Randall Franks, Wesley Crider & Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree Shine at the Josie Music Awards

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Above: Nominees Randall Franks (right) and Dale Houston (center) with Winner Lee Newton  

Randall Franks (right), Dawson Wright (left) and Wesley Crider pause in the lobby of the Grand Ole Opry House at the Josie Music Awards.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 11th Annual Josie Music Awards took place on November 2, 2025, at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, celebrating independent artists from around the world. Among the standout nominees were Ringgold, Georgia-based vocalist and fiddler Randall Franks, guitarist Wesley Crider, and members of Franks’ Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree—Dawson Wright, Caleb Lewis, and Ryan Stinson—who represented their community with pride on this prestigious night.

The group earned multiple nominations across various categories, showcasing their talent in Americana, folk, and instrumental music:

  • Randall Franks: Male Vocalist of the Year – Americana/Folk; Musician of the Year – Fiddle; Best Actor in a Music Video – The American’s Creed; Social Impact Video of the Year – The American’s Creed (with Wesley Crider).
  • Dawson Wright: Musician of the Year – Banjo.
  • Ryan Stinson: Musician of the Year – Piano.
  • Caleb Lewis: Musician of the Year – Guitar.

Franks, Crider, and Wright attended the event, walking the red carpet, participating in media interviews, and connecting with fellow nominees and winners.

Dawson Wright, Wesley Crider and Randall Franks interview on the Red Carpet with Bubba Startz at the Josie Music Awards.

Franks, best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s In the Heat of the Night, directed and starred in the film The American’s Creed, portraying his ancestor, Revolutionary Patriot Robert Shields. He is the reigning 2024 Josie Music Awards Musician of the Year – Fiddle. 

“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees,” Franks said. “We had a wonderful time cheering on fellow members of the JMA family as they received their awards.

“Many of my long-time friends took home a JMA,” he said. “While we did not bring home an award this year, according to the JMA, ‘there were 86,000 submissions this year so making it into the nominations was a huge feat!’ I congratulate Wesley, Dawson, Ryan and Caleb for that achievement and I am honored for the four JMAs for which I was nominated. Thanks to God for the blessings and the Josie Music Awards for including us!”

Crider, an internationally renowned finger-picking guitarist inspired by Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, co-wrote and performed the music for The American’s Creed with Franks, from which the nominated video was drawn. In addition to his performance career, he works weekly as a music therapist for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“It was an exciting time in Nashville at the Josies,” Crider said. “It is such a great opportunity for independent artists. I was blessed to be included.”

Spotlight on the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree Nominees

The other Musician of the Year nominees hailed from Franks’ Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

All three—Wright, Stinson, and Lewis—are Pearl and Floyd Franks Share America Scholars, highlighting the program’s role in nurturing young talent.

  • Dawson Wright, 19, a banjo nominee among seven global contenders, also plays guitar and sings. A Ringgold High School graduate with about seven years of experience, he frequently performs in the region.

“I am thankful I had the opportunity to be part of the awards. I couldn’t believe that I was nominated,” he said. “Going to the awards was amazing. I never gave an interview before so sharing about my love of music was an amazing experience.”

  • Ryan Stinson

    Ryan Stinson, a piano nominee among 10 contenders, is an entertainer and vocalist who performs concerts across the South, including in Pigeon Forge and Nashville theaters. Find him at Ryan Anthony Stinson Music on Facebook.

Caleb Lewis

“It means a lot for me to be nominated for this award,” Stinson said. “ I want to share a word of appreciation for my family – parents, grandparents and sister for all their help and encouragement.”

  • Caleb Lewis, a guitar nominee among 12 in his category, specializes in finger-style guitar and studied under Wesley Crider. He attended Providence Christian Academy in Ringgold and graduated from Chattanooga State.

“This is such an honor,” he said. “I want to thank God for giving me this amazing talent. I want to thank my family for always believing in me. Every lesson, every jam session, every rehearsal, every small gig built up to moments like these – this nomination is also my teacher’s – Wesley Crider.”

All three expressed gratitude to Franks for his encouragement and for providing a global platform for their music.

For more information about their music, visit www.RandallFranks.com or www.WesleyCrider.com. To learn more about the nominated video, visit www.RandallFranks.com/The-Americans-Creed/.

About the Share America Foundation, Inc.

The Share America Foundation, Inc. encourages youth in Appalachian Music and Arts through mentoring, special programs and providing the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarships. For more information, visit http://ShareAmericaFoundation.org.  

About the Josie Music Awards

The Josie Music Awards honor independent artists across genres, with the mission to honor, recognize and reward excellence, outstanding talents, and remain focused on creativity across the independent music industry. For details, visit www.JosieMusicAwards.com.