Newcastle country music star Max Jackson is still in celebration mode, reclaiming her Female Artist of the Year crown at Tamworth at the weekend.
After collecting two Golden Guitars in 2025, including Single of the Year for Little More Country, the vivacious performer backed that up to enjoy further success at the awards’ 54th edition on Saturday 24 January.
The singer-songwriter’s career catapulted in 2022 following her win in the Toyota Star Maker competition.
She’s since gone on to snare four Golden Guitars in three years.
Jackson also took to the stage to sing A Country Heart Can, ahead of the release of her new album, Dangerous In Denim, on 13 February.
But, the demand for the adopted Novocastrian exploded in the past 12 months, with increased bookings and a second invitation to perform at Nashville’s CMA Fest.
She released three more singles – Grass, A Country Heart Can and 1990 Somethin’ – and sold-out multiple shows on her first headline Australian tour.
Her influence is extending beyond Down Under, too, with her songs being played in Europe, the UK and New Zealand.
TikTok Australia announced Jackson as a finalist in the Music Artist of the Year category for the 2025 awards, the first-ever country artist to do so.
It follows the CMAA Achiever Awards crowning her as the 2025 Artist of the Year in September.
Meanwhile, the Wolfe Brothers dominated proceedings, claiming five Golden Guitars, including Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year for their studio offering Australian Made.
They also snared Heritage Song of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
Kasey Chambers picked up three accolades, too.
After performing at the Red Hot Summer Tour in Lake Macquarie on Saturday, she ventured straight to Tamworth to receive Alternative Country Album of the Year.
The Divorce Song, featuring her ex-husband Shane Nicholson, was also named Song of the Year and Single of the Year.
Rodeo cowboy and 2024 Toyota Star Maker winner Wade Forster was not only named New Talent of the Year, but Male Artist of the Year as well.
Adam Harvey was elevated into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown.
As one of the nation’s most enduring and celebrated singers, he now joins a long line of legends, which features Slim Dusty, Smoky Dawson, Reg Lindsay and Lee Kernaghan.
2026 GOLDEN GUITAR WINNERS
- FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Max Jackson
- MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Wade Forster
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
- SONG OF THE YEAR: The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
- SINGLE OF THE YEAR: The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
- VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Look At Me Now – Fanny Lumsden
- ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Backbone – Kasey Chambers
- TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
- HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR: Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
- VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR: How Many One More Times – The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George
For more entertainment stories:
- Hunter muso Catherine Britt returns with new album
- Rising Newcastle country star comes full circle
- Celebrate 2026 Australia Day long weekend in Newcastle
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
