“Prettiest Wreck,” The Voice Australia & Taking Country Music Worldwide | Tori Darke
Australian country artist Tori Darke joined Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza during CMA Fest 2026 to talk about bringing her music from Australia to Nashville, appearing on The Voice Australia, her new era of music and building a country career that now reaches fans around the world.
Fresh off competing on Team LeAnn Rimes on The Voice Australia, Tori made the trip across the world for her first CMA Fest—and she's arriving at an exciting point in a career that continues to grow well beyond Australia.
Australian country artist Tori Darke during her Heart of the Gulch interview at CMA Fest 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Australia Meets Nashville
Flying from Australia to Nashville for CMA Fest isn't exactly a quick road trip.
For Tori, however, performing in the United States represents another step toward building a truly international career.
During the conversation, she breaks down some of the differences she's experienced between Australian and American country music, from the artists and live scenes to the fans themselves.
Despite being thousands of miles apart, both audiences share the same passion for country music.
Touring With Lee Kernaghan
Back home, Tori has shared the road with one of Australian country music's biggest names: Lee Kernaghan.
Touring alongside the Australian country legend gave her another opportunity to perform in front of established country audiences while continuing to build a fanbase of her own.
Now she's taking those experiences overseas as Nashville, the United Kingdom and the United States become increasingly important parts of her touring plans.
“Prettiest Wreck” and a New Music Era
Tori is also entering a new chapter creatively.
During the interview, she discusses “Prettiest Wreck,” “You Better Think” and “Build Me A Man” while opening up about the real-life experiences that continue to inspire her songwriting.
“Prettiest Wreck” points toward the next era of Tori Darke's music and an upcoming EP as she continues developing a sound built around honest storytelling and modern country influences.
The conversation also turns to Shania Twain and the artists who helped shape the kind of country music Tori wants to make.
From The Voice Australia to CMA Fest
Tori's appearance on The Voice Australia introduced another audience to her music.
Competing on Team LeAnn Rimes added a major television moment to a career that had already been built through years of writing, recording and performing.
But television and live music are very different experiences.
Tori talks about the contrast between recording music and stepping onto a stage, where the connection with an audience happens immediately.
At CMA Fest, she got to experience that connection with American country fans firsthand.
Tori Darke joins Heart of the Gulch to discuss “Prettiest Wreck,” The Voice Australia, Team LeAnn Rimes, Lee Kernaghan and bringing Australian country music to Nashville.
The Artist and the Businesswoman
Building an independent music career today requires far more than writing songs.
Tori also handles the realities of being a businesswoman, content creator and independent artist.
Social media, branding, touring, fan engagement and career management have all become part of the job.
It's a side of the music industry audiences don't always see—but for independent artists, understanding the business can be just as important as what happens in the studio.
That work has helped Tori develop a particularly dedicated audience, including fans who've shown their support through gifts—and even tattoos.
Tori Darke joins Heart of the Gulch to discuss “Prettiest Wreck,” The Voice Australia, Team LeAnn Rimes, Lee Kernaghan and bringing Australian country music to Nashville.
Taking Australian Country Music Worldwide
Tori's ambitions aren't limited to one country.
With touring plans across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, she's building a career designed to travel.
And while Nashville represents an important part of that journey, her Australian identity remains firmly attached to everything she's doing.
Yes, that even means discussing Vegemite.
From The Voice Australia to her first CMA Fest and a new era of music led by songs like “Prettiest Wreck,” Tori Darke is proving that today's country music world stretches far beyond Nashville.
She's bringing Australia along for the ride.
Watch Tori Darke on Heart of the Gulch
Watch the full Tori Darke interview from CMA Fest 2026 as she joins Tony Mendoza to discuss The Voice Australia, LeAnn Rimes, “Prettiest Wreck,” Lee Kernaghan, Australian country music, building an independent career and taking her music around the world.
Interview Chapters
0:00 — Tori Darke Interview at CMA Fest 2026
0:43 — Flying from Australia to Nashville for CMA Fest
1:24 — Touring with Lee Kernaghan: Australia's Country Music Legend
2:09 — Australian Country Music vs. American Country Music
3:03 — Nashville Crowds, CMA Fest & Performing in the USA
3:54 — Tori Darke Explains Her New Single “You Better Think”
4:48 — “Build Me A Man,” Shania Twain & Modern Country Music
6:31 — Fan Tattoos, Fan Gifts & Building the Tori Darke Fanbase
7:15 — Running a Country Music Career as a Businesswoman
8:25 — Social Media Strategy, Branding & Independent Artists
9:28 — Recording Music vs. Performing Live on Stage
10:27 — “Prettiest Wreck,” New EP & Tori Darke's Next Music Era
11:34 — Touring America, the UK & Australia
12:59 — Vegemite, Australian Culture & Life Down Under
14:00 — Future Goals, New Music & What's Next for Tori Darke
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.
