We don't put up a paywall – we believe in free access to information of public interest. Competition was strong on all descriptions of cattle at Gracemere on Wednesday. The Star Maker grand final was one of the highlights on day 3 of the Tamworth Country Music festival.
A Townsville country music singer has won the prestigious Star Maker award at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival. She said she's still in "utter shock" following the announcement. After launching her debut single Drowning My Sorrows in May last year, she's had a whirlwind year of touring, appearances at festivals and rodeos and even a songwriting trip to Nashville.White, who also works as a private vocal and guitar coach, recently relocated to Newcastle, NSW, to tak advantage of its music scene while working to take her career to the next level. Townsville singer, songwriter Sammy White has been announced as the 2020 Star Maker in front of thousands of country music fans last night in Tamworth. "There's a small music scene in Townsville but just in terms of opportunities, Newcastle was a better place for me to be right now," she said. Buy rural and agricultural books and DVDs online. The award is one of the highest honours for emerging country acts in Australia with the Star Maker's 41-year history littered with first-class alumni like Keith Urban, Gina Jeffreys, Lee Kernaghan and James Blundell. WHEN Sammy White hit the alarm on Monday morning things had changed a bit. "Sammy is in good company with other female artists who have taken out the Star Maker crown and who are now leading the way in Australian country music including Beccy Cole, Gina Jeffreys, Lyn Bowtell and Kaylee Bell, and we look forward to watching her journey as 2020 Toyota Star Maker," he said.White's prize package includes the use of a new Toyota vehicle and a fuel card for 12 months, a return trip to Nashville for CMA Fest and performance in the Aussie showcase. It’s a well-deserved and significant achievement, and we are so pleased to have been able to be part of what will no doubt be a huge career in music,” he said.Sammy drew rapturous applause from the crowd of country music fans and, along with the other finalists, entertained the audience in true country style as each performed two songs to compete for the title of Toyota Star Maker.Toyota Star Maker producer Barry Harley said: “Congratulations to Sammy White on winning the 2020 Star Maker title.“Sammy is in good company with other female artists who have taken out the Star Maker crown and who are now leading the way in Australian country music including Beccy Cole, Gina Jeffreys, Lyn Bowtell and Kaylee Bell, and we look forward to watching her journey as the 2020 Toyota Star Maker,” he said.Growing up in Townsville with Johnny Cash, Charley Pride and Willie Nelson on high rotation in the family home, Sammy had country music ingrained so it’s no surprise that her debut single Drowning my Sorrows, shot straight to #5 on the iTunes Country Charts within 24 hours of its release.Since then Sammy has toured extensively, also fitting in a trip to Nashville for a week-long songwriting trip, a place she will relish returning to as the winner of the Toyota Star Maker.Sammy was chosen as the 2020 Star Maker by a judging panel of industry professionals including CMAA Chairman and artist manager Dan Biddle, Program director of KiX Country Radio Network Justin Thomson, Manager of the Pub Group Craig Power, founder of HSF Artist Services Tom Inglis, artist manager Greg Shaw, and journalist and presenter on the ABC’s Saturday Night Country program Scott Lamond.Tens of millions of dollars could be deployed to regional economies to help save hundreds…New analysis from The Australia Institute shows the Government’s decision to cut the JobSeeker Coronavirus…A man has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl at…Police are investigating a crash overnight at Paracombe.