Australian country music sensation, three-time Golden Guitar winner (including the top selling ARIA Charts Australian Country Album in 2025) and two-time ARIA Award nominee James Johnston will hit another major career milestone when he takes home the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award at the 2026 CMA International Awards – which recognises outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist who is originally based internationally.
Johnston was surprised last Thursday evening at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville by Grand Ole Opry member and GRAMMY®, CMA, and ACM Award–winning singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde, who delivered the news on one of country music’s most historic stages and personally invited him back for his Grand Ole Opry debut performance this November.
The Country Music Association (CMA) announced the winners overnight of the 2026 CMA International Awards, which honours the individuals whose work has helped carry country music to fans around the world. Honorees will be celebrated during a special reception on Tuesday 17 November, in downtown Nashville, during a pre-telecast ceremony at The 60th Annual CMA Awards.
Speaking on the win, Johnston said, “I’ve always just written songs about the life I know, where I come from and the people around me, so seeing those songs connect with people on the other side of the world is incredibly special.
I’m really proud of where I come from, and the fact I get to take a little piece of home with me every time I step on a stage is something I’ll never take for granted.
A massive thank you to the CMA for this honour, and especially to everyone who’s come to a show, listened to a song, shared it or told a mate about my music. You guys have taken these songs further than I ever thought they’d go, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.”
The CMA International Award win caps off a whirlwind global run for James Johnston, cementing his position as the leading face of Australian country music. He recently wrapped his debut UK headline tour with a string of sold-out shows, including a standout mainstage set at Country Calling Festival and a high-energy date in Manchester, where he even joined fans for a line-dancing takeover to his smash hit ‘ONE MORE’.
Back home, Johnston recently scored an ARIA Award nomination for Best Video for ‘ONE MORE’. He’ll keep that live momentum rolling this October with a run of Australian festival dates, including appearances at The Bend Classic, SA and Strummingbird Festivals, VIC, NSW and QLD.
ABOUT JAMES JOHNSTON:
James Johnston has amassed more than 210 million global streams, earned three Golden Guitar Awards, and has achieved six #1 country radio hits. Notably, his 2025 sophomore album, WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME became the top-selling ARIA Charts Australian Country Album of that year, and his debut album RAISED LIKE THAT spent 35 weeks at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart.
2026 has been another massive year for James Johnston. Further cementing his status as one of Australia’s country music leading voices, James received standout recognition at the 2026 Countrytown Awards, where fan votes saw him take home Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year, alongside Song of the Year and Album of the Year. On the live front, James has lit up stages at CMC Rocks 2026, Sweden’s High Chaparral Country Festival, UK’s Country Calling Festival and Australia’s Gympie Music Muster, delivering unforgettable sets packed with fan favourites and tracks from his latest album. James has recently returned home from playing his debut headline show in Canada at Ranchman’s, Calgary for festival appearances at Australia’s The Bend Classic and Strummingbird Festivals.
In 2025 James released his highly-anticipated sophomore album WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME. Reuniting with long-time producer and friend Jared Adlam (Adam Brand, Lee Kernaghan) and collaborating with mentor and country superstar Morgan Evans, Johnston delivers a record that reflects both personal growth and global ambition. In addition to his remarkable success in Australia, James returned to South Africa, where he won Song of the Year at the 2025 Bokkies for his collaboration with local artist Appel on their single ‘COUNTRY IS FOR ME’.
James’ history-making 20-track debut album, RAISED LIKE THAT, was nominated for Best Country Album at the 2024 ARIA Awards. The album staged a sell-out five-city Australian regional tour and became the most in-demand streamed Australian country music album. At the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival, James won Best New Talent and Best Vocal Collaboration with his friend Kaylee Bell. That same year, James was nominated for a QMA Award, an APRA Music Award, and was a Rolling Stone Australia Award nominee.
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