Cherokee and Osage native Ava Rose Johnson, a former student at Eufaula Public Schools, has been invited to join the Recording Academy/ GRAMMYs 2025 New Member Class. Only an approximate 3,600 creators and industry professionals worldwide received a membership invitation. Johnson received three nominations for the new member class.
As a voting member, she will now have a voice in the GRAMMY Awards process. She will also have the opportunity to teach and participate in all the things that the Recording Academy is involved in.
“It’s definitely an honor. I mean, all my hard work and dedication has really paid off for me and I give all the glory to God. None of this would be possible without God,” Johnson, a senior at Keota, said.
As of July 15, her song “Oklahoma Sky” is number 1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. She co-wrote the song with her producer Billy Dawson and Kelli Johnson.
She is currently preparing to travel to Canada to participate in a one-hour radio interview with a FM radio station in Montreal on Monday, July 21.
Johnson started singing when she was 4 as she watched her sister Zana Johnson Ebenga sing in Branson MO, and she asked if she could be a background dancer. Her first song was “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and she performed at Disney World, Disney Land, the Grand Ole Opry, Good Morning America and Channel Six News.
Of the five original songs Johnson has written, four of them have made it in the top 10 of the Sirius XM Radio Indigenous Music Countdown. The one that did not make the top 10 was the song she won a Native American Music Award with when she became the youngest (12 years old) ever to be nominated and win at the Native American Music Awards.
In 2022, she was named the Best Female Artist of the Year at the 20th Annual Native American Music Awards for her song “There’s a Boy”.
“How I write songs is definitely what goes on in my life. I want it to be true. I don’t want it to be fake. So any situation that really impacted me. That’s what I write about, and I know that some of the things that I go through people can relate to. So, I want to be able to have that platform for people to be able to relate to the songs that I make. So, I want them to be heartfelt,” Johnson said.
Just this year, she has performed the National Anthem at multiple Oklahoma City Thunder games, the NCAA Women’s College World Series and the Oklahoma Basketball State Tournament. It was her sixth consecutive year to sing the National Anthem at Jim Norick Arena “The Big House” in Oklahoma City.
She plays basketball at Kinta. Immediately after singing at the Women’s College World Series she drove to Cache to compete in a basketball team camp.
“I can balance it pretty well. Last year, I only had one B and the rest were A’s. So, my school work is perfect. For basketball, I pretty much just juggle it. If I have a basketball camp throughout the week and I sing on Monday, then I’ll go Monday, but I’ll go straight to basketball camp the next day or the same day. So, I juggle that pretty well,” Johnson said.
She stated that the amazing community of Kinta always reminds her of how loving the town is. Her family has always supported Johnson by going above and beyond. Without her Mom and Dad and the rest of her family, she says her music career wouldn’t be where it is today.
Johnson is scheduled to graduate high school in May. After graduation she plans to attend college to pursue a career in music but also pursue a career in real estate and eventually become a broker.
To follow along with Johnson’s journey, go to Ava Rose Johnson music on Facebook, Instagram or X. Her songs are available on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
