Niagara Frontier Publications is reporting WWE star Mickie James will be inducted into the Native American Music Awards (N.A.M.A.) Hall of Fame during their 17th annual awards ceremony next week.
The Native American Music Awards issued the following release today:
WWE® SUPERSTAR MICKIE JAMES™
TO RECEIVE SPECIAL HONORS AT THE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL AWARDSMickie James To Be Inducted Into The N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame
October 2, 2017 – Niagara Falls, NY. The Native American Music Awards & Association is very proud to announce that WWE® Superstar & SMG Recording Artist Mickie James™ (Powhatan) will be inducted into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame during the 17th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA) ceremony on Saturday, October 14th at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
While growing up in Virginia, Mickie James, was a tomboy who always loved riding horses and the wrestling business. Mickie’s strong Powhatan ancestry tracing back to the Mattaponi reservation, is something she has always embraced throughout her career and still remains very proud of. Today, WWE® Superstar Mickie James™ or Mickie Laree James is internationally recognized in the world of professional wrestling. She is a six time Women’s champion. As a recording artist, she has released two full length albums and two singles and is widely known in the country music circuit. Her single entitled, “Shooting Blanks” released last November, has been nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Song of the Year. She has also just released a new single, “Get Down” which is currently impacting country radio and can be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and other online digital retailers.
In addition to her Hall of Fame induction, Mickie will be performing live at the Awards ceremony and will be joined by an A List of entertainers and musicians including; Josh Halverson (Sioux) from NBC’s The Voice, brother rappers Lil Mike & Funny Bone (Pawnee/Choctaw) from Americas Got Talent, Nahko of Nahko & Medicine for the People (Apache/Mohawk), Juno winners and GRAMMY nominees Northern Cree (Cree), the Village People’s Felipe Rose (Taino/Lakota), The Revenant actor, Arthur Redcloud (Navajo), actor/musician Gary Farmer (Cayuga) and former Miss Universe Ashley Callingbull (Cree).
“Devoted to bringing Indigenous music to the world’s consciousness” as credited by the New York Times, and cited as being “The Awards Show For Native American Entertainment” by Jeopardy TV, the Native American Music Awards is an ultimate celebration of music and entertainment. It was founded as the world’s first and largest national professional membership-based organization for the advancement & recognition of contemporary and traditional music initiatives by artists with Native American heritage.
The 17th Annual Native American Music Awards is hosted by the Seneca Nation of Indians (one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy) and will be held at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York on October 14th in the Seneca Events Center. Doors open at 7:00PM EST. The Awards ceremony will be preceded by a free Pre-Show Red Carpet Event on the Mezzanine starting at 6:00PM open to nominees, patrons, and the general public and will feature meet and greets with the evening’s featured entertainers & performers and live music performances by Seneca Nation bands; JJ White and Red Rhythm.
Tickets for the 17th Annual Native American Music Awards start at $15.00 and are available through Ticketmaster or by visiting the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino box office which is located at 310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (877) 873-6322.
Voting for the Native American Music Awards is open to the general public. Music tracks from all the nominees are featured on the audio players on www.NAMALIVE.com. Anyone can vote by visiting the Awards website VOTING page, or by clicking here.
A live webcast of the event will be available at http://www.singlefeathermedia.com/live
The awards ceremony is being held next Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. The NAMA also provided a biography for James upon releasing the announcement:
ABOUT THE HONOREE
WWE® Superstar MICKIE JAMES™ or Mickie Laree James (Powhatan) is internationally recognized in the world of professional wrestling. As a SMG Recording Artist, with two full length albums and two singles to her credit, she is also widely known in the country music circuit. Mickie, who is of Powhatan heritage from her maternal side, grew up in Virginia as a tomboy who loved riding horses, playing violin and dreamed of being in the wrestling ring performing for fans all over the world. By 2002, Mickie’s dream was realized when she debuted on the national stage for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) that following year. She made her on screen debut for WWE in 2005 and would go on to win her first Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 22 after a very memorable feud with Trish Stratus. She captured the Women’s Title five times and the Divas Title once for a total of six championships in the WWE. Mickie had achieved her goals which were to become the first woman to win WWE’s Women’s & Divas titles as well as TNA’s Knockouts Title. Not only did she do just that but she also went on to win TNA’s Knockouts Title three times. She has set a precedent and broken many barriers for women in the WWE.
Mickie has always had a passion for music and singing as well. While on the road with WWE, she would travel to Nashville on her days off to meet with producers, songwriters and vocal coaches to pursue her dream of recording a country music album. By the spring of 2010, Mickie released her first album entitled, Strangers and Angels. The first single released off the album was a fast paced, exciting track called “Are You With Me?” and the album featured Mickie’s incredible vocal range in her self-assured powerful manner. In May 2013, Mickie released her second album entitled, Somebody’s Gonna Pay through Entertainment One Music which debuted at #15 on Billboard’s Heatseekers charts. The album also featured the bonus track, “Hardcore Country,” which became Mickie’s TNA entrance song. Mickie also personally penned three of the songs off the album; “Best Damn Night,” “80 Proof” and the cover track, “Somebody’s Gonna Pay” in which the music video co-starred fellow professional wrestlers Trish Stratus and Magnus (Mickie’s husband Nick Aldis). Mickie released a new single in November of last year, “Shooting Blanks” which has been nominated by the Native American Music Awards for Song of the Year. She has also just released her second single, “Get Down” which is impacting country radio now and can be purchased through iTunes, Amazon and other online digital retailers.
Mickie’s recordings have been embraced by the Country music community and have received positive reviews from publications such as; Country Weekly and CMA Magazine. She has performed in concerts throughout the world and has shared the stage with other country artists such as; Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson and Randy Houser. Mickie has served as an incredible inspiration and role model for many artists as well as Native youth from across the country. Her world renowned reputation as a WWE Superstar, professional wrestler, country singer and entertainer undoubtedly warrants her place of prominence as an outstanding individual and honoree. The Native American Music Awards & Association is proud to honor Mickie James, and induct her into the N.A.M.A. Hall of Fame. Mickie will also be performing live at the Awards ceremony.
