{"id":411409,"date":"2026-01-14T03:13:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/411409\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T03:13:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:13:09","slug":"the-2026-countrytown-awards-nominees-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/411409\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Countrytown Awards Nominees Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making it’s triumphant return in 2026 the Countrytown Awards presented by Traveller Whiskey, gives country music fans the chance to vote in the Australia\u2019s largest public voting country music poll.<\/p>\n

\"More
\n\t\t\tCountrytown Awards<\/a>CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW AND WIN TICKETS TO CMC ROCKS 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

After a massive inaugural year in 2025, the Countrytown Awards are back for 2026, this year presented by Chris Stapleton\u2019s Traveller Whiskey!<\/p>\n

Voting is NOW OPEN<\/a> across ten categories as we search for the year\u2019s biggest achievers in country music, and YOU decide who receives the accolades.<\/p>\n

The 2026 nominations are led by Hayley Jensen with a massive five nods, with James Johnston, Lane Pittman, Max Jackson, Wade Forster and The Wolfe Brothers hot on her heels with four each.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First-time nominees include last years\u2019 host Andrew Swift, Austin Mackay, Briana Dinsdale, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Fanny Lumsden, Jake Whittaker, Josie, KINGSWOOD, Lewis Love, Mack Geiger, Piper Butcher, The Pleasures, Sons of Atticus, Sweet Talk, Tom Curtain, Tori Darke, Travis Collins and Zac Cross Band.<\/p>\n

On the festival front, The Bend Classic, Howlin\u2019 Country and Strummingbird are making their nominations debut expanding the Countrytown Awards family in its second year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter<\/p>\n

The Countrytown International award, given to the best international artist to have toured Australia in 2025 brings together Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Combs, Max McNown, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey and Tyler Childers, showing the epic talent we had down under last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Finalists for the big day will be announced on March 16 before the exclusive awards lunch on March 19 in Brisbane with Australia\u2019s biggest artists and industry celebrating a big year.<\/p>\n

And YOU can win your way to the awards to rub shoulders with the stars by voting right here on Countrytown. Not only will your votes impact your favourite artists, but you\u2019ll go into the draw to win a double pass to CMC Rocks QLD this March.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s awards were massive, with James Johnston taking away the big one, Entertainer of the Year and John Williamson receiving the inaugural \u2018Legend\u2019 award, with the trophy presented by his good mate Lee Kernaghan.<\/p>\n

With fans and industry kicking around with attendees including fellow winners Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Lane Pittman and performers including Johnston, Kashus Culpepper, Homegrown Trio, Tori Forsyth and many more, the afternoon cemented the Countrytown Awards as the year\u2019s hottest and rarest ticket.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Voting is now open at countrytown.com\/awards<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

2026 COUNTRYTOWN AWARDS NOMINEESENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Casey Barnes<\/p>\n

Fanny Lumsden<\/p>\n

Hayley Jensen<\/p>\n

James Johnston<\/p>\n

Kaylee Bell<\/p>\n

Lane Pittman<\/p>\n

Max Jackson<\/p>\n

Taylor Moss<\/p>\n

The Wolfe Brothers<\/p>\n

Wade Forster<\/p>\n

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Amber Lawrence<\/p>\n

Amy Sheppard<\/p>\n

Bella Mackenzie<\/p>\n

Caitlyn Shadbolt<\/p>\n

Hayley Jensen<\/p>\n

Kaylee Bell<\/p>\n

Max Jackson<\/p>\n

Rachael Fahim<\/p>\n

Sara Berki<\/p>\n

Tori Darke<\/p>\n

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Andrew Swift<\/p>\n

Brad Cox<\/p>\n

Casey Barnes<\/p>\n

Dylan Wright<\/p>\n

James Johnston<\/p>\n

Keith Urban<\/p>\n

Lane Pittman<\/p>\n

Morgan Evans<\/p>\n

Travis Collins<\/p>\n

Wade Forster<\/p>\n

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

The Buckleys<\/p>\n

Homegrown Trio<\/p>\n

KINGSWOOD<\/p>\n

The Pleasures<\/p>\n

Sweet Talk<\/p>\n

Sons of Atticus<\/p>\n

The Wet Whistles<\/p>\n

The Wolfe Brothers<\/p>\n

Zac & George<\/p>\n

Zac Cross Band<\/p>\n

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Abbie Ferris<\/p>\n

Austin Mackay<\/p>\n

Briana Dinsdale<\/p>\n

Jake Whittaker<\/p>\n

Josie<\/p>\n

Lewis Love<\/p>\n

Mack Geiger<\/p>\n

Piper Butcher<\/p>\n

Tyla Rodrigues<\/p>\n

The Wet Whistles<\/p>\n

SONG OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Casey Barnes – ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES<\/p>\n

Hayley Jensen – Country Soul<\/p>\n

James Johnston – BACK IN THE DAY<\/p>\n

Lane Pittman – Man I’m Turning Out To Be<\/p>\n

Max Jackson – 1990 Somethin’<\/p>\n

Rachael Fahim – Too Damn Hot<\/p>\n

Sara Berki – Looks Like<\/p>\n

Tori Darke – My Boots Made Me Do It<\/p>\n

Tyla Rodrigues – Hot & Heavy<\/p>\n

The Wolfe Brothers – Australian Made<\/p>\n

ALBUM OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Amy Sheppard – Born To Be Country<\/p>\n

Andrew Swift – Lucky Stars<\/p>\n

Brad Cox – Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions<\/p>\n

Hayley Jensen – Country Soul<\/p>\n

James Johnston – WHERE YOU\u2019LL FIND ME<\/p>\n

Kaylee Bell – Cowboy Up<\/p>\n

Tom Curtain – Here\u2019s To You<\/p>\n

Travis Collins – The Band Album<\/p>\n

Wade Forster – Gooseneck Party<\/p>\n

The Wolfe Brothers – Australian Made<\/p>\n

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Chris Stapleton<\/p>\n

Cody Johnson<\/p>\n

Jelly Roll<\/p>\n

Kelsea Ballerini<\/p>\n

LeAnn Rimes<\/p>\n

Luke Combs<\/p>\n

Max McNown<\/p>\n

Megan Moroney<\/p>\n

Shaboozey<\/p>\n

Tyler Childers<\/p>\n

AUSTRALIAN TOUR OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

Hayley Jensen – Country Soul Tour<\/p>\n

Kasey Chambers – Backbone Tour<\/p>\n

Keith Urban – HIGH AND ALIVE World Tour<\/p>\n

KINGSWOOD – The Midnight Mavericks Tour<\/p>\n

Lane Pittman – Fresh Country Tour<\/p>\n

Lee Kernaghan – Boys From The Bush The Concert Tour<\/p>\n

Max Jackson – Little More Country Tour<\/p>\n

Rachael Fahim – Dance Around It Tour<\/p>\n

Sara Berki – Fool Me Twice Tour<\/p>\n

Wade Forster – The Dying Breed Tour<\/p>\n

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR<\/p>\n

The Bend Classic<\/p>\n

CMC Rocks<\/p>\n

Deni Ute Muster<\/p>\n

Howlin\u2019 Country<\/p>\n

Groundwater Country Music Festival<\/p>\n

Gympie Music Muster<\/p>\n

Ridin\u2019 Hearts<\/p>\n

Savannah In The Round<\/p>\n

Strummingbird<\/p>\n

Tamworth Country Music Festival<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

Voting is OPEN NOW<\/a> and closes Saturday, February 28 at 5pm AEDT.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Countrytown AwardsPresented by Traveller Whiskey<\/p>\n

We\u2019d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Gold Industry partners – Island Records\/Universal Music Australia, Live Nation, MGM Distribution, Sony Music Australia, Spotify, TEG Live, Warner Music Australia.<\/p>\n

We also gratefully acknowledge our Silver Industry partners ABC Music, EMPRE, G.Y.R.O., Oztix, Wheelhouse Agency.<\/p>\n

And finally, we\u2019d like to extend our warmest thanks to CMC Rocks for their continued support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Making it’s triumphant return in 2026 the Countrytown Awards presented by Traveller Whiskey, gives country music fans the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":411410,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[64,63,134,136],"class_list":{"0":"post-411409","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-music"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=411409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/411410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}