Pocatello’s Aaron Ball Band earns Song of the Year honors in Nashville
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POCATELLO — Pocatello’s own Aaron Ball Band has won Song of the Year for “Jesus Saves” in the Americana/Multi-Genre Infused category at the 2026 Josie Music Awards in Nashville.
The honor was announced Sunday during the awards ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House, where “Jesus Saves” competed against more than a dozen other songs by independent artists.
The Josie Music Awards recognize independent artists, songwriters, musicians, and music industry professionals worldwide and drew more than 101,000 submissions.
Aaron Ball Band consists of lead singer and guitarist Aaron Ball, keyboardist and backup vocalist David Bowman and drummer and backup vocalist Jared Smith.
The group entered this year’s awards with several nominations. In addition to “Jesus Saves,” its self-titled album was nominated for Album of the Year in the Folk/Americana Duo/Group category, while Aaron Ball Band was also nominated for Fan’s Choice in the Duo/Group category.
“It’s nice when something good happens that you didn’t expect and weren’t seeking,” Ball said. “We’re just three musicians from Idaho and to be recognized in Nashville where it’s ‘all musicians all the time,’ is a big honor.”
For the three musicians, who spend much of their time on the road and away from the people they love, the award-winning song has a story that stretches from Idaho to Texas and began in the back of the band’s van.
As the band traveled south for a Texas tour, Ball noticed billboards along the highway carrying messages about Jesus and faith. At the same time, the long stretch of road had him thinking about home and the people he had left behind.
“Aaron was sitting in the back of the band’s van as we traveled through southern Colorado, across the Oklahoma Panhandle and into Texas. He pulled out his guitar and began playing as the miles rolled by,” Bowman said.
Somewhere along that highway, those thoughts of faith and home began coming together and the result was “Jesus Saves.”
Ball said he was still working out the song and strumming his guitar when his bandmates suddenly stopped talking and began listening.
“Then they said, ‘We need to start playing that song tonight!’ The song just happened. That’s how songwriting works,” Ball said.
Despite its title, the song is not a traditional gospel song. Its lyrics weave together faith, life on the road, love and the longing to return home.
For Ball, the message behind “Jesus Saves” also reflects something the three band members share.
“We are not a Christian band, but we are three people of faith,” he said. “And this song has a powerful message.”
“Jesus Saves” was recorded at Rigby Road Studios in Salt Lake City and mixed at Loudmouth Studios in Caldwell, Texas. The band brought the project back to Idaho to film its music video at Rupert, Idaho’s United Methodist Church.
The song attracted attention soon after its release with more than 40,000 YouTube views within its first two weeks.
The Nashville recognition comes during a busy year for Aaron Ball Band, which has continued touring while remaining active in eastern Idaho. The group recently performed at the Eastern Idaho State Fair and the Idaho Foodbank Music Festival in Pocatello and is preparing to head overseas for an international tour of Australia in October.
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The band says the award is not just a win for them, but also for their fans, family and friends who have supported their music over the years and believed in what they do.
“We are very proud of the music we write and are humbled when our songs touch people. Then, to have a song win an award in the music capital of the world, there are no words capable of showing our gratitude,” drummer Jared Smith said. “We are truly blessed to have the best fans in the world.”
The Josie Music Awards ceremony was filmed at the Grand Ole Opry House, with a broadcast date to be announced.
For Ball, Bowman and Smith, the award marks another milestone for a song that began with a guitar in the back of a van somewhere between Colorado and Texas and ultimately made its way to one of Nashville’s most famous stages.
For the latest on what’s happening with the Aaron Ball Band, follow them on Facebook.