Waterloo-based band Katie and the Honky Tonks (KTHT) – which has extensive roots in Tama County – pictured at the 2025 Iowa Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Burlington at Memorial Auditorium. The band took home the gong for Country Artist of the Year. From left, Luke Sires, Katie Sires, Jesse Cotton, and Johnny Love. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BURLINGTON – Local classic country band Katie and the Honky Tonks (KTHT) – fronted by singer-songwriter Katie Sires, a Gladbrook native, and managed by her husband (and drummer) Luke Sires, a North Tama Class of 2002 alumnus – won big on Nov. 9 at the 4th annual Iowa Music Awards held in Burlington, taking home the 2025 Country Artist of the Year trophy.

“Totally unexpected. We are always the underdogs. We are traditional country music. We aren’t popular country. You won’t hear us on the radio unless it’s college radio. And that’s awesome we were still recognized,” Katie said, in part, during her acceptance speech on behalf of herself, Luke, and fellow bandmates Jesse Cotton and Johnny Love who, like Katie, both graduated from Gladbrook-Reinbeck in 2004.

This past June, Waterloo-based KTHT released its 11-track debut album “Ain’t No Shame” to a heaping portion of fanfare from across Iowa’s music press and beyond. In anticipation of the release, digital magazine Americana Highways wrote in March, “Sometimes escaping into a honky tonk dance is just exactly what you need to escape the rest of the world around you, and for this we prescribe Katie and the Honky Tonks.”

In the nearly five months since the album’s release, KTHT has filled long weekends – and much in-between – on the road, playing dozens of live shows by criss-crossing state lines but also by roaming close to home, including twice at Reinbeck’s The Dig Inn. The album’s tracks have been racking up the plays on Spotify as well with “Two Steppin’ In The Shower” approaching, as of press time, 12,500 streams; “No Clue” nearly 7,000 streams; and the trio of “Mind Your Business,” “Dancehall,” and “Slowdown Honey” also nearing 7,000 streams apiece.

Following the awards on Nov. 9, Luke told the newspaper “Two Steppin’,” “Women of Country Music,” “Honky Tonk in IOWA,” and “Mind Your Business” have garnered the most attention from audiences at their live shows this summer and fall. And despite all four members of KTHT working full-time jobs outside of the band, they’ve been spending time penning more songs in anticipation of releasing a second album, hopefully in 2026.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“Katie has tons of lyrics written,” Luke explained. “Nothing to music yet. Jesse has a ton of music written (too). We need to slow down to get a chance to put it all together! Hoping to write a bunch in December and January.”

The Iowa Music Awards were held at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, and, per the award show’s news release, celebrated “the state’s top talent across every genre and industry category.”

“The event was hosted by August Gonzalez and Grammy-considered artist Entre Luché, with performances that kept the crowd on their feet all night,” the release continued. “Tevin Jones & The Kickback Band set the mood during cocktail hour, followed by the National Anthem performed by Traci Von Krypt and opening remarks from Burlington City Manager Chad Bird, who welcomed guests and praised the impact of music on Iowa’s communities.”

The awards were founded by Cedar Rapids artist Antonio “Tone Da Boss” Chalmers. Chalmers is CEO of T1 Entertainment which produced the awards alongside The Big Bang Foundation, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit organization dedicated to youth empowerment through sports, music, and community service.

For those ready to honky tonk with the newly award-winning Katie and the Honky Tonks, their next local show is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Surly Steve’s in downtown Reinbeck. It’s a completely-free show that kicks off at 8 p.m. inside the bar which features a stage reminiscent of the famed Long Pond Recording Studio in upstate New York, made famous by Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” documentary.

Katie Sires, second from right, accepts the award for 2025 Country Artist of the Year at the 4th annual Iowa Music Awards held on Nov. 9 in Burlington. Also pictured, Katie’s husband/band manager/agent/drummer/biggest fan Luke Sires (far right), and bandmates Johnny Love (far left) and Jesse Cotton (second from left). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

For a full lineup of KTHT’s upcoming shows, visit katieandthehonkytonks.net/upcoming-shows.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S to Katie, Luke, Jesse, and Johnny on all your recent success! Making Iowa – and honky-tonk music – look and sound so very good!

2025 Iowa Music Award Winners

-Country Artist of the Year: Katie and the Honky Tonks

-Rock Band of the Year: Grave Corps

Singer-songwriter Katie Sires, center, of Katie and the Honky Tonks performs the audience-participatory chorus of her song “Honky Tonk in IOWA” off the band’s debut album “Ain’t No Shame” on July 17, 2025, at The Dig Inn in Reinbeck. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

-Pop Artist of the Year: Tevin Jones

-Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Ej Swavv

-Music Video of the Year: Hellfire Boulevard by Grave Corps

-Album of the Year (Traditional): A Garden to Keep by YOTE

-Album of the Year (Contemporary): The Prestige by Draft Pick

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-Alternative Artist of the Year: August Gonzalez

-Cover Band of the Year: Vibe

-Single of the Year: Ovation by Klazik

-DJ of the Year (Energy Wave Ent): Bo Diddley

-Female Vocalist of the Year: Jaianna

-Female Rapper of the Year: Soe Heartlesz

-R&B Artist of the Year: Entre Luché

-Breakout Artist of the Year: Chi Chi

-Lyricist of the Year: Killa Quey

-Christian Artist of the Year: Airyn Duffy

-Content Creator of the Year: 319 Kwon

-Videographer of the Year: Twenty Twenty

-Photographer of the Year: JMR Images

-Producer of the Year: The LayZ Otter

-Inspirational Song of the Year: Grateful by Jaianna

-Promoter of the Year: DJ Smiles

-Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year (Ill Team Six Presents): Rahlan Kay

-Collaboration of the Year: Trying Not To – Ej Swavv x Alicia Monéé

-Original Band of the Year: Loess Hills

-Lifetime Achievement Award: Carlos Capdevila

-Legacy Award: DJ Antbomb

-World Impact Award: James Rhodes

-Local Support DJ of the Year: Lady J

-Whiskey & Real Estate Presents: Cover Band of the Year: Vibe

-Karaoke DJ of the Year: Bee’s Knees Entertainment