Tim McGraw invited Australian country star and Southern Voice Tour support act Steve Forde onto the stage to perform with him on the final night of his first ever Australian tour as CMC Rocked North Queensland at Reid Park in Townsville. Jasmine Rae, Corb Lund, Peter McWhirter and Busby Marou were also in town to help warm up the crowd.

The night was a huge success with over 12,000 people in attendance. There was literally not one spare hotel room left in the Townsville region. Many fans drove for hours/days to see McGraw live. It was the biggest event in Townsville since Elton John performed there five years ago.

A fan captured part of McGraw and Forde's performance of 'I Like It, I Love It'. Check it out!

Photo: Dean Turnbull (Next Edge)

Tim McGraw performed quite possibly the biggest country show ever in Sydney last night to a packed house at Acer Arena.

Like Brooks & Dunn not so long ago, McGraw has come to Australia armed with a substantial catalogue of hits spanning a recording career of over 15 years. From 'Real Good Man' and 'Last Dollar (Fly Away)' which he opened with, through to 'Live Like You Were Dying', 'The Cowboy in Me', 'Indian Outlaw', 'She's My Kind Of Rain' and his current hit single 'Southern Voice', McGraw performed all his hits to the wildest country crowd ever seen in Sydney.

The highlight for many was the euphoric moment mid show when McGraw's wife and country superstar in her own right Faith Hill joined him on stage to perform 'I Need You'. Hill was celebrating her 43rd birthday and the SYdney fans gave her the best birthday welcome imaginable.

Australian artists Steve Forde and Jonah's Road started the night in fantastic fashion, warming up the crowd for what ended up being one hell of a night!

McGraw completes his Australian tour this Saturday September 25 when he headlines CMC Rocks North Queensland in Townsville.

Photo: Robb Cox (Rusty Gate Films)

Despite awful flooding in Nashville less than a month ago, the CMA Music Festival kicked off in Music City today with over 40,000 people filling LP Field for the first night of stadium performances.

Tim McGraw gave Australian fans in attendance a sneak peak of what's to come when he tours Australia in September while Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum (pictured above), Danny Gokey and The Oakridge Boys also performed.

Carrie Underwood completed the night with a blazing stadium set which included a performance of the classic song 'Paradise City' with Aldean.

Photo provided by the Country Music Association (USA).

Tim McGraw has added another show to his Australian tour and will rock North Queensland on September 25.

He will headline CMC Rocks North Queensland, which will feature a six-plus hour multi-lineup show to be held at Townsville's Reid Park.

Canadian Corb Lund and Aussies' Steve Forde and Jasmine Rae will perform at the event with more to be announced.

Tickets for McGraw's North Queensland show will go on sale the same day as McGraw's Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney east coast concerts, Monday, May 17.

Country music superstar Tim McGraw is confirmed to tour Australia for the first time, promoters Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts announced today.

McGraw, and his band the Dancehall Doctors, will bring his Southern Voice Tour to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney for shows in September.

"My career's been going for a while and I've been looking for opportunities to come down, and this is the first time the timing's worked out.  I'm very excited," said McGraw when asked about Australia and touring here for the first time.

Chugg Entertainment's Executive Chairman, Michael Chugg said, "This is big news, full stop, but for country music fans, it's massive!

"It's actually Tim's birthday in the US (May 1) today, so to announce his first Australian tour timed with that is special."

In Australia McGraw's setup will include an 18 metre catwalk that takes him up the centre floor and puts him in the thick of it with audiences.

McGraw will play the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Thursday 16th, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Sunday 19th and Sydney's Acer Arena, Tuesday 21st.