Australia’s Country Star Has Her Eyes on Nashville | Max Jackson
Max Jackson traveled a long way to get to Nashville — but the Australian country artist wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
When we caught up with Max during CMA Fest 2025, she was celebrating her first performance at the festival, fresh off two major Golden Guitar wins and the release of her single “A Country Heart Can.”
Australian country artist Max Jackson during her Heart of the Gulch interview in Nashville.
The excitement was obvious. But behind it was an artist who had already spent years building one of the fastest-rising careers in Australian country music.
Inside Max Jackson’s Heart of the Gulch Interview
Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, a Nashville-based interview show and country music platform featuring artists, singer-songwriters and personalities shaping music and entertainment. Host and creator Tony Mendoza sat down with Australian country artist Max Jackson during CMA Fest to talk Nashville, “A Country Heart Can,” her Little More Country Sessions and the momentum carrying her music beyond Australia.
One of Australian Country Music’s Biggest Rising Names
Max grew up in Coonamble, New South Wales, before eventually making her way onto much bigger stages.
A major turning point came when she won Toyota Star Maker in 2022, joining a list of previous winners that includes Keith Urban. Two years later, Max was named New Talent of the Year at Australia's Golden Guitar Awards.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza interviewing Australian country artist Max Jackson.
Then 2025 took things to another level.
Max won Female Artist of the Year, while “Little More Country” earned Single of the Year at the Golden Guitar Awards — two of the biggest honors in Australian country music.
A Country Heart Can
Max Jackson discussing her music and “A Country Heart Can” during her Nashville interview.
Just days before CMA Fest, Max released “A Country Heart Can,” another step in a sound built around her Australian roots and love for country storytelling. The single arrived May 30, following her Little More Country Sessions EP earlier that year.
During our conversation, Max talked about how those roots continue influencing her songwriting even as her career takes her farther around the world.
And Nashville is becoming an increasingly important part of that story.
Australia Meets Nashville
Country music may have brought Max halfway around the world, but CMA Fest gave her the chance to introduce herself to an entirely new audience.
We talked about what it meant to perform in Nashville, the growing connection between Australian and American country music, and why standing on a CMA Fest stage felt like another major milestone.
Considering everything already happening around her career, it certainly didn't feel like her last trip to Music City.
Watch Max Jackson on Heart of the Gulch
Watch our full conversation with Max Jackson as she talks about Australian country music, “A Country Heart Can,” her Golden Guitar wins, Little More Country Sessions and performing in Nashville during CMA Fest.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, singer-songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
