53rd Country Music Awards of Australia
Toyota 2025 Golden Guitar Awards WINNERS
2025 TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
BETWEEN THE FIRES: Troy Cassar-Daley; Producers:
Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff McCormack, Jordan Power
Alt Country Album of the Year: BETWEEN THE FIRES Troy Cassar-Daley | Producers: Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff McCormack, Jordan
Power
Contemporary Country Album of the Year: MAYDAY Casey Barnes | Producers: Michael DeLorenzis & Michael Paynter,
MSquared
Traditional Country Album of the Year: SETTING SUNS Ashleigh Dallas | Producer: Brett Dallas
Male Artist of the Year: TROY CASSAR-DALEY
Female Artist of the Year: MAX JACKSON
Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year: ZAC & GEORGE
Vocal Collaboration of the Year: BEER IN A BAR The Wolfe Brothers & Kaylee Bell
Bush Ballad of the Year: LAURA & GISELLE Colin Buchanan | Songwriter: Colin Buchanan
Heritage Song of the Year: WINDRADYNE Troy
Cassar-Daley | Songwriter: Troy Cassar-Daley
Instrumental of the Year: THE RED CENTRE Lindsay Waddington feat Brendan Radford
Bluegrass Recording of the Year: LET IT BURN Kristy Cox
New Talent of the Year: LANE PITTMAN
Song of the Year: SOME DAYS Troy
Cassar-Daley | Songwriters: Troy Cassar-Daley & Kevin Bennett
CMT Video of the Year: DHARAWAL Luke O’Shea
| Director: Luke O’Shea & Jay Seeney, Blacklist Productions
Single of the Year: LITTLE MORE COUNTRY Max Jackson
Top Selling Album of the Year: HIGH Keith Urban
**Troy Cassar-Daley takes home multiple Golden Guitar Awards including 2025 Toyota Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year**
**2021 Toyota Star Maker Max Jackson named Female Artist of the Year and wins Single of the Year**
**19-year-old Lane Pittman takes home first Golden Guitar Award with New Talent of the Year**
The
pinnacle of Australian country music, the 53rd Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, was
celebrated this evening in Tamworth, NSW honouring top artists and emerging
stars within the industry.
Troy Cassar-Daley won multiple awards this evening, picking up the 2025 Toyota Album of the Year Award and Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year, with his coveted 2024 album Between The Fires, which was produced by Matt Simpson and co-produced by Troy Cassar-Daley.
Cassar-Daley was also named Male Artist of the
Year for 2025, keeping his title as the most
awarded country music artist in Australia, now boasting an incredible 45 Golden
Guitar Awards.
Guests
were treated to a moving performance by Cassar-Daley of
his hit song Some Days, which was awarded Song of the Year. While Windradyne was
recognised as Heritage Song of the Year.
Tim
Easey, Dealer Principal, Tamworth City Toyota attended the awards on behalf of
Toyota Australia and extended congratulations to all the winners and nominees
of the 2025 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards for their outstanding musical
accomplishments and significant contributions to the country music industry.
"For
33 years, Toyota Australia has proudly supported the Tamworth Country Music
Festival, which each year celebrates the heart and soul of the vibrant country
music scene,” he said.
“The dedication and passion of these artists is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to be a part of an event that showcases such incredible talent that defines the Australian country music industry.”
2022 Toyota Star Maker and Tamworth Country Music Festival Ambassador, Max Jackson, took home two trophies while hosting the evening, taking home Female Artist of the Year while her hit song A Little More Country won Single of the Year, which she also performed during the evening.
19-year-old
former Tamworth
local Lane
Pittman received his first ever Golden Guitar award taking
home New Talent of the Year. Lane was unable to attend the
awards due to supporting Luke Combs in Brisbane during the Australia and New
Zealand tour.
Lane
started 2024 with his first Golden Guitar Nomination in January and shortly
released his debut self-titled EP moments before performing in front of
thousands at CMC Rocks in March.
The
six track EP secured the #1 spot in ARIAs Top 20 Australian Country Albums, #14
ARIA Top 50 Country Albums and #8 ARIA Australian Album Chart and has recently
re-entered the Top 10 AIR Album charts.
The
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards is Australia’s longest running music awards
program, now in its 53rd year, and is presented annually by
Tamworth Regional Council and the Country Music Association of Australia
(CMAA).
Former
Toyota Star Maker and one of the world’s most celebrated and well-respected
musicians, Keith Urban, attended the evening to accept his
induction into the prestigious Australian Country Music Roll of Renown honour,
which recognises extraordinary creative contributions to the Australian country
music industry.
Urban
also picked up 2025 Golden Guitar Award for top-selling Australian Album
for 2024 for HIGH.
Urban
has become a global icon with an awe-inspiring list of accolades to his name
including four GRAMMY© Awards, thirteen CMAs, (two for Entertainer of the
Year), fifteen ACMs, three AMAs, 6 ARIA Awards and 15 Golden Guitar Awards.
The
night also featured 14 performances from this year’s top nominees and winners.
Watch the awards show here:
Chairman
of the Country Music Association of Australia, Mr. Dobe Newton said: “On behalf
of the Board of the Country Music Association of Australia, I would like to
congratulate tonight’s winners, nominees and everyone who brought the Toyota
53rd Golden Guitar Awards show to life.”
The
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are the only industry affiliated country music
awards in Australia and the greatest celebration of Australian country music
talent. The awards are the pinnacle event on the Australian country music
calendar and are presented live by Tamworth Regional Council and the Country
Music Association of Australia.
**Felicity
Kircher named 45th Toyota Star Maker at the Toyota Country
Music Festival in Tamworth.**
**Prize package worth more than $100,000 includes recording of a four-track EP,
a 12-month fully-serviced loan of Toyota’s highest selling vehicle - a RAV4 AWD
Hybrid Cruiser and a trip to Nashville for the CMA Festival plus much more.**
**Toyota celebrates 30 years supporting this prestigious competition that provides career boost for talented country music artists**
20-year-old
Felicity Kircher from Tingalpa, Queensland has been crowned the 45th
Toyota Star Maker winner following her remarkable performance of her
original songs Dear Rose and Ultimatum at the
Grand Final concert, a highlight of the Toyota 53rd Tamworth
Country Music Festival.
Felicity
Kircher is a multi-instrumentalist and no stranger to the stage with her
captivating presence, sweet honey vocals and prowess with rhythm guitar.
With
a wealth of experience of over a decade, Felicity has toured throughout
Australia playing hundreds of shows, with Kasey Chambers, the Gympie Muster,
Savannah In The Round and Tamworth Country Music Festival, her highlights to
date.
Felicity
recorded her first album at 15 with Rob Mackay, and she went on to work with
Big Jet Plane’s ARIA Award winning-producer Govinda Doyle releasing two
singles, Long Time Coming and Sweet Tea.
In
2023 and 2024, she continued writing and has recorded 12 tracks with renowned
Australian producer/artist, Shane Nicholson and her most recent I Am
Cry, produced by Charles Dugan and Aaron Shannahan, which is making waves
across playlists and radio recognised as a contemporary timeless heart break
anthem.
By
taking home the Toyota Star Maker prize, Felicity received a package worth more
than $100,000, including the use of a RAV4 Hybrid AWD Cruiser for a year, the
recording of a four-track EP, and a trip to Nashville, USA, to attend the CMA
(Country Music Association) Festival and much more.
53rd Country Music Awards of Australia 2025 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards
NOMINEES & WINNERS
Toyota Album of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
All We Have Is Who We Are Tori Forsyth Scott Horscroft
Beauty & Truth Michael Waugh Shane Nicholson
Between The Fires Troy Cassar-Daley Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff
McCormack, Jordan Power ** WINNER **
Firecracker Taylor Moss MSquared - Michael Paynter and Michael De
Lorenzis
Let it Burn Kristy Cox Jerry Salley
Mayday Casey Barnes MSquared - Michael Paynter and Michael De
Lorenzis
Memory Town Colin Buchanan Matt Fell
Moonshine Jayne Denham Brian White, Brian Bunn
Setting Suns Ashleigh Dallas Brett Dallas
Shades On Me Andy Penkow Shawn Moore
The Four Seasons Henry Wagons Henry Wagons
The Singing Stockman William Alexander Patrick Wilson
The Tale of G.C.Townes Kingswood Alexander Laska
What A Time to Be Alive Raechel Whitchurch Matt Fell
Young Dumb & Wild Andy Golledge Ryan Miller, Oliver Thorpe
Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
ALL WE HAVE IS WHO WE ARE Tori Forsyth Scott Horscroft
BEAUTY & TRUTH Michael Waugh Shane Nicholson
BETWEEN THE FIRES Troy Cassar-Daley Troy Cassar-Daley, Jeff
McCormack, Jordan Power ** WINNER **
THE FOUR SEASONS Henry Wagons Henry Wagons
YOUNG DUMB & WILD Andy Golledge Ryan Miller, Oliver Thorpe
Contemporary Country Album of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
FIRECRACKER Taylor Moss MSquared - Michael Paynter and Michael De
Lorenzis
MAYDAY Casey Barnes MSquared - Michael Paynter and Michael De
Lorenzis ** WINNER **
MOONSHINE Jayne Denham Brian White, Brian Bunn
SHADES ON ME Andy Penkow Shawn Moore
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE Raechel Whitchurch Matt Fell
Traditional Country Album of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
LET IT BURN Kristy Cox Jerry Salley
MEMORY TOWN Colin Buchanan Matt Fell
SETTING SUNS Ashleigh Dallas Brett Dallas ** WINNER **
THE SINGING STOCKMAN William Alexander Patrick Wilson
THE TALE OF G.C.TOWNES Kingswood Alexander Laska
Male Artist of the Year
Adam Harvey, Casey Barnes, Lane Pittman, Michael Waugh, Troy
Cassar-Daley ** WINNER **
Female Artist of the Year
Ashleigh Dallas, Kaylee Bell, Max Jackson ** WINNER **,
Taylor Moss, Tori Forsyth
Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year
Darlinghurst, Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers, The Pleasures,
Small Town Romance, Zac & George ** WINNER **
Vocal Collaboration of the Year
Beer in A Bar The
Wolfe Brothers & Kaylee Bell ** WINNER **
Fumes & Fireworks Amber Lawrence & Andrew Swift
Sing Me the Land Colin
Buchanan & Michael Waugh
The Ringer’s Retired Graeme
Connors & Kelly Dixon
Who I Am Lee
Kernaghan & James Johnston
Bush Ballad of the Year
Title/Artist/Songwriter
A Big Thing in A Small Town Dean Perrett Dean Perrett, Paul
Ricketts, Lachie McLaine
He Loves His Radio Allan Caswell Allan Caswell, Manfred Vijars,
Lindsay Waddington
Laura & Giselle Colin Buchanan Colin Buchanan ** WINNER **
Talk Around Taromeo The Bushwackers Ian Quinn
The Lone Drover Andy Penkow Andy Penkow, Kath Stewart, Rip-Van
Parks
Heritage Song of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
Backbone (The Desert Child) Kasey Chambers Kasey Chambers
Be A Part of This Land John Williamson John Williamson
Father’s Day Michael Waugh Michael Waugh
The Ringer’s Retired Graeme Connors & Kelly Dixon Graeme
Connors, Kelly Dixon
Windradyne Troy Cassar-Daley Troy Cassar-Daley ** WINNER **
Instrumental of the Year
Title/Artist/
Gold Fever Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers
Jet Kingswood
Kill Devil Road Phil Doublet
The Red Centre Lindsay Waddington feat
Brendan Radford ** WINNER **
Wild Running Lachlan Bryan and The
Wildes
Bluegrass Recording of the Year
Title/Artist/
Back To the Hills The High
Street Drifters
Let it Burn Kristy Cox ** WINNER **
Paspalum Angus Gill
Running Out of Gas Michael
Carpenter & The Banks Brothers with Abbie Ferris and Hamish Davidson
Tell Me A Story Kingswood
New Talent of the Year
Denvah, Dylan Wright, Lane Pittman ** WINNER **, Wade
Forster, Zac & George
Song of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
Backbone (The Desert Child) Kasey Chambers Kasey Chambers
Little By Little The Wolfe Brothers Nicholas Wolfe
Remember Me Adam Harvey Adam Harvey & Mike Carr
Some Days Troy Cassar-Daley Troy Cassar-Daley, Kevin Bennett **
WINNER **
Who I Am Lee Kernaghan & James Johnston Lee Kernaghan, James
Johnston, Nicholas Wolfe, Colin Buchanan, Nolan Wynne
CMT Video of the Year
Title/Artist/Producer
Backbone (The Desert Child) Kasey Chambers Rosemary Whatmuff
Dharawal Luke O’Shea Luke O’Shea, Jay Seeney - Blacklist
Productions ** WINNER **
Little More Country Max Jackson Jeremy Minett - Eyes & Ears
Creative
What Are You Waiting For Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley
Jeremy Minett - Eyes & Ears Creative
Who I Am Lee Kernaghan, James Johnston Duncan Toombs - The
Filmery
Single of the Year
Backbone (The Desert Child) Kasey
Chambers
Let’s Ride Troy Cassar-Daley
Little By Little The Wolfe Brothers
Little More Country Max
Jackson ** WINNER **
Who I Am Lee Kernaghan & James
Johnston
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