Australia to Nashville, “Golden Girl” & Finding Her True Sound | Melanie Dyer
Australian country artist Melanie Dyer joined Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza during CMA Fest 2026 to talk about making Nashville home, the stories behind “Golden Girl” and “Mama Knows Best,” and creating what she believes is the most authentic music of her career.
After nearly a decade of traveling between Australia and Nashville to write and record, Dyer finally made the move to Music City. Now, thousands of miles from the family farm where she grew up, she's finding herself drawn closer than ever to the country roots that started it all.
Australian country artist Melanie Dyer during her Heart of the Gulch interview at CMA Fest 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Australia to Nashville
Nashville wasn't a sudden decision for Melanie.
For nearly 10 years, she traveled back and forth from Australia, building relationships, writing songs and slowly establishing a life within Nashville's country music community.
Eventually, she decided it was time to stop visiting and make Music City home.
That move came with sacrifice. Melanie opens up about missing her family in Australia and adjusting to life on the other side of the world—but taking that chance has also given her a new perspective on the stories she wants to tell.
The Story Behind “Mama Knows Best”
Family is becoming an increasingly important part of Melanie's songwriting.
“Mama Knows Best” draws from that relationship and the lessons that have stayed with her as she's built a career thousands of miles away from home.
Growing up on her family's farm in Australia gave Melanie experiences that she's now finding her way back to creatively.
Instead of moving further away from her roots, her newest chapter is bringing her closer to them.
“Golden Girl” and a Love Story That Started at a Truck Stop
One of the best stories from the conversation comes from “Golden Girl.”
While discussing the song, Melanie shares the true story of how her parents met—at a truck stop in Australia.
It's exactly the kind of family story that has become central to the music she's making now: personal, specific and unmistakably hers.
Songs like “Golden Girl” are helping Melanie build a project that feels less like she's chasing a particular sound and more like she's finally documenting where she came from.
Tony Mendoza, host of Heart of the Gulch, interviews Australian country artist Melanie Dyer about new music, CMA Fest 2026, and her journey from Australia to Nashville.
Finding Her Most Authentic Sound
Melanie describes her upcoming album as the project she would give someone who asked one simple question:
Who is Melanie Dyer?
After exploring more pop-influenced sounds earlier in her career, she's finding herself returning to country music and the stories that feel closest to home.
The result is an album shaped by family, Australia, Nashville and the experiences that came with leaving one home to build another.
Melanie plans to release the project around October 2026.
Testing New Music at CMA Fest
CMA Fest has also given Melanie an opportunity to see how audiences react to songs that haven't even been released yet.
After performing on the Chevy Vibes Stage at CMA Fest 2026, she talks about using live shows to test new material and learning from the immediate reaction of country music fans.
It's one thing to live with a song in a writing room or studio.
It's another to put it in front of thousands of people and see whether they connect.
Melanie Dyer talks “Golden Girl,” “Mama Knows Best,” moving from Australia to Nashville, and her upcoming country album on Heart of the Gulch.
Imposter Syndrome and Betting on Yourself
Moving across the world and starting another chapter doesn't mean self-doubt suddenly disappears.
Melanie speaks openly about experiencing imposter syndrome and learning to trust herself as an artist.
Her story is ultimately about taking the chance anyway.
After years of traveling between two countries, Melanie Dyer has planted herself in Nashville and is creating a project rooted more deeply in who she is than ever before.
From an Australian family farm to CMA Fest in downtown Nashville, she's betting on herself—and bringing a little piece of home with her.
Watch Melanie Dyer on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full Melanie Dyer interview from CMA Fest 2026 as she joins Tony Mendoza to discuss moving from Australia to Nashville, “Golden Girl,” “Mama Knows Best,” her upcoming album, CMA Fest and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Interview Chapters
0:00 — Melanie Dyer Interview | CMA Fest 2026
0:53 — Moving from Australia to Nashville
2:18 — The Story Behind “Mama Knows Best”
3:37 — “Golden Girl” & Her Parents' Love Story
4:50 — Songwriting, Performing & Life at CMA Fest
6:22 — Testing New Unreleased Music on Fans
7:02 — Melanie Dyer's New Album & Finding Her True Sound
8:20 — Leaving Pop Behind & Returning to Her Country Roots
9:02 — Imposter Syndrome & Believing in Yourself
10:32 — New Album, Nashville Shows & What's Next
11:32 — Final Thoughts
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
