There’s just one week left to enter Toyota Star Maker – Australia’s longest running
and most prestigious country music talent search.
Crowned in January 2026, during the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival,
the 46th Toyota Star Maker will join an impressive suite of alumni including Keith
Urban, Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Travis Collins, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy
Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Kirsty Lee Akers, Samantha McClymont, Blake O’Connor,
Kaylee Bell, Max Jackson and Wade Forster.
The competition attracts emerging country music artists from all over the nation. Ten
finalists are given a platform to take their career to the next level, with only one being
crowned the final winner.
The winner takes home a prize package valued at over $100k, including a fully
serviced Toyota motor vehicle with fuel card, a four-track EP, a return trip to Nashville
courtesy of Chris Watson Travel, instruments from Maton and Fender and products
from Jands.
Toyota Star Maker Manager, Cheryl Brown says the competition is a transformative
opportunity.
“Star Maker is a launch pad, designed for individuals who’ve already begun their
journey as a country music artist, and who are ready for a long and successful
career in the music business. We’re looking for someone with clear direction and a
plan—someone we can support and help elevate to the next level. If you’re ready to
work hard and make your mark, we encourage you to enter.” Cheryl says.
In January 2025, Felicity Kircher became the 45th Toyota Star Maker. This year she
has toured with Australian country icon Kasey Chambers, playing fiddle and singing
backing vocals. Felicity’s unique alt country influence has come from 15 years of live
performance and music experience. Her ability to cross genres and deliver jazz, pop,
soul and r‘n’b music is a gift, but her heart lies in country.
In June, Felicity performed on the CMA Spotlight Stage at CMA Fest in Nashville.
This August, she released a new single ‘fair weather’ and is working on new
music for her Star Maker EP. Later this year she will appear at other festivals like
Strummingbird, Groundwater and Savannah In The Round, Deni Ute Muster, and
Sunset Bash in Penrith NSW.
Last year’s winner Wade Forster earned a top-five CMAA New Talent of the Year
nomination at the Golden Guitar Awards in January and more recently became the
Countrytown Breakthrough Artist of the Year. This year he toured Australia and New
Zealand with fellow cowboy – US superstar Cody Johnson – on his Leather Deluxe
Tour. In September he’ll take on the USA, performing at The Valley Music Festival in
Sun Valley, Idaho (Sept 4-6) with Shane Smith & The Saints and previous touring
mates The Lowdown Drifters on the main stage, before he heads to the Born &
Raised festival in Pryor, Oklahoma (Sept 10-13), joining Treaty Oak Revival, Jamey
Johnson, Blackberry Smoke and 49 Winchester.
Other Star Maker alumni attracting attention include 1990 winner Keith Urban, who
was inducted into the Roll of Renown in January and is set to tour Australia in August
2025; Kaylee Bell, who recently became the first female Australasian country artist to
reach 100 million streams on Spotify; and Lee Kernaghan, who hit the road in May
with his Boys From The Bush ‘The Concert’ tour with 30 dates across the country.
Other winners, such as Travis Collins, Brendon Walmsley, Lyn Bowtell, Loren Ryan,
Kirsty Lee Akers and Rachael Fahim all have new singles out while Nashville-based,
Kylie Sackley, alongside co-writers Timothy Cooper and Justin Morgan, won APRA’s
Most Performed Country Work for Cooper Alan’s Take Forever (Hally’s Song).
The iconic event has been proudly sponsored by Toyota Australia for a record 30
consecutive years.
Toyota Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo, said Toyota is proud to
continue its long-standing support of the Toyota Star Maker competition as it
celebrates over 30 years of partnership.
“As Australia’s longest-running and most respected country music talent search, the
Toyota Star Maker competition continues to uncover emerging artists and provide
them with invaluable career opportunities.”
“This platform remains a crucial stepping stone for up-and-coming country music
talent looking to make their mark in the industry, and I encourage all aspiring artists
across the country to get involved.”
“With a significant prize package and unmatched exposure, the competition offers
the winner an incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in the industry and kick-start their professional career.” said Mr Naidoo.
Artists wishing to enter the 46th Toyota Star Maker should review the Conditions of
Entry at starmaker.com.au. Entries close 1 September 2025. The top 10 finalists will
be announced later this year and will perform at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final in Toyota Park on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at the 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival.