‘Biggest dream come true’: Jess Zimmerman Band performs at Grand Ole Opry, wins Josie award

• By Mickayla Miller/LNP | LancasterOnline

This story is published in partnership with our sister newsroom LNP | LancasterOnline.

A Lancaster country-rock band went to Nashville, Tennessee, and came home with an award and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Jess Zimmerman Band, a local band with members based in Lancaster, Berks and Chester counties, traveled to Nashville for the Josie Music Awards Oct. 22.

The annual awards show, established in 2015, highlights talents among independent musicians and bands. The awards are hosted by the Josie Network of Brands, run by mother-daughter team Josie and Tinamarie Passantino. The awards are judged by industry veterans with Grammy Awards and Country Music Awards to their own names.

This wasn’t the first time the Jess Zimmerman Band has attended the awards ceremony, hosted at legendary venue the Grand Ole Opry House. But it was the first time the Jess Zimmerman Band performed there.

“To stand in the circle on that stage and sing a song that we wrote as a band, where so many artists and women in country music have done before me, was probably the biggest dream come true in my career in music so far,” lead singer Jess Zimmerman, a Cocalico High School grad, says in an email.

The Jess Zimmerman Band performed “Countin’ Bottles” at the Grand Ole Opry from its latest album release, “Be the Light.” The 10-song album came out earlier in 2023.

The band was nominated for four Josie Music Awards and came home winning one — Country Rock Group of the Year.

The Jess Zimmerman Band is no stranger to awards: It has won plenty of Central Pennsylvania Music Awards, including best female vocalist, album of the year, best country band and entertainer of the year.

Locally, the band has made a name for itself performing at Mickey’s Black Box in Lititz, Phantom Power in Millersville and many local fairs.

Zimmerman credits her bandmates and her fans for the band being as successful as it is. She also nods to the younger Jess who knew it was all possible.

“Reading back through journals and notes, younger Jess was just as determined as I am now to make those dreams come true,” Zimmerman says.

Last year, the Jess Zimmerman Band took home the Country Rock Album of the Year award from the Josie Music Awards for their 2021 effort, “Breathe.”

“Walking out on the stage to perform was monumental,” Zimmerman says. “I can’t really explain it. I felt it through my soul that I am meant to be there.”

For more information on the Jess Zimmerman Band, and to find where it performs next, visit jzband.org.

Last year, the Jess Zimmerman Band stopped by the WITF Music studio. Check out their session here.