U.S. Awarded Pop Queen and the Golden Voice Queen of Europe, Malaysian singer JessC, who is based in Australia, has added another major accolade to her growing list of achievements, winning World Artist of the Year at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards in the United States.
The world’s largest independent music awards received 101,791 submissions from artists across more than 40 countries. The ceremony was held recently at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the most iconic venues in American music.
Often described as the “Grammys of independent music,” the Josie Music Awards honours outstanding independent musicians across genres. Its judging panel includes Grammy-winning musicians, accomplished songwriters, record producers and international music executives.
World Artist of the Year is one of the awards’ most significant international recognitions, honouring performers whose work demonstrates strength across music creation, performance and international reach. Unlike awards focused on a single genre or regional market, the category reflects an artist’s broader presence in the international independent music landscape, including multilingual artistry, cross-cultural communication and overall artistic development.
JessC also received two nominations for her song “One Chance” — Social Impact Song of the Year and Social Impact Video of the Year — giving her recognition across three categories at this year’s ceremony.
In recent years, JessC has steadily expanded her international presence through songs recorded in English, Mandarin and Malay, using music, music videos and live performances to connect with audiences from different cultural backgrounds. Her work has earned a growing collection of international awards and industry recognition.
Speaking about her latest achievement, JessC admitted she was deeply moved and became emotional when she learned she was the winner. “Still taking it all in… This has been a dream of mine since I was young — to one day be able to make a meaningful contribution to my country. I never imagined that one day, I would have the opportunity to represent Australia, Malaysia and Asia on an international stage.”
JessC stressed that the award was not the result of one individual’s efforts, but the culmination of years of work by an international team.
She thanked the organisers and judges of the Josie Music Awards, as well as the teams in Australia, the United States and Taiwan who have contributed to her music production, music videos and promotional work. She also thanked her management team across Australia, the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Her music has attracted attention from media organisations, radio stations, television outlets and music platforms across North America, Australia, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia, and has been featured by publications including Rolling Stone, Billboard and Earmilk.
Despite the growing recognition, JessC said she does not see the latest award as the culmination of her journey. “I know I still have so much to learn, and so many ways I can continue to grow. This is not the end. It’s the beginning of a brand-new chapter.”
She dedicated the honour to her family, her team and the fans who have supported her throughout her career. “Your love, encouragement, support and belief in me have given me the strength to keep going. So… when I look at this award, I don’t just see my name. I see you.”
As JessC continues to build her career across international markets, she is steadily extending the reach of her multilingual music to audiences around the world. Her World Artist of the Year title at the 2026 Josie Music Awards now stands as another significant international milestone in that journey.