NormanD, this has already been addressed elsewhere.

The Lifetime awards are allocated by the committee, not voted by the panel. Their agenda is to recognise someone deserving, who will be recognised by the general public - because without that recognition the media won't show up, or report, and not many will tune in or read, and the whole exercise will have been a damp squib in a dark silo.

There are very few UK acts who are well known outside the folk world, but lots of US ones. So, as the national element is defined as 'awards voted by people who live in Britain,' and so may and does include voted winners from beyond these shores, there is no problem awarding awards to well-known, and of course also well-deserving US artists.

Hope that clears it up for you

Tom