)
• Art Deason - Centreville, AL (1997)
• Jubilee Singers - Bessemer, AL (1999)
• Bo McGee - Eutaw, AL (2001)
• Jerry Brown - Hamilton, AL (2003)
• Margie and Enoch Sullivan - St. Stephens, AL (2005)
• Jerry McCain - Gadsden, AL (2007)
• Willie King - Old Memphis, AL (2009)
• James Bryan - Mentone, AL (2011)
• The Excelsior Marching Band - Mobile, AL (2013)
• Herb Trotman - Birmingham, AL (2015)
• Jake Landers - Tuscumbia, AL (2017)
• Sudha Raghuram - Montgomery, AL (2019)
• Stanley Smith - Ozark, AL (2022)
• Elias Katsaros - Istanbul, Turkey/Huntsville, AL (2024)