Quinn Lemley is an official nominee for Tribute Artist of the Year at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards, recognized for her acclaimed portrayal of Hollywood icon Rita Hayworth in the hit touring show Rita Hayworth: The Heat Is On! The ceremony takes place September 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, where Lemley will be honored alongside the year’s most celebrated tribute performers.
The show has captivated audiences at performing arts centers and casinos across North America, earning Lemley comparisons that speak for themselves: the New York Post has said audiences barely need to squint to feel Rita Hayworth’s presence in the room, while the New York Times has praised Lemley’s dazzling run of show-stopping numbers. That acclaim carried over into her 2025 album Rita Hayworth Revealed, a big-band tribute backed by an 11-piece orchestra that reimagines the songs tied to Hayworth’s film career and life after Hollywood.
The nomination caps a banner stretch for Lemley. In 2025, she was named Best Female Vocalist (NYC) at the Broadway World Awards and was inducted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, making her eligible for Grammy consideration. Beyond her Hayworth tribute, Lemley fronts the touring production Burlesque to Broadway, performs internationally with her jazz quintet, and is recognized as the face of The Half Note jazz club in Athens, Greece. As a director and producer, her credits include Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Wall, and she hosts Secrets of the Stage with Quinn Lemley, airing on MNN and available on major podcast platforms.
The Tribute Artist of the Year category honors performers who don’t simply imitate an icon but fully inhabit them — a distinction Lemley has built an entire career around, one unforgettable number at a time.
Quinn Lemley is nominated for Tribute Artist of the Year at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards, September 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House.