Released this Friday October 21... Hit Country 2012 is the year’s ultimate Hit Country compilation release on CD and DVD. It features 22 of the year’s biggest country music hits from Australia and the world, plus a massive 28 music videos from your favourite country stars!

Included are recent chart topping hits from international superstars Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Dunn, Brad Paisley, Doc Walker, Miranda Lambert, Joe Nichols and Emerson Drive as well as hits from the cream of the crop locally, including Kasey Chambers, The McClymonts, Jasmine Rae, Catherine Britt, Steve Forde, Shane Nicholson and McAlister Kemp. Hits and music videos from Australia’s best emerging talent are also included.

CD - 1. Honey Bee – Blake Shelton 2. Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn 3. Little Bird – Kasey Chambers 4. Hunky Country Boys – Jasmine Rae 5. Am I The Only One – Dierks Bentley 6. Old Alabama – Brad Paisley 7. Hard Work – McAlister Kemp 8. Sweet Emmylou – Catherine Britt 9. From A Table Away – Sunny Sweeny 10. Songs Like This – Carrie Underwood 11. The Shape I’m In – Joe Nichols 12. Bad Machines – Shane Nicholson 13. Coming Home – Doc Walker 14. Let Your Love Speak – Emerson Drive 15. Tomorrow – Chris Young 16. A Woman Is A Flame – The McClymonts 17. This – Darius Rucker 18. Trail In Life – Dean Brody 19. What He Did To Me – Shea Fisher 20. How Long – Steve Forde 21. Girls In The Summertime – Peter McWhirter 22. West Australian Woman – Corey Colum

DVD - 1. Honey Bee – Blake Shelton 2. Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn 3. Little Bird – Kasey Chambers 4. Hunky Country Boys – Jasmine Rae 5. Am I The Only One – Dierks Bentley 6. Old Alabama – Brad Paisley 7. Hard Work – McAlister Kemp 8. Sweet Emmylou – Catherine Britt 9. From A Table Away – Sunny Sweeny 10. The Shape I’m In – Joe Nichols 11. Bad Machines – Shane Nicholson 12. Coming Home – Doc Walker 13. Let Your Love Speak – Emerson Drive 14. Tomorrow – Chris Young 15. A Woman Is A Flame – The McClymonts 16. Trail In Life – Dean Brody 17. How Long – Steve Forde 18. Is That So Wrong – Julianne Hough 19. Playing The Part – Jamey Johnson 20. If I Die Young – The Band Perry 21. In Spite Of Ourselves – Kirsty Akers w/ Bob Evans 22. A Perfect Night – Markus Meier 23. I Wasn’t Gonna Cry – Katrina Burgoyne 24. Jetty Road – Serves You Right 25. Walked In Leaving – Victoria Baillie 26. This - Darius Rucker 27. Girls In The Summertime – Peter McWhirter 28. West Australian Woman – Corey Colum

Jasmine Rae, Kasey Chambers, Keith Urban, Shane Nicholson and Troy Cassar-Daley have been nominated for 2011 ARIA Awards With just over six weeks until the 25th Anniversary ARIA Awards, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) today announced the Nominees of the 2011 ARIA Awards to be held on Sunday, 27 November, 2011.

Australian country music was well represented in the list of nominees, with Kasey Chambers nominated for Best Female Artist for her album Little Bird and Keith Urban nominated for Highest Selling Australian Album and Most Popular Australian Artist for Get Closer.

Both country artists were also nominated for Best Country Album, alongside Jasmine Rae for Listen Here, Shane Nicholson for Bad Machines and Troy Cassar-Daley for Live.

Source: www.ariaawards.com.au

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2010 winners. ISC’s Grand Prize for 2010 is awarded to Australia's Kasey Chambers, for her song 'Beautiful Mess', entered in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category.

Chambers also has the distinction of winning First Place in the Americana category for her song 'Devil On Your Back' and Second Place in the Performance category for 'Little Bird'.

Out of more than 15,000 entries, songwriters originating from Australia held a commanding presence in ISC with many First, Second and Third Place showings in their respective categories, including artists such as Basement Birds, Inland Sea, The Chemist, Washington, dirtgirl/dirtworld, Paul Dempsey, Jonah’s Road, Glen Richards, Children Collide, and many more.

Of the 66 winners, 24% hail from Australia, making Australia the country with the most winners second only to the USA. This achievement demonstrates the extraordinary talent coming from the Aussie music scene.

Kasey Chambers’ Grand Prize winning song, 'Beautiful Mess,' features Missy Higgins on backing vocals and is the second single from the album, Little Bird through Liberation Music. Chambers wrote the song for her two children because, as she says, parenting is often a “beautiful mess,” and her songwriting is an outlet by which she expresses her love to them.

To see the full list of winners Click Here.

The Gympie Music Muster presents Spirit of the Country has been heralded a success with the major concert delivery on Sunday 20th March attracting 20,000 flood affected victims, SES workers and country music fans in Toowoomba.

With rains sporadically pouring down throughout the six hour event, performances continued with the biggest country music line-up ever presented all in the hope of raising spirits of those affected by the devastation that swept across Southern Queensland in January this year.

The concert was hosted by radio and television personality Ray Hadley and featured a collection of Australia's top country acts including Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson, McAlister Kemp, Beccy Cole, Adam Harvey and Catherine Britt. The final delivery was a spectacular fireworks display to signify the conclusion of the event.

Whilst not taking to the stage, a special appearance was made at the concert by Prince William as part of his scheduled tour to meet with victims of flood affected communities. Whilst at the concert, the Prince met with heavily impacted victims and SES workers spending time to personally chat with them. Prince William took the Toowoomba Showgrounds balcony to wave to the gathered crowd before being presented with an Akubra Hat by country music star Troy Cassar-Daley giving thanks for his visit.

The one off event that was free to attend was made possible only through the support of major organisations, companies, local business houses, artists and individuals who donated generously to ensure the uplifting concert could be staged.

"The Gympie Music Muster presents the Spirit of the Country concert was definitely a successful event. Whilst the weather presented some challenges and there were some traffic congestion issues we are thrilled with what we delivered and the response we received. An event like this would have cost in excess of $1.2million to present if we had not received such generous support. It is because of our sponsors, partners and kind donations received that this was achievable. Our sincere thanks to all who came on board and assisted", said Marius Els, one of event co-ordinators.

The winners at the 2011 Country Music Awards of Australia (Golden Guitars) are as follows...

Album of the Year
Still Walking – Graham Connors, produced by Matt Fell

Male Artist of the Year
Graeme Connors - A Good Life

Female Artist of the Year
Kasey Chambers - Little Bird

New Talent of the Year
McAlister Kemp - All Kinds Of Tough

Group or Duo of the Year
The McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good

Vocal Collaboration of the Year
Love Like A Hurricane - Kasey Chambers & Kevin Bennett

Heritage Song of the Year
Sacred Bones - written by Luke Austen & Troy Cassar-Daley, recorded by Luke Austen

Fender Instrumental of the Year
Dixie Breakdown - Ian Simpson & John Kane

APRA Song of the Year
Little Bird - written by Kasey Chambers

Video Clip of the Year
Calling Me Home - Sara Storer, directed by Duncan Toombs

Single of the Year
Little Bird - Kasey Chambers

Bush Ballad of the Year
Every Time He Travels Through Cloncurry - written by Peter Denahy, recorded by Luke Austen

Sanity Music Top Selling Album of the Year
Planet Country - Lee Kernaghan

The Finalists for the 2011 Country Music Awards of Australia (the "Golden Guitars") were announced in Sydney this morning.

Leading the tally at the event was Kasey Chambers scooping the pool with a total of seven nods for her Little Bird album includding Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year.

Closely following was Australia's king of country Lee Kernaghan, with his Planet Country album earning him six finalist places including Album, Song, Single, Video of the Year.

Having recently picked up their first ARIA Award, The McClymonts  secured four finalist announcements for their Wrapped Up Good album.

And new artists McAlister Kemp and Luke Austen scored four nominations as well.

Other multiple finalists include Dianna Corcoran, Graeme Connors, Sara Storer and Adam Brand.

Click Here to see the full list of finalists

Kasey Chambers has announced the forthcoming release of her first solo album in four years.  The album, titled Little Bird will be released on September 17, 2010.

Little Bird follows the 2008 release of the #1 Platinum selling, ARIA Award winning Rattlin’ Bones, which Kasey recorded with husband Shane Nicholson and the 2009 family book and album project Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and The Little Hillbillies.

Little Bird was co-produced by Kasey and her album band The Millionaires (Jim Moginie, Jeff McCormack, Shane Nicholson, John Watson, Bill Chambers and Nash Chambers) and recorded at Nash’s Foggy Mountain Studio. 

“I think it is the most fun I have ever had making an album and the result is something I am so proud of.  I have written every song on the album and styles cross from country, folk, pop and everything in between! This record reminds me of the same feeling that The Captain and "Barricades" gave me. It's all about songs, home grown sounds and a feeling that sails throughout the entire album,” Kasey said.

“I have never been quite as inspired to write as I was a few months ago and that is why this album has crept up on me so quickly. In February I had one song that I had written last year but was not thinking at all about writing more, then all of a sudden songs just started flowing out of me.  Within 12 days I had 14 songs and they just kept coming.  I wasn't even sure where they came from.  I was writing in and around my daily life (which I used to find difficult) - cooking dinner, making school lunches, doing gigs, swimming lessons, feeding children, writing lyrics, humming melodies. “

Little Bird will be released on September 17, 2010 through Liberation Music.

Hit Country – Hits Of The Decade (2001 – 2010) features the best of the best! It’s a celebration of the last ten years of great country music globally.

Songs for this compilation have been selected on the basis of major chart success, music sales, industry awards and general impact on the music market.

With so many great artists recording so many great songs, the HitCountry.TV team's job of selecting the final 40 tracks was extremely tough!

We could have selected another 40 songs that could have been considered "Hits Of The Decade" but we could only fit 40 tracks on the two CDs, and the 40 on there are simply sensational! 

Country's biggest artists from the last decade from Australia and world are featured including Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Kasey Chambers, George Strait, The McClymonts, Adam Brand, Jasmine Rae, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider, Brad Paisley, Steve Forde, Sugarland, Brooks & Dunn and many many more.

The compilation is released on June 11, 2010.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. Planet Country - Lee Kernaghan
2. Wrapped Up Good - The McClymonts
3. Born To Survive - Troy Cassar-Daley
4. You’ll Think Of Me - Keith Urban
5. Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood
6. Like A River - Kasey Chambers
7. I Go Back - Kenny Chesney
8. Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson
9. Bring Me Down - Miranda Lambert
10. Believe - Brooks & Dunn
11. Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith (with Willie Nelson)
12. I’m A Road Hammer - The Road Hammers
13. Country Singer - Jasmine Rae
14. There’s No Limit - Deanna Carter
15. Alcohol – Brad Paisley
16. Best I Ever Had – Gary Allan
17. All Kinds Of Tough - McAlister Kemp
18. Moments – Emerson Drive
19. Stronger – Melinda Schneider
20. Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World) – Beccy Cole

Disc 2

1. Summer’s Little Angel - Steve Forde
2. Best Days Of Your Life - Kellie Pickler
3. Blame It On Eve - Adam Brand
4. In Colour - Jamey Johnson
5. What I Did Last Night - Catherine Britt
6. Beautiful Life - Doc Walker
7. What Was I Thinkin’ - Dierks Bentley
8. Austin - Blake Shelton
9. Stay - Sugarland
10. Tim McGraw - Taylor Swift
11. Fast Car - The Wilkinsons
12. I Saw God Today - George Strait
13. Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy - Big & Rich
14. Love Is A Beautiful Thing - Phil Vassar
15. I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
16. Acting Stupid - The Sunny Cowgirls
17. What You Give Away – Vince Gill (featuring Sheryl Crow)
18. Song For The Old Rake - Paul Kelly & The Stormwater Boys
19. Boondocks - Little Big Town
20. Don’t Chase Me - Shea Fisher

You can buy the two CD compilation now at  

US country hitmaker Phil Vassar and renowned American singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, along with local favourites Steve Forde and Tania Kernaghan, complete the massive lineup for the 2010 CMC Rocks The Snowys Festival to be held on March 5 and 6 at Friday Flatts in Tredbo.

Renowned for the raucous energy of his live shows, Phil Vassar has been writing hits for himself and others for over a decade. Country music’s "Piano Man" has scored big with songs like 'Bye-Bye' and 'I’m Alright' (both massive hits for Jo Dee Messina) and 'Just Another Day In Paradise'. The rowdy spirit of his life-affirming anthems translates to his concert performances, and he’ll be making his first trip down under for a one-off performance.

Steve Forde is a Snowys crowd favourite, a mainstay of the festival, and one of Australia’s best loved live performers. He’s an artist who’s blazed his own trail through country music over almost a decade of recording and performing. A former rodeo rider who channels the same energy and spirit into his music, Steve has built a fiercely loyal fanbase through years crossing the length and breadth of Australia. His rockin’ live shows are legendary among Aussie country fans and he will return to rock the Snowys in 2010. Forde's lastest album, Guns & Guitars was one of the highest selling local country albums of 2008/09.

Grammy-winner Nanci Griffith has found success across rock, folk and country, and earning the respect and admiration of collaborators like Jimmy Buffet, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. The singer-songwriter has penned enduring songs including 'Love at the Five and Dime' and 'Outbound Plane' in a career spanning over 30 years. Never afraid to tackle difficult topics head on in her songs, her performance is always full of passion and deep honesty.

Tania Kernaghan is part of one of Australian country’s most famous families. Daughter of Ray and brother of Lee, Tania grew up with a passion for country music and a love of live performance that has taken to the top of the country scene. From the release of her first (platinum-selling) album December Moon in 1996, Kernaghan has remained one of country music’s premiere female artists.

All up the final line up includes; Phil Vassar, Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, Guy Sebastian, Jack Ingram, Nanci Griffith, Doc Walker, Adam Harvey, Steve Forde, Richard Clapton, Tania Kernaghan, Peter McWhirter, Dan Sultan, Mike Carr, Kirsty Lee Akers, Paul Greene, The Wilsons Pickers, Jetty Road, Amber Lawrence, Mark Wells, Victoria Baillie, The Harrisons and Busby Marou.

Adam Harvey's upcoming duets album titled Both Sides Now features some of Australian music's biggest names.

They include Guy Sebastian, Wendy Matthews, David Campbell, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, John Williamson, Shannon Noll and The McClymonts to name just a few.

It's released on October 9 through Sony Music Australia.