Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the below article contains names of people who have died.
Beloved Australian singer Jessica Mauboy has been inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) Hall of Fame. It’s another achievement in a year that’s already seen the talented multihyphenate launch beauty brand Desert Rose, and give birth to her first child, Mia, with husband Themeli Magripilis.
“These past three years have been really special,” Jess told The Weekly in an interview earlier this year.
And that was before her Hall of Fame induction, and the release of her latest single, a gorgeous, heartfelt ballad called ‘While I Got Time’.
Jessica Mauboy launches record label
“I wrote it [‘While I Got Time’] during a moment where I was thinking about what I want to leave behind, and what I want to lean into while I’m still here,” Jess Mauboy wrote on Instagram. “It’s about letting go of the past with grace, honouring where I’ve been, and stepping into the unknown with open arms. Cherish the moments in life all the big and small, while we got time.”
If dropping her first independently-released single wasn’t accomplishment enough, Jess released the song through her new independent record label, Jamally, launched in partnership with distribution company DistroDirect. In a statement, Jess said:
“This is the start of a new chapter for me – not just as a singer or performer, but as a storyteller and businesswoman too. It lets me work with people I trust and chase what lights me up.”
Jess was previously signed to Warner Music Australia, who she launched the album Yours Forever with. She had left Sony Music to sign with Warner, and spoke about the reason behind her surprise decision in an exclusive interview with The Weekly’s Editor, Sophie Tedmanson, back in 2024.
During a performance of her new single on Sunrise, Jessica teared up. She explained to the hosts that motherhood had changed the way she approaches her music and revealed she is writing lullabies for her little one.
“It’s so magical, I always dreamed of this, and wanted this for myself. I have a big family. I love music and music is my baby too, and having her be a part of it, it has been magic.”
‘While I Got Time’ has already made a mark in the Australian cultural landscape. Jess’s single was chosen to soundtrack advertisements for the emotional departure of Home and Away stalwart and 2025 Gold Logie winner Lynne McGranger from the show, who farewelled her character Irene Roberts after 33 years.
“She’s been a part of all of our lives, she’s been like an aunty,” Jessica said about Lynne’s departure from the show and her song being used in the history-making TV moment.
Jessica Mauboy inducted into the Hall of Fame
Jess Mauboy, a proud Kuku Yalanji and Wakaman woman, was honoured at the 2025 NIMAs for her extraordinary career and impact on the Australian music and cultural scene.
Jess got her start on season four of Australian Idol, where she came runner-up. Since then she’s released several albums, performed at the Eurovision Song Contest, been a judge on The Voice Australia, appeared in TV and films, and sung anthem ‘Higher’ for the Paris Olympics. She’s also had multiple albums and songs hit the ARIA charts.
At the NIMAs, Jess was also up for Artist of the Year (it was won by Warnindhilyagwa singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara). Additionally, the 3% song Won’t Stop, which she lent her vocals to, was nominated for Film Clip of the Year as well as Song of the Year.
Previous inductees into the NIMA Hall of Fame include Jimmy Little, Ruby Hunter, Archie Roach, Tiddas, No Fixed Address, Yothu Yindi and Gurrumul.
What are the National Indigenous Music Awards?
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) are an annual awards night which celebrates Indigenous Australian music and achievements of First Nations musicians. This year is the 21st anniversary of the NIMAs, with the event taking place at the Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia Country.
Jess performed her new single, ‘While I Got Time’, live for the first time at the NIMAs. Other artists performing on the night included Troy Cassar-Daley, Emma Donovan, and BARKAA, who Jess collaborated with this year for a cover of Yothu Yindi’s ‘World Turning’.
