The 2025 Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) were held in Tamworth on January 25, with Clarence Valley country music star and proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man Troy Cassar-Daley one of the most celebrated artists on the night.

Cassar-Daley won five Golden Guitars, bringing his total to a record 45.

Nominated across six categories, Cassar-Daley won Heritage Song of the Year – Windradyne; Male Artist of the Year; Song of the Year – Some Days; Alternative/Americana Country Album of the Year – Between the Fires, and Toyota Album of the Year – Between the Fires.

He also received a nomination for Single of the Year – Let’s Ride.

Since releasing his first single more than 30 years ago, Cassar-Daley has become one of Australia’s most beloved singer/songwriters.

Renowned for his brutal honesty and heartfelt lyrics which share resonating stories of love, family, culture, and the many ups and downs which life can throw at you, Cassar-Daley, who created his fourteenth studio album Between The Fires following the heartbreaking loss of his mother Irene Daley in 2022, spoke openly during the night about the emotions he experienced and the deep-seeded grief he felt throughout the past two and a half years, describing it as his most personal work to date.

Fighting back tears as he was welcomed onto the stage amidst rousing applause on multiple occasions to accept his respective awards, Cassar-Daley revealed he “didn’t really include everyone” in the process as he grieved for his mum, and “didn’t mean to push everyone away.”

“Sometimes, to heal you have to take the journey on your own,” he explained as he went on to acknowledge his wife Laurel Edwards and their kids for their love and support.

Cassar-Daley also shared an important message surrounding men’s mental health after accepting the Golden Guitar for Song of the Year – Some Days.

“Allow yourself to have a bad day,” he encouraged, adding “not everything is going to be glorious like (it is) on the internet.”

“I call b******t when I see all that, I say if you’re going to have a bad day, sit down and have it. “Some days are better than others.”

In a statement released on social media over the weekend, Cassar-Daley said he still couldn’t believe he had won five Golden Guitars.

“I’m honoured because this record was just a place to hide for a while till the storm of grief passed,” he wrote.

“Thankfully, there wasn’t too much damage when I finally walked outside.”

This article appeared in the  Clarence Valley Independent, 29 January 2025.