Ann & Nancy get ASCAP Founders Award.

Wednesday night in Hollywood at the 26th Annual ASCAP Pop Awards Ann & Nancy were honored big time! Here’s a red carpet interview at ET online with Ann & Nancy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypBdKjo1yzk[/youtube]

From Reuters:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, pop singer Jesse McCartney and British songstress Natasha Bedingfield took to the stage at ASCAP’s 26th annual pop awards, saluting the songwriters and publishers behind 2008’s most popular music.

“Thanks to all in our early days who saw beyond our naivete. We’ve always been idealistic songbirds,” said Ann Wilson of Heart in receiving the ASCAP Founders Award along with sister Nancy, whom she’s performed with for 35 years.

The two performed “Sand” from an upcoming album and rock staple “Crazy on You,” which along with other Heart hits is enjoying a resurgence of late with the help of “American Idol” and Guitar Hero.

More than 600 songwriters, recording artists and industry members gathered at the Hollywood event on Wednesday, hosted by ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

A few pictures:

From Spinner.com: For more than three decades, Heart — aka Ann and Nancy Wilson — have been largely championed as pioneers in women in rock. However, Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the Wilson sisters were recognized by ASCAP not for their gender, but for their songwriting. “It’s a feeling of redemption in a way because we’ve been known so much for being women,” Ann told Spinner. “That was the first thing anyone ever noticed about us. The first question we ever got asked, ‘What’s it like being a woman in a rock band?’ This isn’t about that. That means really a lot.”

The honor was presented by long time Heart friend and fan Jerry Cantrell, who spoke about the Wilson sisters’ support and influence on him. “I’m just really honored to be asked,” he told Spinner. “We’ve had a long history of friendship and supporting each other. And even before I met them … being from Seattle, having a band from your town be that badass was something to shoot for.”

Both Ann and Nanxcy took a moment to reflect on some of the Heart songs that have endured best, and, well, not-so-well, for them. “Songs like ‘Dog and Butterfly’ have a poetic balance that people still really respond to,” Nancy said. “It was well-crafted and still emotionally accurate. Other songs, now, feel like, ‘Oh no, that’s so teenage,’ or ‘Oh, I was so screwed up in my 20’s or 30’s.‘”

Lest we forget the classic. “I like ‘Barracuda’ still,” Ann said. “That song was written in anger, and it captured a lot of rage. When we play it now, it still has that edge.”

The Los Angeles Times asks why Ann & Nancy aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!? (Thanx Louise! )

Meet Dustin Wilson (Thanx GW27HEARTFAN4EVR):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eTL0V8-Dd8[/youtube]