Awards and Recognitions

2011

Shemekia Copeland Day Proclamation:

In addition, the city of Chicago, state of Illinois, and Joyce “Cookie” Threatt, daughter Koko Taylor, surprised Shemekia onstage with her mother’s tiara, and crowned her “The new Queen of the Blues” at the Chicago Blues Festival.  In addition to the 100,000 cheering fans in attendance, special guests to view the presentation included Shemekia’s manager John Hahn, Marie Dixon, widow of Willie; Jimmy Ree’s daughter Rose, and Alligator Records CEO Bruce Iglauer.   Read the full story here.

2010

Blues Blast Music Awards:
- Best Female Blues Artist

Living Blues Reader Award:
- Female Blues Artist of the Year

2009

57th Annual “DownBeat” Critics Poll:
- “Rising Star – Blues Artist”

2007

Blues Music Award Nominations:
(formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Awards)
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year

2006

Living Blues Reader Award:
- Female Blues Artist of the Year

Blues Music Award Nominations:
(formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Awards)
- Contemporary Blues Album of the Year – The Soul Truth
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
- Song of the Year “Who Stole My Radio?”, written by John Hahn & Joe Hudson, performed by Shemekia Copeland, The Soul Truth

2005

53rd Annual “DownBeat” Critics Poll:
- “Rising Star – Blues Artist”

26th Annual W.C. Handy Award Nomination:
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year

2004

25th W.C. Handy Award Nominations:
- Blues Entertainer of the Year
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year

2003

Living Blues Reader Award:
- Best Female Blues Singer

24th Annual W. C. Handy Nominations and Awards:
- Blues Album of the Year – Talking To Strangers (award)
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year (award)
- Contemporary Blues Album of the Year – Talking To Strangers (award)
- Blues Band of the Year (nomination)
- Blues Entertainer of the Year (nomination)

Living Blues Reader’s Poll:
- Best Blues Artist (Female)

23rd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Nominations and Award:
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year (award)
- Entertainer of the Year (nomination)

2001

- Grammy Nomination, “Wicked”

22nd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Nominations and Awards:
- Blues Album of the Year -Wicked (award)
- Blues Entertainer of the Year (nomination)
- Blues Song of the Year – R. Vito, It’s 2 AM – Wicked (award)
- Contemporary Blues Album of the Year – Wicked (nomination)
- Contemporary Blues-Female Artist of the Year (award)

Downbeat Critic’s Poll:
- Blues Artist: Talent Deserving Wider Recognition

Living Blues Reader’s Poll:
- Female Artist Of The Year

Living Blues Critics’ Awards:
- Best Blues Artist (Female)

2000

Grammy nomination, “Wicked”

21nd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Nominations:
- Blues Entertainer of the Year
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year

1999

20th Annual W.C. Handy Blues Nominations:
- Best New Blues Artist
- Blues Song of the Year-Song title and writer “Turn the Heat Up” by John Hahn and Jimmy Vivino (Shemekia Copeland/Turn the Heat Up)
- Contemporary Blues Album of the Year -Turn the Heat Up
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year