Kasey Chambers’ “The Divorce Song” Strikes a Chord, Wins Top Golden Guitar Awards
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A poignant exploration of heartbreak and enduring connection, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson’s “The Divorce Song” resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike, earning the duo the coveted Song and Single of the Year awards at the 54th Country Music Awards of Australia, also known as the Golden Guitar Awards, on Saturday night.
A Surprisingly Successful Split
Chambers, accepting the awards, playfully remarked, “I think if we’d known that divorce was such a career move, we would have done it sooner.” This lighthearted comment belies the genuine emotional depth of the song, born from the aftermath of her separation from Nicholson. The success of “The Divorce Song” underscores a remarkably positive co-parenting relationship and creative partnership that has continued to flourish despite personal changes.
Chambers also secured the Alt Country Album of the Year award for Backbone, bringing her career total of Golden Guitar awards to an impressive 28. She expressed profound gratitude to Nicholson, stating, “I want to thank Shane for this song because you are still one of my favourite singer-songwriters in the whole wide world.” She continued, acknowledging a period of distance, “You weren’t for a couple of years, but you’re back in there now,” and emphasized the significance of his willingness to collaborate on the project. “It was really special that you took a chance on this song, for me. We definitely do divorce better than we did marriage.”
Written in Text Messages, Rooted in a Decade of Life
Nicholson revealed the unconventional writing process behind the hit song, explaining that “The Divorce Song” was entirely composed via text message. “We didn’t want to test fate, we knew what could go wrong,” he said. Despite the brevity of the actual writing session – “maybe an hour” – Nicholson emphasized that the song was the culmination of “maybe 10 years of living, learning and growing.” He expressed pride in the song’s message, believing it offers a positive example for others navigating similar experiences, including their children.
The Wolfe Brothers Dominate with “Australian Made”
While Chambers’ success was a highlight of the evening, Tasmanian duo The Wolfe Brothers were the night’s biggest winners, taking home five Golden Guitar awards. Their album, Australian Made, secured the Album of the Year title for the second time. The album’s creation was spurred by a contemplation of relocating to the United States, ultimately leading the brothers Tom and Nick Wolfe to reaffirm their commitment to their Australian roots.
The Wolfe Brothers underscored the importance of supporting Australian country music, with Nick Wolfe stating, “We’re in the middle of a moment where country music is really big in Australia, and it’s never been more important that we champion and celebrate the incredible Australian artists we have here.” Tom Wolfe added, “We have the talent, we’ve got the best songwriters in the country.” Their additional wins included Contemporary Country Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Vocal Collaboration of the Year (with Zac & George), and Heritage Song of the Year, bringing their total Golden Guitar count to 15.
A Lifetime of Dedication Honored
The Country Music Capital award, a rarely presented accolade, was bestowed upon Barry Harley OAM, coordinator of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Harley, who is stepping down after 54 years of involvement with the festival, humbly accepted the award, acknowledging the collaborative nature of his achievements. “I genuinely feel like an impostor because nothing that I’ve been involved in or achieved has been done on my own,” he said. “You can see much further and much clearer if you stand on the shoulders of giants, and I’ve been fortunate to work with giants… if I may just graciously accept this award on behalf of all those people.”
Full List of 2026 Golden Guitar Award Winners:
- Album of the Year: Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
- Alt Country Album of the Year: Backbone – Kasey Chambers
- Contemporary Country Album of the Year: Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
- Traditional Country Album of the Year: Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
- Male Artist of the Year: Wade Forster
- Female Artist of the Year: Max Jackson
- Group or Duo of the Year: The Wolfe Brothers
- Vocal Collaboration of the Year: “How Many One More Times” – The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George
- Bush Ballad of the Year: “Wild Roan Brumby” – William Alexander
- Heritage Song of the Year: Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
- Instrumental of the Year: “Lyrebird” – Wicker Suite
- Bluegrass Recording of the Year: Born to Roam – Sons of Atticus
- New Talent of the Year: Wade Forster
- Song of the Year: “The Divorce Song” – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
- Video of the Year: “Look at Me Now” – Fanny Lumsden
- Single of the Year: “The Divorce Song” – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
- Top Selling Album of the Year: Where You’ll Find Me – James Johnston
The 54th Country Music Awards of Australia demonstrated the vibrancy and resilience of the Australian country music scene, celebrating both established stars and emerging talent, and proving that even from heartbreak, beautiful and award-winning music can emerge.
