ANDERSON — Area resident Steve Wallace won a 2023 Songwriter Achievement Of The Year for his song “Just Like Islands,” which he co-wrote with Hanna and Abby Wilson, during Josie Music Awards Gala at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on Oct.21.

Other songs he co-wrote with Hanna and Abby Wilson and were nominated for this category were “You’re Someone Special To Me”, ‘Settin Myself on Fire” and “Anderson Speedway.”

“Anderson Speedway” can also be heard on www.jmaradio.net.

Wallace also won this category at last years JMA awards for his song “Heidi,” which you can hear on jma radio.

Wallace has been writing songs and poetry for more than 40 years while battling CNS, a degenerative disease of the basal ganglia of the brain which affects his muscles and speech.

“I enjoy writing songs and enjoy writing with Hanna and Abby Wilson,” Wallace said. “They are great writers and enjoy writing.”

On Oct. 22, the Grand Ole Opry House played host to a music award ceremony for the independent music industry, the ninth annual Josie Music Awards.

Each year, the award show brings thousands of attendees to Music City. The all-genre music ceremony awarded 134 awards, celebrating a wide variety of independent musicians.