Rachael Fahim’s star is on the rise.

The country darling’s latest single Too Damn Hot – which she describes as “a feel-good anthem for anyone who’s had their heart broken” – has been a massive success.

The track has claimed the number one spot on the Australian Country Airplay Chart, rendering her the first Australian female artist to do so this year (and only the second Australian artist across the board). 

“You’re too damn hot to cry,” Fahim sings in her charming, cheerful lilt. 

Over Zoom, she says, “Crying over someone who doesn’t deserve your tears, it’s not worth it! I think people resonated with it because we’ve all been in situations like that.”

She delves into the song’s backstory, which involves a nasty break-up. “I had been with this guy for three years. And by the end of the relationship, it was quite toxic. He was not a very good partner, and I was crying all the time. I’m in a better place now, thankfully,” she laughs.

Her ex broke up with her the day before her sister’s engagement party. “Thinking back now, this situation is so messed up and I’m proud of myself for getting through it.” She looks back on the pain of attending a “celebration of love” with a freshly broken heart. “I felt awful. I stayed in bed all morning, I didn’t put my mascara on until the second before I had to leave.”

Her niece, who is only a couple years younger than her, had also just been through a break-up. The two of them were standing at the bar in heartbroken solidarity – Rachael sobbing – until her niece turned to her and said, “Rachael, you’re too damn hot to cry! Pull yourself together!” And a hit was born.

While the songwriting process was clearly cathartic in this instance – and has certainly paid off – it must be difficult sometimes to wade through such painful personal experiences in order to create and release art.

Fahim admits that it isn’t always easy. “I heard this quote once about how being an artist is being extremely vulnerable, but then also having a thick skin. You have to know that people don’t like you and be okay with it.

“But then you have to go into a songwriting session and be so open and so vulnerable and basically open up all your wounds,” she adds. “I actually don’t know how I do that, I don’t know how anyone does it. But it’s just in my DNA, it’s in my blood.”

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Fahim is soon set to be involved in the  highly anticipated event, Tamworth Country Music Festival: Country At The Track at the Golden Guitar Paceway on Friday, January 23, 2026. Presented by Tamworth Harness Racing Club in partnership with Goldspur Entertainment and Countrytown, this high energy event combines live country music and harness racing in what promises to be a barrel of fun. 

Fahim is more keen than anyone. “I’m just excited to be in Tanworth,” she enthuses. “I love going to Tanworth, I get to see all my friends. But that event in particular is going to be a great vibe. People are going to be there having fun, and we’re going to be providing some entertainment, which is my favourite thing to do.”

With her bouncy tunes, bubbly energy, and joyful stage presence, Rachael Fahim has solidified herself as a star of Australian Country – a genre which is often looked down upon for its wholehearted earnestness.

“I don’t understand it,” she sighs. “It’s something that I’ve felt since I was younger. But I think over the last few years there’s definitely been a shift in people’s perspective, and I don’t know what’s changed, because country music has always kind of been what it is. Maybe the fusion with other genres has made it more palatable. People are coming around to country music, which is amazing.”

The rugged honesty of country music, she believes, makes it the perfect genre to properly distil Australia’s image and values. “You watch any movie that’s made to portray Australia, it’s always the cowboy hat, the country setting, big buff men, the rugged landscape. People’s perception of Australia is that it’s rugged.”

After releasing a slew of beloved singles, joining the ARIA-charting Pete Murray on a 56-date national tour, and performing several sold-out shows and festivals, Fahim is now finally gearing up for her debut album release.

“It’s basically done and dusted,” she says, grinning with excitement. “I can’t wait. It’s been in the works for, I think, two years now. But it’s just flown by. It’s going to be so exciting once it’s out.”

“I think it’s about time that I put an album out. I’ve been doing this artist thing for a while now. I’ve put a couple EPs out. And I really just want that debut album out now. And it just felt like the right time. It’s the next step.”

Though creating an album was joyful and fulfilling, it wasn’t without its difficulties. 

“I was surprised at how stressful it was,” she admits. “When you think about making an album, you think you’re just going to be chilling and hanging out in the studio. But the deadlines creep up on you so quickly. I’m just there being creative, and then all of a sudden it’s like, it needs to be done next week!”

The difficulties were exacerbated by the fact that Fahim is a self-described perfectionist.
“The stress of making sure that everything was perfect and working with other people’s schedules has been really difficult, because there’s so many people involved,” she says.

“There’s just so much going on. It’s not as straightforward as people would assume, it’s crazy. Thank goodness for my spreadsheets, otherwise I would pass away!” She exhales and laughs.

Despite the stress of meeting deadlines head-on, Fahim felt supported throughout the project. 

“Everyone that I worked with on this album I’m really good friends with. The studio that I worked out of, I did work experience there when I was in year ten. So I’d kind of grown up with these people in my life.”

“I’m really lucky that I felt very understood. I’ve surrounded myself with people I trust who listen to me, and I listen to them, and there’s a mutual respect. In the end, we’re all just there to be creative, we’re all just wanting to do our creative thing.” Her smile widens. “Everyone’s hopefully had a really fun time, because I have.”

Fun is a fitting word – for Fahim’s past music, for her upcoming shows, and surely for the music to come.