Jessica Horton, a Columbus-based musician, held her breath Sunday night while gathered in a crowd of thousands in the Grand Ole Opry.
Even after submitting her best songs for consideration and being selected as a nominee in several categories by a panel of judges for the Josie Music Awards, Horton still never expected to win.
But then her name was called over the loud speakers, and it was official. Horton was the Female Multi-Genre Vocalist of the Year.
“Just to get to stand there and speak on a microphone in that circle was incredible, and it was just the first step of a whole lot of my dreams coming true,” Horton told The Dispatch. “And I really and truly felt even before I got there, I was telling my husband, ‘This is my year. This is my year. I just know it.’ And I had been telling people for months. I was like I just want to be on the Grand Ole Opry (stage). And so for that to happen … was just incredible.”
Horton and Mason Honnoll, another Columbus-based musician, were each selected as nominees by the judges from among more than 100,000 submissions for the 12th annual Josie Music Awards.
The event is an annual awards show held at the Grand Ole Opry for independent musicians, songwriters and music industry professionals from around the globe, according to the award show’s website.
The categories at the award show recognize independent music from a variety of genres ranging from pop to country to gospel.
Horton, beyond the category she won, was nominated for two other awards, which included Female Country EP of the Year and the Fans’ Choice Award for a female artist.
Horton kicked off her professional career in 2019 with her debut album “Both Feet In.” Since then, Horton has released more than 30 songs.
Horton said it was gratifying to have such a strong showing this year at the awards show after several difficult years of feeling overlooked.
“Whenever you’re in this as an independent artist, you’re always having to be your biggest cheerleader,” Horton said. “But a few years ago, I mean, just like anybody, you get in a slump, and (I was) like, ‘Is this going anywhere? Am I just running in place?’ And I think this definitely gave me a little bit of wind in my sails. … (To) feel like, no, I’m not running in place. This is going somewhere, and there are more doors opening, and I’m going to run through them.”
Honnoll was recognized as a nominee for the Male Country EP of the Year category, for his August 2025 EP “Solitary Man.”
Beyond its recognition at the event, Honnoll said the album had also opened a lot of doors for him as a musician.
“‘Solitary Man’ was actually a big deal for me because it kind of re-kickstarted … my career a little bit,” Honnoll said. “And ever since this (EP) came out. We’ve been on the road like crazy playing shows.”
The nomination marked his third recognition as a nominee at the awards show since 2022, Honnoll said.
Though he didn’t win his category, Honnoll said he was proud of the recognition he and Horton received Monday night to help showcase the talent that exists in Mississippi.
“It was pretty important to me, representing Columbus or just Mississippi in general,” Honnoll said. “Because Mississippi (is), in my opinion, it’s where a lot of our music comes from, but doesn’t get a lot of credit (for that).”
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