Irene Michaels has once again landed on the nominee list for the Josie Music Awards, this time with two nods heading into the 12th Annual ceremony: Artist of the Year – Pop/Pop Rock, and EP of the Year – Pop, for her project Golden. The awards will be presented September 20, 2026, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, one of independent music’s most storied stages.
For Michaels, the double nomination extends a run of recognition from the Josie Music Awards that stretches back several years, including a prior win for Pop Single Song of the Year for her hit “I Like Rain.” The Artist of the Year category places her among a select group of pop and pop-rock performers recognized for the full scope of their work over the eligibility period, while the EP of the Year nomination for Golden honors the project as a complete artistic statement — performance, production, and sequencing considered as a whole.
It’s a fitting recognition for an artist whose career has moved fluidly across mediums for decades — entertainer, recording artist, actress, and philanthropist — and who has continued to build a distinct catalog in pop and dance music even as her profile in other corners of entertainment has grown. The Josie Music Awards, now one of the largest independent music award shows in the world, draws nominees from across genres to Nashville each year, with winners selected by a panel of musicians and industry professionals.
Michaels will look to add to her Josie Music Awards history this September at the Opry House, with Golden and her body of work in the Pop/Pop Rock category both in contention.