Combat-disabled veteran earns Artist of the Year honors for the second consecutive year and receives inaugural Honor and Harmony Award.
CRESTVIEW, Fla. – Sept. 23, 2026 – Northwest Florida singer-songwriter and combat-disabled veteran Josh Davis
returned from Nashville this week with two awards, including Artist of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.
Davis, who performs as The Real Josh Davis, received Artist of the Year honors at the 2026 Josie Music Awards, held Sept. 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. In 2025, he was named Artist of the Year – Outlaw Country, giving the independent artist back-to-back Artist of the Year recognition.
During the same Nashville weekend, Davis also received the inaugural Honor and Harmony Award, an honor
recognizing him as a veteran artist.
“I’m still processing all of it,” Davis said. “To go to Nashville and come back to Northwest Florida with two awards is something I’m incredibly grateful for. But the awards raise the standard. Now I go back to work – keep writing, keep playing, and keep earning it.”
Davis is based in Crestview and has built much of his independent music career across Northwest Florida and the Gulf Coast, performing regularly for audiences throughout the region while expanding into markets across the Southeast.
A combat-disabled veteran with an infantry background, Davis draws heavily from personal experience in his
songwriting. His music addresses service, loss, faith, family, relationships, and the realities of rebuilding life after difficult experiences.
Recent releases include “This Ain’t No Love Song,” “Chasing Sunsets,” “Tired of Goodbye” and “Wherever Good Dogs Go.” Davis continues to perform throughout Northwest Florida while developing new music and expanding his touring reach.
“A lot of the people who helped build this with me are right here in Northwest Florida,” Davis said. “They came to the shows, shared the songs and supported the music before any of these awards happened. They’re part of this story.”
The two Nashville honors add another milestone to a career Davis has built independently from the Florida Panhandle, one performance, one song and one listener at a time.
ABOUT JOSH DAVIS
Josh Davis, known professionally as The Real Josh Davis, is an award-winning outlaw country singer-songwriter, published author, and combat-disabled U.S. military veteran based in Crestview, Florida. He performs throughout Northwest Florida and the Southeast while continuing to expand his independent music career. More information, music, and upcoming performances are available at therealjoshdavis.com.
