Steve Dorff<\/a>, a songwriter who has written over 20 top 10 pop and country hits.<\/p>\nHe was presented the award by John Berry and Bobby Tomberlin.<\/p>\n
\u00a0To see the night’s full winners list, read on.<\/p>\n
2025 Josie Music Award WinnersLifetime Career Achievement: Lorrie Morgan\u00a0Songwriter Legend Award: Steve Dorff\u00a0JMA Icon Award: EG Daily\u00a0The JMA Tex Ritter Award:\u00a0The Malpass Brothers\u00a0Entertainer of the Year – Artist: JD Shelburne\u00a0Entertainer of the Year – Duo\/Group: The Almas\u00a0Artist of the Year – Multi-Genre Male:\u00a0Chad Johnson\u00a0Artist of the Year \u2013 Rock:\u00a0Jasmine Cain\u00a0Artist of the Year – Country Female:\u00a0EmiSunshine\u00a0Artist of the Year – Modern\/Pop Country Female:\u00a0McKayla Prew\u00a0Artist of the Year – Outlaw Country: Josh Davis\u00a0Artist of the Year – R&B\/Soul: Shylah Ray\u00a0Artist of the Year – Americana\/Folk Male:\u00a0Brian Allison\u00a0Artist of the Year – Southern Rock\/Country Rock Female:\u00a0Krystal King\u00a0Artist of the Year – Southern Rock\/Country Rock Male:\u00a0Brooks Herring\u00a0Artist of the Year – Under 18 Alumni: Tege Holt\u00a0Artist of the Year – Under 18: Tristan Roberson\u00a0Artist of the Year – Pop Rock: Tim Ringer\u00a0Artist of the Year – Americana\/Folk Female:\u00a0Samantha Grimes\u00a0Artist of the Year – Gospel\/Christian\/Inspirational:\u00a0Shellem Cline\u00a0Artist of the Year – Jazz\/Blues: Travis Bowlin\u00a0Artist of the Year – Multi-Genre Female:\u00a0Clare Cunningham\u00a0Artist of the Year – Country Male:\u00a0 Waylon Hanel\u00a0Artist of the Year – Country Male Alumni:\u00a0Chad Bushnell\u00a0Artist of the Year – Modern\/Pop Country Male:\u00a0Jake Bradley\u00a0Artist of the Year – Traditional\/Classic Country: B.J. Jamison\u00a0Artist of the Year – Pop\/Dance\/Contemporary: Alyssa Jacey\u00a0World Artist of the Year: Love Itoya\u00a0Rising Star of the Year Female:\u00a0 Robyn Ashley\u00a0Rising Star of the Year Male:\u00a0Garrett Huffman\u00a0Rising Star of the Year – Modern Country\/Pop Country Female:\u00a0Jacki Daniels\u00a0Rising Star of the Year – Country Female:\u00a0Ashley Brooks\u00a0Rising Star of the Year – Country Male:\u00a0Kevin Thomas\u00a0Rising Star of the Year – Country Mix Male:\u00a0Travis Reigh\u00a0Emergent Artist of the Year: John Eason\u00a0Emergent Artist of the Year – Country Female:\u00a0Presley Puig\u00a0Emergent Artist of the Year – Country Male:\u00a0Caden Wilson\u00a0Duo of the Year \u2013 Americana:\u00a0Sugarcane Jane\u00a0Duo of the Year \u2013 Country:\u00a0Cliff & Susan\u00a0Group of the Year \u2013 Country:\u00a0Matt Tejeda and The Backwoods Band\u00a0Group of the Year – Multi-Genre: Crooked Eye Tommy\u00a0Group of the Year \u2013 Bluegrass:\u00a0Carolina Bluegrass Style\u00a0Group of the Year \u2013 Americana:\u00a0Andrew Moore and Hooch\u00a0Group of the Year – Hard Rock\/Metal: Lost Circus\u00a0Duo of the Year – Multi-Genre: Harmony Holler\u00a0Duo\/Group of the Year – Gospel:\u00a0Riven\u00a0Group of the Year – Country\/Rock: The Jess Zimmerman Band\u00a0Group of the Year – Southern Rock:\u00a0 Greye\u00a0Group of the Year – Outlaw Country: Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders\u00a0Group of the Year \u2013 Blues:\u00a0King Bee & The Stingers\u00a0Group of the Year – Alternative\/Indie\/Pop Rock: Defeated\u00a0\u00a0Group of the Year \u2013 Rock:\u00a0The Goldy LockS Band\u00a0Vocal Event of the Year – Male\/Female Collaboration:\u00a0Kirstie Kraus, Mike Nash \u201cLargo\u201d\u00a0Vocal Event of the Year:\u00a0Andrew Chappell and Dave Nudo \u201cI\u2019m All In\u201d\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Multi-Genre Female:\u00a0Abbie Thomas\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Multi-Genre Male:\u00a0Chase Bush\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – R&B\/Soul: Teri Tobin\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Jazz\/Blues: Lauren Anderson\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Americana\/Folk Female:\u00a0Jayna Jennings\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Americana\/Folk Male:\u00a0Jimmy Bowen\u00a0Vocalist of the Year \u2013 Outlaw:\u00a0Danny Spiro\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Rock\/Metal Male:\u00a0Chris O\u2019Brien\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Modern Country Male Alumni:\u00a0Barefoot Joe\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Modern Country: Kevin Wolff\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Female Alumni I:\u00a0Carrie Brockwell\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Male Alumni I:\u00a0Rob Cole\u00a0\\Vocalist of the Year – Country Male I:\u00a0Travis Thamert\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Under 18 Alumni: Robert Levey II\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Under 18: Zoey Rae\u00a0Vocalist of the Year \u2013 Pop:\u00a0Jack Austin\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Pop\/Rock: River Gibson\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Adult Contemporary: Lacy Miller\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Gospel\/Christian\/Inspirational Female:\u00a0Cece Manuela\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Gospel\/Christian\/Inspirational Male:\u00a0Whitlee Casey\u00a0Vocalist of the Year \u2013 Bluegrass:\u00a0Tianna Lefebvre\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Rock\/Southern Rock Male:\u00a0Scott Boyd\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Rock\/Southern Rock Female:\u00a0Tobi Lee\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Rock\/Metal Female:\u00a0Chelsea Calloway\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Modern Country Female Alumni:\u00a0Christine Radlmann\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Traditional\/Classic Country: Eric Diamond\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Female I:\u00a0 Lucie Tiger\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Female II:\u00a0Audra McLaughlin\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Male II:\u00a0 Cody Glenn Cox\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Female Alumni II:\u00a0 Jenny Grace\u00a0Vocalist of the Year – Country Male Alumni II:\u00a0Caleb Kelley\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal Portfolio Female Alumni:\u00a0Erin Stoll\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal Portfolio Female:\u00a0 Ashley Jordan\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal Portfolio Male Alumni:\u00a0Andru Jamison\u00a0Songwriter of the Year: Corey Lee Barker\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal & Pitching Portfolio Female:\u00a0Sheri Swartz\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal Portfolio Male:\u00a0Aaron Hymes\u00a0Songwriter of the Year – Personal & Pitching Portfolio Male:\u00a0Brad McKinney\u00a0Story-Enhanced Performance Video of the Year: \u201cIf I Sin For You?\u201d Celeste Marie Wilson\u00a0Story-Enhanced Performance Video of the Year Male: \u201cMama Never Liked The Rodeo,\u201d Eric Lee Beddingfield\u00a0Story Enhanced Performance Video of the Year Duo\/Group\/Collabs: \u201cI Didn\u2019t Know,\u201d The Goldy LockS Band Feat. Mickie James & The Lacs\u00a0Music Video of the Year Performance Focused Duo\/Group: \u201cThe Will,\u201d Nu-Blu\u00a0Music Video of the Year Performance Focused Female: \u201cThe Bitter End,\u201d Brenda Best\u00a0Music Video of the Year Performance Focused Male: \u201cDamn Good Time,\u201d Jordan Moore\u00a0Social Impact Video of the Year Duo\/Group\/Collab: \u201cHigh Heel On The Pedal,\u201d Ashlie Amber Feat. Velvet Rodeo\u00a0Social Impact Video of the Year Male: \u201cI\u2019m Sorry,\u201d Chuck Thomas\u00a0Social Impact Video of the Year Female: \u201cStardust,\u201d Shy Blossom\u00a0Expressive Verse Video of the Year: \u201cMake Canada Great Again,\u201d Rudy Gunn\u00a0Music Video of the Year Duo\/Group\/Collab: \u201cTaste The Whiskey, \u201d Eric Lee Beddingfield with Jesse Keith Whitley\u00a0Music Video of the Year Female: \u201cGunfire,\u201d Remington Mae\u00a0Music Video of the Year Male: \u201cWishing Well,\u201d Louie Lee\u201d\u00a0Music and Video Projects Children\u2019s: \u201cBaby Ninja,\u201d Kelli Welli\u00a0Music Video of the Year Female Alumni: \u201cMind Your Own Backyard,\u201d Krystal King\u00a0Music Video of the Year Male Alumni: \u201cWhite Trash Like Me,\u201d Joey Ferris\u00a0Artist\/Duo\/Group of the Year Children\u2019s: Kathryn the Grape\u00a0Musician of the Year \u2013 Banjo: Dustin Terpenning\u00a0Musician of the Year – Brass\/Woodwind: Evangelos Carydakis (Saxophone)\u00a0Multi-Instrumentalist – Musician of the Year: EJ Edward Ouellette\u00a0Musician of the Year \u2013 Strings:\u00a0Kyle Roop (Pedal Steel)\u00a0Musician of the Year \u2013 Bass:\u00a0Charlie Frie\u00a0Musician of the Year \u2013 Keys:\u00a0MarQ Andrew Speck\u00a0Musician of the Year \u2013 Piano:\u00a0Dr. Tedrin Blair Lindsay\u00a0Musician of the Year – Piano\/Keys Alumni: Ed Bazel\u00a0Musician of the Year – Drums\/Percussion: Squeak Melusky\u00a0Musician of the Year – Drums\/Percussion Alumni: AJ Newton\u00a0Musician of the Year – Guitar I: David Jones\u00a0Musician of the Year – Guitar II: Terence Young\u00a0Musician of the Year – Guitar III: Damon Mitchell\u00a0Social Impact – Song of the Year Female: \u201dForever 13,\u201d Khloe Grace\u00a0Social Impact Song of the Year – Female Alumni: \u201cThe Sacrifice,\u201d Alyssa Ruffin\u00a0Social Impact Song of the Year \u2013 Male: \u201cBuy Me A Memory,\u201d Chet Lawrence\u00a0Social Impact Song of the Year: \u201cStand,\u201d Kathryn Shipley, Lee Newton, Nita Perez, Dimitris Nezis, Holly Fischer, Frank Fasano, Phil Kanakis\u00a0Holiday Song of the Year: \u201cCause It\u2019s Christmas,\u201d Revele and Family\u00a0Song of the Year \u2013 Bluegrass: \u201cLight In My Life,\u201d Jackson Hollow\u00a0Song of the Year Alumni – Christian\/Gospel\/Inspirational: \u201cWonderful Work,\u201d Jason Lee McKinney Band\u00a0Song of the Year – Gospel\/Christian\/Inspirational: \u201cGlory To God,\u201d Woodshed Revival\u00a0Song of the Year – Rock\/Alt Rock\/Metal: \u201cWalk All Over Me,\u201d Brett Ryder\u00a0Song of the Year – Rock\/Alt Rock\/Metal Individual Alumni: \u201cGhost,\u201d Spencer Ezell\u00a0Song of the Year – Rock\/Alt Rock\/Metal Duo\/Group Alumni: \u201cLifeline,\u201d The Almas\u00a0Song of the Year – Southern Rock\/Country Rock Alumni: \u201cNot Ready,\u201d Jake Nelson\u00a0Song of the Year – Southern Rock\/Country Rock: \u201cDead Man Running,\u201d Drifted Harmony\u00a0Song of the Year – Pop\/Rock: \u201cForever,\u201d The Swansons\u00a0Song of the Year \u2013 Folk: \u201cSweet Mountain Music,\u201d Them Lasses\u00a0Song of the Year – Americana Female: \u201cHercules,\u201d Sam Hatmaker Feat. EmiSunshine\u00a0Song of the Year – Americana Male: \u201cWorth Breaking,\u201d Brian Allison\u00a0Song of the Year – Americana Duo\/Group\/Collab: \u201cPretty Lights of Denver,\u201d Weary Ramblers\u00a0Song of the Year \u2013 Outlaw: \u201cTime To Say Goodbye,\u201d Blackwood Mojo\u00a0Song of the Year – World\/New Age World: \u201cSmile,\u201d Cecy Santana\u00a0Song of the Year \u2013 Instrumental: \u201cTyrone Blues,\u201d D Boone Pittman\u00a0Song of the Year – Multi-Genre: \u201cHeaven\u2019s Front Porch,\u201d Flatline\u00a0Song of the Year – Pop\/Adult Contemporary: \u201cWhen I\u2019m With You,\u201d Faith Lee\u00a0Song of the Year – Pop Alumni I: \u201cLove You More and More,\u201d Kim Cameron Darick DDS Spears\u00a0Song of the Year – Jazz\/Blues: \u201cJust Walk Away,\u201d Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers\u00a0Song of the Year – R&B\/Soul: \u201cSend Me Love,\u201d Markey Blue\u00a0Song of the Year – Hip Hop: \u201cMy Heart,\u201d Irene Michaels Feat. Twizm Whyte Piece\u00a0Song of the Year – Traditional\/Classic Country Male: \u201cDon\u2019t Forget, Remember Me,\u201d Webb Dalton\u00a0Song of the Year Traditional\/Classic Country Female: \u201cThat\u2019s The Way Love Goes,\u201d Paula Buchanan\u00a0Song of the Year Country Female Alumni: \u201cI told Her For Him,\u201d Rylee Austin\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Female I: \u201cNashville Don\u2019t Forget Me,\u201d Elisa Smith\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Male Alumni I: \u201cCan\u2019t Be Roped,\u201d Sam Stinson\u00a0Song of the Year Country Male I: \u201cSundown In A Small Town,\u201d Shawn Richards\u00a0Song of the Year Country Male III: \u201cSong On The Radio,\u201d Elliott Booe\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Female II: \u201cHate To Lie,\u201d Lara Bell\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Male Alumni II: \u201cSweet Home Tennessee,\u201d Robert Abernathy\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Male II: \u201cMake It To Nashville,\u201d Trey Bryant\u00a0Song of the Year – Country Duo\/Group\/Collab: \u201cLives In The Whiskey,\u201d Roseland\u00a0Song of the Year – Modern Country\/Pop Country Male: \u201cDon\u2019t Wanna See The Rain,\u201d Clinton Wilkie\u00a0Song of the Year – Modern Country\/Pop Country Male Alumni: \u201cWhatcha Gonna Do,\u201d Brandon Lowe\u00a0Song of the Year Modern Country\/Pop Country Female Alumni: \u201cMr. Wallen,\u201d Ashlyn Greene\u00a0Song of the Year Modern Country\/Pop Country Female: \u201cForgot Your Name,\u201d McKenna Faith Winters\u00a0Song of the Year – Children\u2019s Music: \u201cIt\u2019s Ok To Make Mistakes,\u201d Irene Rose\u00a0Album of the Year – Rock\/Hard Rock\/Alt Rock\/Metal: \u201cAttitude Is Everything,\u201d Jasmine Cain\u00a0Album of the Year – Pop\/Contemporary\/Dance: \u201cUnbridled Angel,\u201d Aaron Sidwell\u00a0Album of the Year – Americana\/Folk: \u201cNot What I Do,\u201d Laura Sawosko\u00a0Album\/EP of the Year \u2013 Instrumental: \u201cChristmas Romance Instrumentals,\u201d Corey Lee Barker\u00a0Album\/EP of the Year \u2013 Holiday: \u201cThat\u2019s What Christmas Means To Me,\u201d Robert Bacon\u00a0EP\/Album of the Year – Multi-Genre: \u201cNot Gonna Lie,\u201d Abbie Thomas\u00a0Album\/EP of the Year – Jazz\/Blues: \u201cLive From The Slippery Noodle,\u201d King Bee & The Stingers\u00a0Album\/EP of the Year – Traditional\/Classic Country: \u201cHomesick,\u201d Lee Newton\u00a0Album of the Year \u2013 Country: \u201cPushing Borders,\u201d Matt Castillo\u00a0Album of the Year – Country (Mixed Genre Sound): \u201cWhen It\u2019s All Said And Done,\u201d Danny Terrell\u00a0EP of the Year \u2013 Rock: \u201cObscura,\u201d Brando Vanschoyck\u00a0Album\/EP of the Year – Christian\/Gospel\/Inspirational: \u201cRoom With A View,\u201d Brandon Hixson\u00a0EP of the Year – Pop\/Contemporary: \u201cElements,\u201d CheraLee\u00a0EP of the Year – Folk\/Americana: \u201cCasualties of a Life Well Lived,\u201d Ashley Jordan\u00a0EP of the Year \u2013 Country: \u201cUnder The Neon,\u201d Dusty Moats\u00a0Best Stage Performance: Mr. Talkbox\u00a0Tribute Band of the Year: Olivia Mojica Blank Space Tribute – A Tribute to Taylor Swift\u00a0Tribute Artist of the Year Female:\u00a0 Ashlie Amber Harris – Tribute to Whitney Houston\u00a0Tribute Artist of the Year Male\/Country: Keith Ormrod – Tribute to Kenny Chesney\u00a0Tribute Artist of the Year Male: Don Suiters (Kid Kentucky) – Tribute to Kid Rock\u00a0Record Label of the Year: Clarksville Sound\u00a0PR\/Promotion Company: 2911 Media\u00a0Music Venue of the Year: Ranchman\u2019s (Calgary, Canada)\u00a0Magazine of the Year: Cashbox Magazine\u00a0Television Show\/Station of the Year:\u00a0American Country Network\u00a0Podcast\/Music Radio Show: Overtones LIVE Presented by Listen Locally\u00a0Studio\/Production Company of the Year: TuneDesigner\u00a0Artist Management Company of the Year: Midwest Artist Group\u00a0Solo Artist Representative of the Year: DLS Music\u00a0Live Show Productions of the Year: The Coyote Store\u00a0Photographer of the Year: Janet Reynolds Photography\u00a0Music Business of the Year:\u00a0Kincaid-Gooch Voice Studio\u00a0Radio Station of the Year: Sterling Country Radio\u00a0Music Producer of the Year: Dr. Ted Olson\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Female:\u00a0 Macy Tabor\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Female:\u00a0 EV Mae\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Male: David Krantz\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Male: Adam Calvert\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Duo\/Group: Kentucky Just Us\u00a0Fan\u2019s Choice Duo\/Group: Matt Clarkson Band\u00a0Best Actress in A Music Video:\u00a0Krystal King, \u201cMind Your Own Backyard\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Best Actress in A Music Video:\u00a0Megan Vanlandingham, \u201cHeaven\u2019s Front Porch\u201d\u00a0Best Actor in A Music Video:\u00a0Howie Garoutte, \u201cWhy Am I Here\u201d\u00a0Best Actor in A Music Video:\u00a0Country Kid Nikko, \u201cWishing Well\u201d\u00a0Vocal Competition Winner At \u201cPassantino\u2019s”: Gio\u00a0Humanitarian Organization of the Year: Wings of Rescue\u00a0<\/p>\n
Songwriter Achievement Winners:<\/p>\n
“She Is Talking With Her Eyes” – Paul Overstreet, Rory Feek\u00a0“Midnights” – Thornton Cline, Sassy VeZay, Michael Jay\u00a0“Good To Be Blessed” – Corey Lee Barker, Loretta Jent\u00a0“Bad Chemistry” – Austin McKedy, Tracie McKedy, Mackynsie McKedy\u00a0“Higher” – Danny Kensy\u00a0“Right Mind at the Wrong Time” – Brad Morgan, Royce Johns\u00a0“Fly” – Kelsie Kratins\u00a0“Here’s to the Man in Red” – Cara Paige, Justine Blazer, Corey Lee Barker\u00a0“Honky-Tonk Withdrawal” – John Bielecki, Brandon Maddox\u00a0“Enlightenment” – Erin Sliney\u00a0<\/p>\n
To learn more about the Josie Music Awards, head to josiemusicawards.com<\/a>.<\/p>\nAudrey Gibbs is a music journalist at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Why is Nashville called Music City? The history of the nickname. Nashville earned its nickname after decades and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":122590,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[343,307,321,352,13345,15544,93,61,759,60,342,355,278,43,333,1029,1017,7487,7491,38,336],"class_list":["post-122589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-affiliate","tag-arts","tag-celebrities","tag-celebrities-u0026-entertainment-news","tag-country","tag-country-music","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-industry","tag-ireland","tag-local","tag-local-affiliate-arts-u0026-entertainment","tag-music","tag-news","tag-overall","tag-overall-positive","tag-positive","tag-recording","tag-recording-industry","tag-top-stories","tag-u0026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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