James JohnstonThe Country Music Association (CMA) has revealed the finalists for three eligibility period-based categories for this year’s CMA International Awards, and a handful of Australians have been nominated.
Each year, the CMA International Awards recognise artists and broadcasters who contribute to the continued growth and reach of country music worldwide.
In Australia, country is booming thanks to nominated artists Wade Forster and James Johnston, and nominated broadcaster Justin Thomson from iHeartCountry Australia.
Finalists announced today feature in three categories: the International Country Broadcaster Award, International Artist Achievement Award and Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award.
The International Country Broadcaster Award recognises radio broadcasters or syndicated radio reporters outside the United States who have had remarkable achievements promoting country music in their countries.
Australia’s Justin Thomson has been nominated alongside Canadian iHeartRadio/Pure Country’s Shannon Ella, BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris and Absolute Radio Country’s Baylen Leonard, both based in the United Kingdom.
Elsewhere, the International Artist Achievement Award recognises the outstanding achievements of American artists whose careers have grown exponentially outside the United States. Nominated artists include Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Drake Milligan, and Tucker Wetmore.
Lastly, the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award recognises internationally based country artists who have furthered the genre's popularity in their regions. Australian country stars Wade Forster and James Johnston are nominated alongside New Zealand’s Tami Neilson and the United Kingdom’s Gareth.
Posting the news that he’s a finalist, James Johnston wrote on Instagram, “Some bloody cool news to wake up to! I’ve been nominated for my very first CMA award!! Love that country music is reaching all corners of the world and I get to be a part of that wave! Thank you @cma.”
The CMA’s remaining International Award categories – the Jo Walker Meador International Award, Rob Potts International Live Music Advancement Award and Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award – don’t have a finalist round. Winners of all six awards will be announced later this year.
