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40-time Golden Guitar winner Troy Cassar-Daley is the most nominated artist for the 2025 Golden Guitar Awards, with a total of 6 nominations. Michael Waugh has a tally of 5 nominations while Colin Buchanan, James Johnston, Kasey Chambers, Kingswood and Lee Kernaghan have all received 4 nominations.
It’s been a big year for Australia’s country music industry with established and emerging talent producing new music and official music videos, as well as touring right across the nation and beyond. There were more than 650 entries for the prestigious 2025 Golden Guitar Awards, which will be announced on January 25, during the Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Tamworth Regional Council, with the support of the Country Music Association of Australia Inc (CMAA), are pleased to announce the nominees.
Australia’s most successful Golden Guitar Award recipient, Troy Cassar-Daley, is the most nominated artist this year, boasting 6 nominations. This includes Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year for his latest album Between The Fires. His song Let’s Ride is up for Single 
of the Year, Some Days, written in collaboration with Kevin Bennett is in the running for Song of the Year, while Windradyne is nominated for Heritage Song of the Year. Troy is also a nominee for Male Artist of the Year.
Revered songwriter and performer Michael Waugh has been nominated in 5 categories including Male Artist of the Year, Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year for Beauty &amp; Truth produced by Shane Nicholson, Heritage Song of the Year for Father’s Day and Vocal 
Collaboration with Colin Buchanan for their song Sing Me The Land.
Several artists are heading into the 2025 Awards with 4 nominations, including Colin Buchanan, James Johnston, Kasey Chambers, Kingswood and Lee Kernaghan.
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer, Mr. Peter Ross says this year’s list of nominees is a true reflection on the diversity of Australia’s country music industry.
&#8220;The 2025 awards will recognise the hard work and creativity of artists right across the nation. Today’s celebration in Sydney has been an exciting snippet of what is to come in January. On behalf of Tamworth Regional Council, I would like to congratulate all the nominees in the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards.&#8221; Peter said.
2018 Roll of Renown Inductee and 24-time Golden Guitar Winner Kasey Chambers is a nominee in 4 categories including Heritage Song of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year and CMT Video of the Year for her song Backbone (The Desert Child).
2023 Roll of Renown Inductee and 9-time Golden Guitar Winner Colin Buchanan is in the running for 4 Awards, with his latest album Memory Town nominated for Traditional Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year. He’s also up for Bush Ballad of the Year for his track Laura &amp; Giselle, while Sing Me The Land is nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
In 2023 ARIA nominated band Kingswood spent 8 weeks in the #1 spot on the ARIA’s Australian Country Charts. Their latest album, The Tale of G.C. Townes has landed them 4 nominations including Traditional Country Album of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year. Their track Tell Me A Story is nominated for Bluegrass Recording of the Year and their song Jet is a contender for Instrumental of the Year.
More than 150 people including nominated artists and industry representatives gathered at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney today for the announcement of 103 nominees, held by 50 artists across 16 categories. The exclusive industry event was hosted by 2024 New Talent of the Year recipient and Tamworth Country Music Festival Ambassador Max Jackson and two-time Golden Guitar winner James Johnston. The pair will also host the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards ceremony in January.
James Johnston has received 4 nominations alongside Lee Kernaghan, including Vocal Collaboration of the Year, Song of the Year, CMT Video of the Year and Single of the Year for their song Who I Am.
Max Jackson was announced as a nominee in 3 categories including Female Artist of the Year, CMT Video of the Year and Single of the Year for her single Little More Country.
Eight other artists have also accomplished 3 nominations including Andy Penkow, Ashleigh Dallas, Casey Barnes, Kristy Cox, Michael Carpenter &amp; The Banks Brothers, Taylor Moss, Tori Forsyth and The Wolfe Brothers. 
Recently hitting #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart, Adam Harvey is a nominee in 2 categories. Dual nominations also went to Andy Golledge, Graeme Connors, who last week was announced the 2024 CMAA Achiever Awards Legacy Songwriter, Henry Wagons, Jayne Denham, Kelly Dixon, Lane Pittman, Raechel Whitchurch, William Alexander, Zac &amp; George and 2024 Female Artist of the Year Kaylee Bell.
There were 22 artists with single nominations including 2024 Toyota Star Maker Wade Forster, Denvah and Dylan Wright in the New Talent of the Year category, Abbie Ferris, Allan Caswell who last week was announced the 2024 CMAA Achiever Awards Songwriter of the Year, Amber Lawrence, Andrew Swift, Angus Gill, Brendan Radford, Brooke McClymont &amp; Adam Eckersley, Darlinghurst, Dean Perrett, Hamish Davidson, John Williamson, Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes, Lindsay Waddington, Luke O&#8217;Shea, Phil Doublet, Small Town Romance, The Bushwackers, The High Street Drifters and The Pleasures.
Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) Chairman Dobe Newton says the awards celebrate and recognise esteemed artists, writers, musicians, performers, and their creativity.
&#8220;We are particularly pleased with the depth and diversity of this year’s line-up. The results highlight both first-time contributors and young achievers such as Tamworth-based 18-year-old Lane Pittman, alongside some of our most experienced and enduring talents, including 97-year-old song writing legend Kelly Dixon of Slim Dusty’s Leave Him In The Longyard fame.
The CMAA congratulates all those named today and extends its gratitude to each entrant in the awards, who contributed to a highly competitive field.&#8221; Dobe said.
Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, shared his excitement for the 2025 nominees, calling them a standout lineup of Australian country music talent.
&#8220;We’re thrilled to support Australia’s iconic country music awards, celebrating the heart and soul of this vibrant community. The country music community feels like family and the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards brings together the finest from all corners of the country.
We look forward to witnessing all the exceptional winners in January; here’s wishing all the nominees the best for this year’s incredible event!&#8221; Sean said.
Today’s nominee’s announcement was also livestreamed to audiences across the country and overseas.
Tamworth Regional Council will present the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards live on Saturday, 25 January 2025, from Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre and livestreamed via the <a href="https://www.tcmf.com.au/live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Festival website</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tamworthcountrymusicfestival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook page</a>.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards, including the announcement of the 2025 musical performances and special guests at <a href="https://www.tcmf.com.au/awards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.tcmf.com.au/awards</a>.
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Tamworth Regional Council and the CMAA wish all this year’s entrants the best of luck and look forward to welcoming artists, musicians, songwriters and fans back to the country music capital in 2025, to celebrate excellence in Australasian country music.
To purchase tickets and keep up-to-date on the 2025 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, visit <a href="https://www.tcmf.com.au/awards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Golden Guitar Awards</a>.