The Golden Guitar Awards, Australia’s longest-running music honors, have solidified their place as a cultural cornerstone since their inception in 1973 as the Australasian Country Music Awards. As the highlight of the Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival, the awards are regarded as the pinnacle of Australian country music.
In 2025, the awards will be co-hosted by two rising stars in Australian country music, James Johnston and Max Jackson, both former winners of the Best New Talent category in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
This year, both Johnston and Jackson are among the nominees. Johnston’s collaboration with Lee Kernaghan, Who I Am, has earned four nominations, including Single of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Vocal Collaboration of the Year, and Song of the Year. Meanwhile, Jackson has three nominations for Little More Country (Single of the Year, CMT Video of the Year) and Female Artist of the Year.
Troy Cassar-Daley leads the 2025 nomination tally with six nods, while Kasey Chambers and Kingswood each have four. Other artists, including The Wolfe Brothers, Michael Carpenter & the Banks Brothers, and Casey Barnes, have garnered three nominations each.
Reflecting on the honor of co-hosting, James Johnston shared his connection to the awards and Tamworth in an interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ:
“Co-hosting the Golden Guitar Awards is another full-circle moment for me. I grew up attending the festival every year as part of our family holiday. I’d busk on the streets while we stayed in a little shack, and I have so many amazing memories of Tamworth.
“One of the things that stood out to me was seeing the flags along the main street with artists’ names. The day I got my first flag was a huge accomplishment, and winning my first Golden Guitar for Best New Talent two years ago was incredible. Now, to be hosting the awards—it feels pretty special.”
More than an awards ceremony, the Golden Guitar Awards is a celebration of the rich and diverse landscape of Australian country music. The event honors the hard work of musicians, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals within a star-studded concert atmosphere that highlights the genre’s vibrancy and cultural significance.
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