The Star, TV Host, and Recording Academy Member Is Recognized as a Complete Artist — On Stage, Behind the Mic, and Behind the Camera
NEW YORK, NY — May 2026 — Quinn Lemley has spent a career pulling back the curtain on what it takes to command a stage. Now, the industry is pulling back the curtain on her. Lemley has been nominated for Tribute Artist of the Year at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards, with the ceremony set for September 20, 2026, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.
The nomination centers on Lemley’s transformative work in Rita Hayworth: The Heat Is On! — a show she has performed and evolved for more than a quarter of a century. Written and directed by Carter Inskeep, the production takes audiences inside the life of Hollywood’s original Love Goddess: 20 timeless songs, stunning costume changes by Broadway designer Wendall Goings, handcrafted shoes by Michael Troy Brown, and a script that has grown sharper and more emotionally resonant with every iteration. Backed by an 11-piece big band with arrangements by Tedd Firth, the show journeys from Hayworth’s rise in Gilda to her turbulent love affairs with Orson Welles, Prince Aly Khan, and Howard Hughes — and ultimately to the heartbreaking toll of early onset Alzheimer’s. The New York Times has called Lemley “dazzling… with one show-stopping number after another.” The New York Post declared, “You don’t even have to squint your eyes to see Rita’s in the room.”
But Lemley’s mastery of the stage has never been hers alone to keep. As host and executive producer of Secrets of the Stage — airing every Sunday at 7:30 PM EST on Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s MNN.org — Lemley interviews artists, entrepreneurs, and creators to uncover the process behind the performance. The show, produced through her QuinnEssential Productions and also available as a podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, has featured conversations with cultural figures ranging from the President of the Times Square Alliance to internationally acclaimed performers, philanthropists, and innovators. It is the work of someone who understands that the secrets of the stage are not tricks — they are hard-won truths, and they deserve to be shared.
The Josie nomination arrives at the peak of a remarkable run. In 2025, Lemley 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® Award consideration. Her companion album Rita Hayworth Revealed — featuring 11-piece orchestra arrangements of the songs that defined Hayworth’s film career, with arrangements by Tedd Firth — is now available worldwide and was submitted for Grammy® consideration for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Beyond the Rita Hayworth franchise, Lemley fronts the hit touring production Burlesque to Broadway, performs internationally with her jazz quintet, and holds the distinction of serving as the iconic face of The Half Note jazz club in Athens, Greece. As a co-director and producer, she has helmed critically acclaimed concert productions including Rebel Rebel: The Many Lives of David Bowie, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Wall, and The Ultimate Queen Celebration. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah, and as a finalist on ABC’s Shark Tank.
The Josie Music Awards, recognized as the largest independent music awards show globally, will also honor Tony Orlando with its Icon Award at this year’s ceremony. The 12th Annual show takes place September 20, 2026, at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville.
The official website for Quinn Lemley may be found at https://www.quinnlemley.com