On Oct. 22, the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville hosted a revered music award ceremony for the independent music industry, the 9th annual Josie Music Awards (JMAs).

The JMAs are the largest independent music award show in the world, and they are privately owned by mother-daughter duo Josie Passantino-Boone and Tinamarie Passantino. The two started the awards show in 2015 after seeing a need for independent music artists, songwriters and business professionals to come together to celebrate their work and accomplishments.

Each year, the award show brings thousands of attendees to Music City. The all-genre music ceremony awarded a whopping 134 awards, celebrating all kinds of independent musicians.

Here are the highlights from the 2023 awards show:

• Deborah Allen received the Lifetime Career Achievement award and performed song “Baby I Lied” for its 40th Anniversary Celebration. 
• Bobby Mackey was inducted into the Josie Music Award’s Independent Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Jimmy Wayne received the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work advocating for children in the foster care system. 

Award presenters from the evening included: Mr. Talkbox, William Lee Golden , Cledus T. Judd, Dallas Wayne (on Sirius XM), Jimmy Wayne, Jimmy Bowen, Mary Sarah, Tim and Roxane Atwood, Sammy Sadler, Leon Everette and Clarence Jey.

Full winners are listed below.

2023 Josie Music Award Winners

• Humanitarian of the Year – Jimmy Wayne
• Lifetime Career Achievement – Deborah Allen
• Inductee to The Independent Country Music Hall of Fame – Bobby Mackey
• Male Rising Star – Brad Morgan
• Female Rising Star – Jenna Jane
• World Artist of the Year – Prana Kishore
• Artist of the Year Folk/Americana/Roots – Christina Gaudet
• Artist of the Year Multi-Genre (Male) – Taylor Hernly
• Artist of the Year Multi-Genre (Female) – Abbie Thomas
• Artist of the Year R&B/Soul – Charm
• Artist of the Year Southern Rock/Country Rock – Madison Galloway
• Artist of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational- Leah Oduro-Kwarten
• Artist of the Year Outlaw – Michael Austin
• Artist of the Year Jazz/Blues – Travis Bowlin
• Artist of the Year Pop – Grayson
• Artist of the Year Rock – Ronda Ray
• Artist of the Year Instrumental – Hyram Posey
• Artist of the Year Traditional Country (Male) – Webb Dalton
• Artist of the Year Traditional Country (Female) – Lee Newton
• Artist of the Year Modern Country (Male) – Danny Kensy
• Artist of the Year Modern Country (Female) – Michelle Robinson
• Artist of the Year Under 18 – Cara Bishop
• Duo of the Year (Country) – Malpass Brothers
• Duo of the Year – Stace & Cassie
• Duo/Group of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational – Donna & Ben The Journeys
• Rock Group of the Year – The Almas
• Group of the Year (Multi-Genre) – William Lee Golden & The Goldens
• Group of the Year Country Rock/Southern Rock – The Jess Zimmerman Band
• Group of the Year (Bluegrass) – My Brother’s Keeper
• Group of the Year (Country) – Southpaw
• Vocalist of the Year Country Rap – 6B.Low
• Vocalist of the Year (Junior) – Blair Kudelka
• Vocalist of the Year Young Adult – Cormac Thompson
• Vocalist of the Year (Pop) – Katie Belle
• Vocalist of the Year (Rock) – Keely Brennan
• Vocalist of the Year (Jazz/Blues) – Stephanie Adlington
• Vocalist of the Year (R&B/Soul) – Cerissa McQueen
• Vocalist of the Year Bluegrass – Chase Bush
• Vocalist of the Year Country Rock/Southern Rock – Ethan Vincil
• Vocalist of the Year JMA Alum (Multi-Genre) – Taylor Hughes
• Vocalist of the Year Multi-Genre – Danni Stefanetti
• Vocalist of the Year Country (Female) – Sam Roark
• Vocalist of the Year (Country) JMA Alum (Male) – Jackson Snelling
• Vocalist of the Year (Male) Country – Aaron LaCombe
• Vocalist of the Year Folk/Americana/Roots – Jayna Jennings
• Vocalist of the Year Outlaw – Darrell Davis
• Vocalist of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational – Reviving Dayvid
• Vocalist of the Year (Male) Traditional Country – Jackson Truluck
• Vocalist of the Year (Female) Traditional Country – Tina Patterson-White
• Vocalist of the Year (Male) Modern Country (JMA Alum) – Adam Calvert
• Vocalist of the Year (Male) Modern Country – Brandon Lorenzo
• Vocalist of the Year (Female) Modern Country (JMA Alum) – Macy Tabor
• Vocalist of the Year (Female) Modern Country – Tiffany Haseker
• 8^Th Annual JMA Best Performance – Lacy J. Dalton
• Tribute Artist of the Year – Lisa McClowry, Cher Tribute
• Tribute Band of the Year – Ocean’s Rat Pack, The Rat Pack Tribute
• Stage Entertainment of the Year – The Chicago Hitmen
• Photographer of the Year – Luciano J. Bilotti Photography
• Concert Series of the Year – On Fire Concerts
• Video Production of the Year – Samuel Womer Torrent Cinemas
• Music Business/Organization – The Song Shack
• Venue of the Year – The Coyote Store
• Media Company/Show of the Year – H.D. Ainsworth Morning Show
• PR/Promotion Company of the Year – Wayne PR
• Management Company of the Year – Three13 Management
• Personal Artist Management – Cheryl Barkhouse Katav’allo Entertainment
• Record Label of the Year – MTS Records
• Music Producer of the Year – Julian Sundby
• Musician of the Year Guitar – Jonathan Goodwin
• Musician of the Year Piano/Keys – Rusty Golden
• Musician of the Year – Asta Flute
• Entertainer of the Year Male – Nate Venturelli
• Entertainer of the Year Female – Tobi Lee
• Entertainer of the Year Duo/Group – Malpass Brothers
• Best Performance in a Music Video – Male Barney “Fife” Woods Cruising Through A Small Town
• Best Performance in a Music Video Female – NuNu Thurman, Toxic Love
• Social Impact Video of the Year – MOH Blackbird Anthem
• Social Impact Song of the Year – Spread Hope Send Love Around the World, Amy McAllister Suicide Prevention & Awareness
• Songwriter of the Year – Corey Lee Barker
• Songwriter of the Year Personal Portfolio (Male) – John Dennie
• Songwriter of the Year Personal Portfolio (Female) – Hailey Newman
• Song of the Year Southern Rock/Country Rock- Blowin’ Smoke Meg Williams
• Song of the Year Folk/Americana – 10:43, Jayna Jennings
• Song of the Year Outlaw – Something To Say, Trace Thompson
• Song of the Year R&B/Soul – Love Triangle, Alyssa Ruffin
• Song of the Year Instrumental – Angels On Steroids, Andrew Chervak
• Song of the Year Pop (Single Songwriter) – I Like Rain, Irene Michaels
• Song of the Year Country – It’s All Part of Being Southern, Caleb Kelley
• Song of the Year Traditional Country – You Could Have Had Me When I Cared, Jake Blocker
• Song of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational – Revival, Ben Myers
• Song of the Year Multi-Genre – Beautiful Drug, Tiffaney Nesbeth
• Song of the Year (Rock) – Long Hard Rain, Cory M. Coons
• Modern Country Song of the Year – Not In This Heartbreak, Morgan White
• Modern Country Song of the Year – Falling In Love With You, Chad Bushnell
• Song of the Year (Jazz/Blues) – Ride That Lightning, Skylar Rogers, Songwriters: Skylar Rogers, Terry Wilson
• Song of the Year Pop – Talk Rags and Riches
• Country Song of the Year Country – By Birthright, Hollis Dorian, Songwriters: Hollis Dorian, Wes Protich
• Song of the Year Country Duo/Group – A Different Kind of Rush, Sugar and Spice, Songwriters: Shelly Dubois, Danita Lynn
• Song of the Year Traditional Country – Flowers, Grace Scott, Songwriters: Grace Scott, Wes Scott
• Song of the Year (Rock) – Living Waters, Rusty Shipp, Songwriters: Rusty T. Shipp, AJ Newton
• Modern Country Song of the Year – Worth A Shot, Trey Calloway, Songwriters: Trey Calloway, Aaron Pax Taylor
• Song of the Year Bluegrass – Everyday Thing, The Goodwin Brothers Songwriters: Thomas Paden, Dwight Liles
• Holiday Song of the Year – It’s Christmas Time Again, Andrew Frelick & Amanda Riley, Songwriter: Debbie Teal-Frelick
• Song of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational – The Gospel Truth, Billy Walker, Songwriters: Jason Cox, Kenna Turner West
• Song of the Year (Multi-Genre) – Better With You, Kamber Cain, Songwriters: Kamber Cain, Rich McCreedy, Kimberly Smoak
• Song of the Year Modern Country Duo/Group – Your Name, Southpaw, Songwriters: Christine Radlmann,  Colin McConnell, Sean Garnhart
• Modern Country Song of the Year – A Lie I Can Live With, Ryan Keown, Songwriters: Ryan Griffin, Steve Pasch, Clay Mills
• Holiday Song of the Year- Who Let The Jolly In, Kezia Alford, Corey Lee Barker Claudette King, Justine Blazer
• EP of the Year (Female) – Impressions, Carrie Brockwell
• EP of the Year (Male) – An Adoption Story. One Journey. Three Glorious Miracles, Kitt Wakeley
• EP of the Year Duo/Group – Rolling Black Clouds, Midwest Thick
• Album of the Year Instrumental – Chasing Horizons, Russ Hewitt
• Album of the Year (Blues) – Girl Singing the Blues, Justine Blazer
• Album of the Year Modern Country – Back To My Roots, Jake Bradley
• Album of the Year Multi-Genre – Sincerely June, June Shelton
• Album of the Year Country – Someone Like You, Lia Caton
• Album of the Year (Rock) – Loud & Proud, Clydeton Road
• Album of the Year Gospel/Christian/Inspirational- If These Boots Could Talk, Kathryn Shipley
• Album of the Year Folk/Americana – After All That We’ve Been Through, Medd & Shaw
• Album of the Year Outlaw/Country Rock- Outlaw Mountain Music, Kentucky Music Mafia
• Live Performance Video Production – Overtones Live
• Music Video of the Year (Male) – Me and The Bottle Landon Heights (JMA Alum) Director: Trevor Lamb
• Music Video of the Year (Female) – Firecracker Taylor Sanders (JMA Alum) Director:  T-Ran Gilbert
• Music Video of the Year (Female) – Dandelion April Provost Director: Matthew Garvin
• Music Video of the Year Duo/Group – Man I Miss It, Mark McKinney & Co. Director: Garrett Barefoot
• Music Video of the Year (Male) – Speed of Sound, Joe Satriani & Brian Tarquin Director 3Dave
• Vocal Event of the Year – Angel Without Wings, Jimmy Parker & Rita Faye Tanner
• Fan’s Choice (Male) – Andy Davis
• Fan’s Choice (Female) – Auti
• Fan’s Choice Under 18 – Jadyn Rylee
• Fan’s Choice Duo/Group – Kindred