Elizabeth Cook is tops in her class again. This time it’s the Americana Music Awards nominations class of 2011. She is tied with none other than Robert Plant for the most nominations. Her latest album, “Welder,” is up for Album of the Year honors, and her song “El Camino” is up for Song of the Year. Cook is vying with Plant for Artist of the Year honors too.

“I did the major label thing [but] it wasn’t working at that point, ” she said. “I had a strong sense I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, so I had to shed that skin. I made the decision to go back to making indie records and figure out what I was doing, hone my craft.”