A u s t r a l i a n C o u n t r y M u s i c P e o p l e ' s C h o i c e A w a r d s

2024 WINNERS

Best Male Vocal – Andy Penkow

Best Female Vocal – Courtney Keil

Best Group or Duo – Bo'Ness

Best Album – Steel On Steel – Duncan Toombs

Best Song– Sandee Facy – Best One Yet co-written by Michael Saleta

Best Bush Ballad – Matt Scullion – Lennie You're A Legend

Best Video – Brendan McMahon – I Hear Your Voice (The Soldier)
featuring Montana Sharp

Most Promising Future Star – Lily Grace

Most Popular Musician or Instrumentalist – Corey Legge

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Alan Gilmou

Most Popular Country Music Radio Station – KIX Country

Entertainer of the Year – Fanny Lumsden

Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee/s

Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson


2023 WINNERS

People’s Choice winners 2023

The best in Australian country music – according to “the people” – were recognised in Tamworth today (Thursday January 19) at the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards.

Leading bush balladeer and perennial winner Graham Rodger was named Best Male Vocal while relative newcomer Courtney Keil took out the Best Female Vocal honour.

The RnR Ranchgirls, an already established live act now moving into recording and building a strong fan base, won the Best Group or Duo category.

Pictured top row (from left): Graham, Courtney, The RnR Ranch girls, Brendan; bottom row: James,, Andy, The Long & Short Of It, Laura.

Brendan McMahon was successful in Best Album for his latest work …as the road unfolds.

The latest sensation in Australian country music – James Johnston – won the Best Song category with his initial popular self-penned release Raised Like That.

Best Bush Ballad went to another relative newcomer, Andy Penkow, with Ghostly Gums, co-written with David Carter, Angela Bristow-Baohm and Kathleen Stewart.

Best Video was taken out by the very popular duo The Long & Short It of their hit song Midnight Choir.

Most Promising Future Star was awarded to Queensland based rising star Laura Frank.

In the broadcast categories, Alan Gilmour, another perennial winner who has one of the most popular programs on Australian radio – the Australian Country Songwriters Show – won Most Popular Country Music DJ while Danni Shaw’s Country Kickback – a new media program – was named Most Popular Country Music Program.

Two inductees were elevated to the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame… Rhonda Francis, a long time broadcaster with 2SSR in Sydney and Ron Montague (aka Ronnieboy) of 2RRR.

One of the day’s highlights was the announcement of Troy Cassar-Daley as Australia’s Country Music Entertainer of the Year for 2023.

Troy’s Stellar, continuing career, and particularly more recent achievements, were recognised with the award which is new in this format.

There have been a number of such awards presented in the past but not for some time, and the Country Music Bulletin group, organisers of the People’s Choice Awards, thought it was “high time it was re-introduced to recognise more than what is normally acknowledged in a series of category presentations – as important as they are”.

The Australian Country Music Entertainer of the Year accolade is determined by a vote of Australian country music broadcasters and specialist media.

Voting for the 2024 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards will open in July.

Weblink – www.peopleschoiceawards.com.au.


2022 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal – Cassidy-Rae

Best Male Vocal – Brendan McMahon

Best Group – The Silverline

Best Album – Fee Time And Money – Justin Landers

Best Bush Ballad – Born To The Saddle – Graham Rodger

Best Song – When Only Real Country Will Do
Wrtten by Virginia Hermel
Recorded by Runaway Dixie

Best Video – Annie June – Lily Grace & James Blundell

Most Promising Future Star – Andy Penkow

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Alan Gilmour
todayscountry94one

Most Popular Country Music Radio Program
The Brekky Show on Tripla A Murri Country
with Tariana Olive and Jharal Yow Yeh


2021 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal – Della Harris

Best Male Vocal – Ian Burns

Best Group – Brothers3

Best Album – Knights Of The Saddle – Graham Rodger

Best Bush Ballad – The Battle Of Point Nepean – Benny Allen

Best Song – Box Of Wood
Wrtten by Michael Lehnen
Recorded by The Silverline

Best Video – Fighter – Souly Us

Most Promising Future Star – Tony Smith

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Ray McCoy
88.9FM Tamworth

Most Popular Country Music Radio Program
Alan Gilmour's "Australian Country Songwriters Show"
on todayscountry94one

Click here to see finalists and nominees from the 2021 Awards

2020 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal – Della Harris

Best Male Vocal – Graham Rodger

Best Group – Brothers3

Best Album – Two Sides Of Me – Ian Burns

Best Bush Ballad – A Drover's Friend – John O'Dea

Best Song – Another Day
Wrtten by Makirum Fahey-Leigh & Shardyn Fahey-Leigh
Recorded by Brothers3

Best Video – Never Knew I Was Country – Benny Allen

Most Promising Future Star – Emma Jene

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Dianne Lindsay & Peter Simpson
Australian Bush Ballad Show – todayscountry94one

Most Popular Country Music Radio Program
Alan Gilmour's "Australian Country Songwriters Show"
on todayscountry94one


2019 WINNERS

Photo (top, from left): Graham Rodger, Brothers3, Manfred Vijars and Dale Duncan; (bottom, from left): Tony Cook, Alan Gilmour, Dianne Lindsay, The Long & Short Of It, Phoebe Jay and Rhonda Francis

Best Female Vocal – Dianne Lindsay

Best Male Vocal – Tony Cook

Best Group – Brothers3

Best Album – Ringers In The Sky – Graham Rodger

Best Bush Ballad – Ringers In The Sky – Graham Rodger

Best Song – Diamantina Coming Down
Written by
Norma O'Hara Murphy & Manfred Vijars
recorded by Dale Duncan

Best Video – Old School – The Long & Short Of It

Most Promising Future Star – Phoebe Jay

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Rhonda Francis – 2SSR

Most Popular Country Music Radio Program
Alan Gilmour's "Australian Country Songwriters Show"
on todayscountry94one


2018 WINNERS

with many thanks to Bob McGahan for the images

Best Female Vocal – Gina Timms

Best Male Vocal – Graham Rodger

Best SongWaltzing Matilda No More – Graham Rodger
(written by Graham with Marc Glasby)

Best Group – Brothers3

Best AlbumWhisper In The Crowd – Paul Costa

Best Bush Ballad –  Just Like Your Dad – Dale Duncan
written by Allan Caswell and Manfred Vijars.

Best VideoEverything Will Be Alright – MICKS ( produced by Joshua Stoll, directed by Tommy Medveczky and edited by James McQualter)

Most Popular Rising Star – Blake O'Connor

Most Popular Country Music Radio Station – todayscountry94one

Most Popular Country Music DJ – Alan Gilmour
"Australian Country Songwriters Show"


2017 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal

Dianne Lindsay

Best Male Vocal

Dale Duncan

Best Group/Duo

Brothers3

Best Album

Best Song

C'MON
Recorded by Brothers3
Written by Written by Ben Hastings, Michael Fatkin and Brothers3

Best Bush Ballad

MY DOG NUI DAT
Recorded by Dale Duncan
Written by Peter Simpson

Best Video Clip

 

Troy Kemp

Most Promising Future Star

Jade Holland

Best Musical or Vocal Event

GOSPEL ROAD
Lindsay Butler & Peggy Gilchrist

Most Popular Country Music DJ

Jane Kellaway
of 2MCR FM

Best Popular Country Music
Radio Station or Program

Planet Country Alive 90.5


2016 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal

Amber Lawrence

Best Male Vocal

Graham Rodger

Best Group/Duo

Brothers3

Best Album

Best Song

BROTHERS NEVER PART
Recorded by Brothers3
Written by Shardyn Fahey-Leigh, Makirum Fahey-Leigh,
Tayzin Fahey-Leigh, Daniel Skeed

Best Bush Ballad

THE OLD CAMP OVEN
Recorded by Dale Duncan
Written by Terry Bennets & Neil Lethbridge

Best Video Clip

Most Promising Future Star

Becci Nethery

Best Musical or Vocal Event

EVEN COWGIRLS SING THE BLUES
Kathryn Jones & Steve Passfield

Most Popular Country Music DJ

Jane Kellaway
of 2MCR FM

Best Popular Country Music
Radio Station or Program

Australian Country Songwriters

todayscountry94one


2015 Winners

Winners in the 2015 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards were announced at a gala presentation in Country Music Capital’s Capitol Theatre Tuesday afternoon, January 20.

"And it’s an excellent spread of achievement and recognition," according to Awards spokesman Bob Kirchner.

Brothers3, who have been big winners in these Awards over the past few years and who came to national prominence last year via television's "The X Factor" didn’t disappoint in the category which must surely now have their name on it... Best Group.

Another People’s Choice Awards favourite, leading Bush Balladeer Graham Rodger, was successful again winning two awards, Best Male Vocal and Best Album for his release Dust & Leather.

Best Female was won for the third year running by Dianne Lindsay.

The Video Clip category was awarded to I Need You Tonight by Dozzi (pictured) featuring Drew McAlister.

Luke O'Shea & Aleyce Simmonds were successful in the Vocal Event category with their duet Truckstop Flowers.

Best Song went to Terry Clark for Old Shoes and Best Bush Ballad was a win for Simply Bushed for Dusty Floors.

The Most Promising Future Star accolade was presented to Taylor Pfeiffer – "The Banjo Girl" of Adelaide.

Winners in the two country music broadcasting categories were Jane Kellaway of Radio 2MCR Campbelltown (Sydney) named Most Popular Country Music DJ, and Today's Country 94.1 on the NSW Central Coast named Most Popular Country Music Radio Station.

As well as featuring performances by a wide range of finalists, today’s People's Choice Awards were hosted by Steve Passfield and Kathryn Jones.

Voting for the 2016 Awards is expected to get underway shortly.


2014 WINNERS

Best Female Vocal
Dianne Lindsay

Best Male Vocal
Graham Rodger

Best Group or Duo
Brothers3

Best Song
Miracle Girl

Recorded by Dale Duncan & Johanna Hemara
Written by Dale Duncan

Best Album
Let It Drift by Brothers3

Best Bush Ballad
The Heart Of Australia
Recorded by Dale Duncan
Written by Billy Wye, Shaza Leigh & Dale Duncan

Best Video Clip
Christmas (I'm Coming Home) by Terry Clark

Most Promising Future Star
Nathaniel O'Brien

Best Vocal Event
Lights On The Hill by Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey

Most Popular Country Music DJ
Carter Edwards (Super Radio Network)

Most Popular Country Music Radio Station
todayscountry94one (Central Coast NSW)


2013 WINNERS

Best Female Vocalist
Dianne Lindsay

Best Male Vocal
Paul Cowderoy

Best Group
Brothers3

Best Song 
Home

written by Don Walker
recorded by McAlister Kemp

Best Bush Ballad with his song
Looking Back by Graham Rodger

Best Video Clip
Love Away The Bad Days

Dozzi

Most Promising Future Star
Christie Lamb

Best Album
Family Values
Dale Duncan

Best Vocal or Musical Event
Dale Duncan & Amos Morris
You're A Real Good Friend

Most Popular Country Music DJ
Sgt Ron of todayscountry94one

Most Popular Country Music Radio Station
Hot Country Radio Queensland

2012 winners

Best Female Vocal
Beccy Cole

Best Male Vocal
Graham Rodger

Best Group or Duo
Brothers3

Best Song
Hard Work

written by Drew McAlister & Mike Carr, recorded by McAlister Kemp

Best Bush Ballad
Kiandra Gold
by Brian Letton

Best Album
All Kinds Of Tough
- McAlister Kemp

Most Promising Future Star
Paul Cowderoy

Best Video Clip
In Spite Of Ourselves - Kirsty Akers & Bob Evans

Most Popular DJ
Carter Edwards
- Super Radio Network

Most Popular Radio Station or Program
Today’s Country 94.1
(Central Coast, NSW)

Special Awards

Special Awards were presented for
Vocal Event of the Year to

Dale Duncan & Shaza Leight for
Walking In My Shoes

and

Graham Rodger & Sara Storer for
An Affair Of The Heart


2011 winners

This year's winners of Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards were announced in Tamworth on Thursday, January 20.

Best Female Vocal went to Beccy Cole while Adam Brand was named Best Male Vocal.

Best Album went to Simply Bushed for their latest release, Look At The Time.

The Best Song award went to Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter for Love In The Time Of Drought, released on Lee's latest album (which won last year's Best Album People's Choice award), Planet Country.

Rising stars Brothers3 took out their first People's Choice Awards, and two at that, with the Most Promising Future Star award and Best Group from a very competitive field.

Graham Rodger built on his impressive collection of People's Choice Awards by taking the Best Bush Ballad category with his song The Cooper Coming Down.

Another fast rising star, Katrina Burgoyne, took out the Best Video Clip title with Ghost, directed by Duncan Toombs.

A unique aspect of the People's Choice Awards are the two categories dedicated to the broadcasting industry, that sector of the media so important to the future of country music.

This year's award for Most Popular Country Music DJ went to one of the nation's newest radio stars, Felicity Urquhart, who took over the reigns from John Nutting on the ABC's "Saturday Night Country" and has taken the program to new heights.

The award for Most Popular Country Music Radio Station went to long-time Sydney dedicated country music broadcaster 2KA Cool Country.

A large and appreciative audience witnessed this year's presentation which also featured performances from Awards finalists David Baldi, Brothers3, Katrina Burgoyne, Beccy Cole, Johanna Hemara, Jason Lee, Gemma Luxton, Markus Meier, Graham Rodger, Simply Bushed, and co-hosts Steve Passfield and Connie Kis Andersen.

Organisers say they were delighted with all aspects of this year's Awards which saw a record number of votes and literally hundreds of artists, groups and duos nominated by the general public.


Previous winners...

| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |

2010

Best Male Vocal
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Female Vocal
Melinda Schneider

Best Album
Planet Country
Lee Kernaghan

Best Song
Million Miles
Written & recorded by Jetty Road

Best Bush Ballad
The First Lady Of Country
Written by Graham & Deirdre Rodger
Recorded by Graham Rodger

Best Vocal Group
Jetty Road

Best Video Clip
Tangerine Sky
Australian Country Music Unites

Most Promising Future Star
Daly Stephenson

Most Popular Country Music DJ
Larry Cann
KIX Country

Most Popular Country Music Radio Station
KIX Country


2009

Best Male Vocal
Graham Rodger

Best Female Vocal
Amber Lawrence

Best Album
The Fire Within Me
Written & recorded by Graham Rodger

Best Song
Slow Dancing At Midnight
Written & recorded by Carter & Carter

Best Bush Ballad
The Saddle
Written by Matt Manning & John O'Dea
Recorded by Matt Manning

Best Vocal Group
Jetty Road

Most Promising Future Star
Brad Cole

Most Popular Country Music DJ
Rebecca Gray
2MAX FM Narrabri

Most Popular Country Music Radio Program
"Good Morning Country"
Community Broadcasting Association of Australia


2008

Best Female Vocal
Sponsored by Attitude Productions-Films
Beccy Cole

Best Male Vocal
Sponsored by Ayers Guitars
Adam Harvey

Best Group or Duo
Sponsored by Blade Guitars
Simply Bushed

Best Song
Sponsored by Red Rebel Music
Little Miss Understood
Recorded by Cat Southern, written by Cat, Jasper Somerville & Jay Collie

Best Bush Ballad
Sponsored by Drayton’s Family Wines
Cangai Bridge
Recorded by Simply Bushed, written by Paul Grierson

Best Album
Sponsored by KV2 Audio
The Battler
Steve Eales

Most Promising Future Star
Sponsored by Ayers Guitars
Steve Passfield

Most Popular DJ
Sponsored by Electro-Voice
Dan Rennie
(Radio 98.9FM Brisbane)

Most Popular Radio Program
Sponsored by the Country Music Bulletin
"Truckin' With Tim"

Musician of the Year
Phil Emmanuel

Career Achievement Award
Greg Champion


2007

Best Female Vocal
Felicity Urquhart

Best Male Vocal
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Group
Jonah's Road

Best Song
Angel Eyes by the Wolverines
Written by Matt Shelton

Best Bush Ballad
Would Clancy Be Welcome by Dean Perrett
Written by Ian Quinn

Best Heritage Song
Malabar Mansion by Dale Duncan
Written by Dave Duncan

Best Album
Good Times
Wolverines
produced by Louie Shelton

Most Promising Future Star
Cat Southern

Most Popular DJ
John Nutting

Most Popular Radio Program
Country Music Radio

Musician of the Year
Bob Howe


2006

Best Male Vocal
Travis Sinclair

Best Female Vocal
Tania Kernaghan

Best Group or Duo
The Sunny Cowgirls

Best Song
God Didn't Make Mistakes
Written & recorded by Carter & Carter

Best Album
Rush
Travis Sinclair

Best Heritage Song
It's As If He Knows
Peter Pratt

Best Bush Ballad
Country Towns
Graham Rodger


2005

Best Male Vocal
Lee Kernaghan

Best Female Vocal
Felicity Urquhart

Best Group or Duo
Sovereign

Best Song
Same Ol' Love
Rob Wilson

Best Album
Family Tree
Melinda Schneider

Best Heritage Song
Tractor Pioneers
Peter Pratt

Best Bush Ballad
Bottle Tree Lane
Brendon Walmsley


2004

Best Male Vocal
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Female Vocal
Melinda Schneider

Best Group or Duo
Wolverines

Best Song
Lead Me Home
Carter & Carter

Best Album
Rhythm Of The Highway
Travis Sinclair

Best Heritage Song
The Slim Dusty Show
Owen Blundell

Best Bush Ballad
Spirit Of The High Country
Lee Kernaghan


2003

Best Male Vocal
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Female Vocal
Melinda Schneider

Best Group or Duo
Wolverines

Best Song
Story Of My Life
Melinda Schneider

Best Album
Happy Tears
Melinda Schneider

Best Heritage Song
The Anzac - Adam Brand
The Outback's Come To Town - Arthur Blanch

Best Bush Ballad
Travellin' Still...Always Will
Anne Kirkpatrick


2002

Best Male Vocal
Adam Brand

Best Female Vocal
Beccy Cole

Best Group or Duo
Magnificent 7

Best Song
A Little Place Called Love
Carter & Carter

Best Album
Dance Away The Night – Carter & Carter

Best Heritage Song
The Land Of Waltzing Matilda
Brian Letton

Best Bush Ballad
Land Of The Big Gun Drovers
Brendon Walmsley


2001

Best Male Vocal
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Female Vocal
Tania Kernaghan

Best Group or Duo
Magnificent 7

Best Song
Looking Forward Looking Back – Slim Dusty

Best Album
Looking Forward Looking Back – Slim Dusty

Best Heritage Song
They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore
Troy Cassar-Daley

Best Bush Ballad
The Old Tin Roof – Tracy Coster


2000

Best Male Vocal
Craig Giles

Best Female Vocal
Tania Kernaghan

Best Group or Duo
Dead Ringer Band

Best Song
Grandpa’s Piano
Adam Brand

Best Album
True Believer
Troy Cassar-Daley


Pre 2000

Prior to 2000, only one set of Australian country music people's choice awards were presented, in 1998 at Rooty Hill in Sydney

No details of award winners for those first Awards are available

© Copyright, Country Music Bulletin