The CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) have been celebrating the many achievements of Australian country music artists since 1973 – including the prestigious APRA 'Song of the Year' Award, which we feature today. This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in Australian history.
From the early dominance of John Williamson, Allan Caswell and Slim Dusty to the rise of Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand and Troy Cassar-Daley, the charts were heavily male dominated. That was until Kasey Chambers’ release of her cross-genre smash hit, Not Pretty Enough, opened the doors to the likes of Sara Storer, Melinda Schneider and Beccy Cole. More recently, it’s been Travis Collins, The Wolfe Brothers, Felicity Urquhart, and Shane Nicholson.
Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen to the award-winning song!
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2022: And You Will Have Your Way – Shane Nicholson
2021: The High Price Of Surviving – Shane Nicholson
2020: Chain Of Joy – Felicity Urquhart
2019: Ain’t Seen it Yet – The Wolfe Brothers
2018: Our Backyard – Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence
2017: Call Me Crazy – Travis Collins
2016: Freedom Ride – Troy Cassar-Daley
2015: Three Brothers (The Great War) – Luke O’Shea
2014: Lady of the Land – Luke O’Shea
2013: Home – Troy Cassar-Daley
2012: Bad Machines – Shane Nicholson
2011: Little Bird – Kasey Chambers
2010: Big Big Love – Troy Cassar-Daley
2009: Rattlin’ Bones – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
2008: Land Cries Out – Sara Storer
2007: Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World) – Beccy Cole
2006: Lonesome But Free – Troy Cassar-Daley
2005: Real People – Melinda Schneider
2004: Raining On The Plains – Sara Storer
2003: Born To Survive – Troy Cassar-Daley
2002: Not Pretty Enough – Kasey Chambers
2001: Good Things In Life – Adam Brand
2000: They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore – Troy Cassar-Daley
1999: Last Man Standing – Adam Brand
1998: Living In The Circle – Dead Ringer Band
1997: The Road Less Travelled – Graeme Connors
1996: The Great Australian Dream – Graeme Connors
1995: Songs From The Homeland – Graeme Connors
1994: Three Chain Road – Lee Kernaghan
1993: Boys From The Bush – Lee Kernaghan
1992: Things Are Not The Same On The Land – Slim Dusty
1991: The Blue Heeler – James Blundell
1990: Kimberley Moon – James Blundell
1989: We’ve Done Us Proud – Slim Dusty
1988: The Old Time Tent Shows – Alan Hawking
1987: Here’s A Good Bloke When He’s Sober – Slim Dusty
1986: The Garden – Allan Caswell
1985: Queen In The Sport Of Kings – John Williamson
1984: I Was Only 19 – John Schumann/Redgum
Many of the songs beyond 1984 cannot be found on YouTube but please have a read below:
1983: Used To Be A Gold Song – Allan Caswell & Keith Potger
1982: His Spurs Are Rusty Now – Rex & Colin Dallas
1981: One Armed Bandit – Allan Caswell & Brian Caswell
1980: Three Empty Bottles – Dave Pincombe
1979: Beat of the Government Stroke – Slim Dusty
1978: Indian Pacific – Slim Dusty
1977: Three Rivers Hotel – Slim Dusty
1976: Santa Never Made It To Darwin – Bill & Boyd
1975: The Biggest Disappointment – Slim Dusty
1974: Goondiwindi Grey – Tex Morton
1973: Lights On The Hill – Slim Dusty
