Casey Barnes will never forget the moment he was first nominated for a Golden Guitar.
By then, the country-rock musician had already reached the semi-finals of Australian Idol, and opened for Canadian legend Bryan Adams and superstar Mariah Carey.
But receiving the nomination at the 2018 Country Music Awards of Australia was a whole different dream come true as Australian country music royalty Troy Cassar-Daley lauded his achievement.
“It’s one of those things that you watch as a kid where you see your idols win and think it’s pretty special,” Barnes said.
“I remember it vividly, the first person that came straight across the room to shake my hand was Troy Cassar-Daley.
“When it comes to Golden Guitars, he’d have to be up there as having the most, so to have him shake your hand and say ‘well done’ was something I’ll never forget.”
Barnes has gone on to win three Golden Guitars, including Album of the Year in 2023, and on Saturday night will host the 2026 awards show with fellow artist Amber Lawrence.
The ceremony caps off 10-days of dancing, busking and whip cracking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Young country music sensation Lane Pittman, who has been nominated for Single of the Year, was on tour with US star Luke Combs when he won his first Golden Guitar.
But his mum ran into Cassar-Daley when his win was announced.
“He told her, ‘make sure you tell Lane that I said congratulations, the first one is always the big one’,” Pittman said.
With 13 nominations, Kasey Chambers is the favourite to sweep the 2026 Golden Guitars, followed by her ex-husband Shane Nicholson and musical duo The Wolfe Brothers who have eight nominations each.
Sara Storer, a 22-time Golden Guitar Award winner, has also received four nominations at this year.
Despite her heavily decorated past, she still gets excited for the celebration.
“I’m really appreciative when I get in amongst all the new and upcoming talent coming through – who are fantastic,” she said.
“They’re harder to get these days.
“But it’s exciting to be part of the big night too, to get to dress up – and you’re always in for a chance.”
The 2026 Country Music Awards of Australia will take place in Tamworth on Saturday.
GOLDEN GUITAR NOMINEES 2026:
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
* Kasey Chambers
* Kaylee Bell
* Max Jackson
* Sara Berki
* Sara Storer
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
* Andrew Swift
* Brad Cox
* James Johnston
* Travis Collins
* Wade Forster
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
* Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
* Backbone – Kasey Chambers
* Bush Troubadour – Dean Perrett
* Choking on Fuel – Imogen Clark
* Country Soul – Hayley Jensen
* Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
* Crucifix and Spinifex – Kevin Bennett and The Flood
* Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions – Brad Cox
* Enemy Of My Enemy – The Pleasures
* Forest House – Jenny Mitchell
* Here’s To You – Tom Curtain
* How Many Songs – John Williamson
* Road To Riverleigh – Brendon Walmsley
* Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
* Worth Your Love – Sara Storer
SONG OF THE YEAR
* A Country Heart Can – Max Jackson
* Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
* Back In the Day – James Johnston
* Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
* The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
Proudly Australian owned and operated