US creep a blessing and curse for young country artists

Young country musicians have been urged not to forget the Australian sound as American artists become increasingly popular.

Country music has experienced a boom in listeners with US singers like Luke Combs and Cody Johnson touring Australia in recent years, while Beyoncé dipped her toe into the genre with her 2024 album Cowboy Carter.

These international artists are often cited as a source of inspiration for up-and-coming country musicians, many of whom have flocked to Tamworth as Australia’s largest country music festival gets underway.

Country music legend Sara Storer understands why the American sound maintains a presence in the local scene.

“If that’s the music they love and enjoy, you’ve got to play it and sing it,” she told AAP.

“I just hope the young ones still believe in a good Aussie story and a good Aussie sound.

“Don’t forget us, because our place here is incredible, and our characters in our bush are really incredible, and we can’t stop singing about them.”

While she isn’t worried about the inclusion of US influences, Storer does not want American-style music to be the only sound on Australian country airwaves.

“People think that’s the only way now and it’s the only sound we should be doing because it is so successful,” she said.

“They get scared and think, ‘I can’t be an Aussie singer-songwriter because no one’s going to listen to me or play me’.

“We’re going to end up without our John Williamsons and our Paul Kellys and our Australian storytellers with an Australian sound because it’s hard work.”

Despite these challenges, she is confident Australian-sounding country music will eventually make a comeback and has vowed to continue singing bush songs at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Across more than two decades of appearances at the festival, Storer has won more than 20 Golden Guitars and has been nominated for four categories at the 2026 awards.

But throughout her career, she has never enjoyed performing as much as she does now.

For Storer, it offers a direct connection to audiences and other musicians in an industry increasingly dominated by streaming and AI-generated music.

“When I first started, I was such an anxious singer … Now I couldn’t care less if there’s 10 people there,” she said.

“I have such an appreciation of who’s playing alongside me to create my music, and whoever comes along to share that experience with me.

“Every concert is like the first concert I’m ever going to do, and my last concert.”

Storer has been nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Heritage Song of the Year, and Contemporary Country Album of the Year at the 2026 Golden Guitar Awards.

AAP travelled with the assistance of Tamworth Country Music Festival