The 5th annual Alabama Music Awards (AMAS) award show was held on Sunday, July 28, 2019 at the Bessemer Civic Center. This award show features Alabama’s musical talent and presents awards determined on a voting-basis to recognize the hard work of those who are a part of the states music industry. 

Tabitha Cooley, a senior majoring in early childhood elementary education, won the coveted BAMA Country Female Artist award. Cooley said she felt honored to even be nominated amongst so many other well-known artists in the state. Cooley is a local country artist who released her first EP titled “Tabitha Cooley It Was You” this past year.

“To me it means that what I feel and what I write and my music is able to influence people and make them feel good and make them feel happy and stuff like that,” Cooley said. “So that’s what the award kind of means to me, is that like through my music I’m able to help people.”

 Cooley said it was a “wow” moment for her to hear her name called as the winner of the BAMA Country female artist award. She said this moment allowed her to realize that people believe in her and support her.

“It was a wow moment for me because I was like, you know, ‘What I’m doing other people really love it too,’” Cooley said. “I enjoy it, being able to do it, but other people are enjoying it too.”

Cooley said the experience of the award show happened quickly. During the show, Cooley said she and her family were on the edge of their seats with excitement. 

“I don’t even remember walking onto the stage because I was just like ‘They called my name!’ like it was just so cool,” Cooley said.

Cooley said this win was a surprise all around for her and she immediately felt grateful to accept the award as it solidifies the hard work she has been putting in to create music. She is thankful to have the opportunity to move people with her music. 

“I just think just because so many people don’t know what their gift is, they don’t know what they were put on this world for, they don’t know their kind of loss, but I know that I’m so thankful that my gift is music and I’m able to move people because that was the gift that God gave me,” Cooley said.

Cooley is looking forward to continue to share her heart with others, write new songs, play at new places and meet new people. Cooley plans to keep doing what she is doing and is hopeful for her future as she is ready to see what is in store for her.

“First of all, being nominated at all is something so great, but to actually have the award and just to see it and be like ‘I actually did that’ its like wow that makes me want to do the best that I can because people really enjoy it,” Cooley said. “Why stop now?” Cooley said.

Cooley has received support and positivity from her family and friends since she began her journey with music as a child. Their continuous encouragement does not go unnoticed and she is thankful for each of them.

“I would like to thank my just family as a whole and my friends because both my family and friends know more than anything how much music is a part of my life and how much work it takes and how much time and effort goes into it,” Cooley said. 

Along with Cooley sending appreciation to her family and friends, she would also like to thank many others.

“I made a Facebook post to make sure that I was able to thank everybody because if nobody would have voted then it wouldn’t have been possible,” Cooley said. “So for sure all the people that voted are who get all of the credit, I’m just a singer.”

Cooley’s EP “Tabitha Cooley It Was You” is available on all online music platforms. Follow her Facebook pages: Tabitha Cooley Music and Tab & The Mojo for updates on upcoming events.

Click here to visit Tabitha Cooley’s website.