• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Indiana University IU

Open Search
  • About
    • History
    • Stories
  • Awards
    • University
      • Honorary Degrees
      • University Medal
      • Bicentennial Medal
    • Presidential
      • President’s Medal for Excellence
      • Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion
      • Distinguished Service Medal
    • Research & Creative Activity
      • Nobel Prize
      • National Academies
      • International Academies
      • MacArthur Fellowship
      • Pulitzer Prize
      • Guggenheim Fellowship
      • Fulbright Award
      • Andrew Carnegie Fellowship
      • Distinguished Professors
      • Titled Professors
      • Wylie Innovation Catalyst Medal
      • The Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers
    • Artistic & Performance
      • Emmy
      • Grammy
      • Oscar
      • Tony
    • Teaching
      • Frederic Bachman Lieber Memorial Award
      • Herman Frederic Lieber Memorial Award
      • President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching
      • Sylvia E. Bowman Award
      • Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award
      • President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Technology
      • Part-Time Teaching Award
      • Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award
    • Service
      • Chancellor and Provost Medallion
      • Distinguished International Service Award
      • John W. Ryan Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Programs and Studies
      • E. Ross Bartley Award
      • W. George Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service
    • Historical
      • Bridging the Visibility Gap Initiative
      • IU Historical Marker Program
    • Student
      • Rhodes Scholarship
      • Marshall Scholarship
      • Mitchell Scholarship
      • Churchill Scholarship
      • Gates Cambridge Scholarship
      • Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad
      • Fulbright IIE
      • Goldwater Scholarship
      • Truman Scholarship
      • Boren Scholarship and Fellowship
      • Beinecke Scholarship
      • Udall Scholarship
      • Wells Senior Recognition Award
      • Stahr Distinguished Senior Award
      • Kate Hevner Mueller Outstanding Senior Award
    • Athletic
      • Olympians
      • IU Bloomington Athletics Hall of Fame
      • IUPUI Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame
      • Z.G. Clevenger Award
      • Leanne Grotke Award
      • Bill Orwig Award
    • Alumni
      • University Alumni Awards
      • Campus Alumni Awards
      • School Alumni Awards
    • Philanthropy
      • Partners in Philanthropy Award
      • Presidents Circle Laurel Pin
      • Indiana University Indianapolis Spirit of Philanthropy Award
      • IU Foundation President’s Medallion
  • Nominations
    • Teaching Awards
    • Service Awards
      • John W. Ryan Award
      • W. George Pinnell Award
    • Research and Creative Activity Awards
  • Events
    • Distinguished Professors Symposium
    • National Academies Events
    • Guggenheim Fellowship Events
    • Celebration of Teaching and Service Events
  • Search Awards
  • Contact Us

University Honors & Awards

  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Stories
  • Awards
    • University
    • Presidential
    • Research & Creative Activity
    • Artistic & Performance
    • Teaching
    • Service
    • Historical
    • Student
    • Athletic
    • Alumni
    • Philanthropy
  • Nominations
    • Teaching Awards
    • Service Awards
    • Research and Creative Activity Awards
  • Events
    • Distinguished Professors Symposium
    • National Academies Events
    • Guggenheim Fellowship Events
    • Celebration of Teaching and Service Events
  • Search
  • Search Awards
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Awards

Jamie O'Hara

* Deceased

Jamie O'Hara

Awards

Grammy Award - 1986
Best Country Song
Performance: "Grandpa (Tell Me About the Good Old Days)"

About Jamie O'Hara

Singer-songwriter Jamie O’Hara was born on August 18, 1950, in Toledo, Ohio. O’Hara, an athlete, was a star during his high school years and went on to play football at Indiana University. While playing for IU, he was a letter winner in 1969, 1970, and 1971. While he aspired to make a career in the NFL, an injury ended those plans and he took up the guitar and discovered his true calling.

In 1975, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career in music. He was signed almost immediately to a publishing contract but worked a myriad of jobs for around five years before making his living as a professional songwriter. Over the years, he has received numerous awards, and several Grammy and CMA nominations. The 1986 Grammy for Best Country Song went to this song “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” performed by The Judds.

In 1985, Jamie began co-writing with friend and fellow songwriter, Kieran Kane – a collaboration that led to their recording and performing together as “The O’Kanes.” The O’Kanes were instrumental in bringing about the Alternative Country/Americana movement, which brought into prominence not only the O’Kanes but a number of other innovative acts. The group released three critically-acclaimed albums filled with a number of hit songs, all written, produced and performed by the duo before splitting up.

Jamie returned to solo songwriting, and his first solo album, “Rise Above It”, on RCA, was a commercial success. He had a second album release in 2001 entitled “Beautiful Obsession.”

He has written songs for many leading artists including Tim McGraw, Tammy Wynette, Josh Turner, The Judds, Tricia Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, and more.

O’Hara died on January 7, 2021, after a long battle with cancer at the age of 70.

  • University
  • Presidential
  • Research & Creative Activity
  • Artistic & Performance
  • Teaching
  • Service
  • Historical
  • Student
  • Athletic
  • Alumni
  • Philanthropy
  • Office of the President

Indiana University

Accessibility | College Scorecard | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University