Troy Cassar-Daley returned to the house where his beloved mother died to make music in her honour.
His poignant album Between The Fires, recorded in his mother Irene's lounge room in rural NSW, earned the country star five Golden Guitar awards in Tamworth on Saturday night.
The Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung singer-songwriter swept the major categories, winning Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for the track Some Days.
Cassar-Daley said his musical collaborators were supportive of recording in the family home at Halfway Creek, in the Clarence Valley.
"(They said) the best thing about this record is that it's only going to sound like your mum's house," he told the crowd.
He also paid tribute to his wife Laurel Edwards for standing by him as he grieved.
"I didn't mean to push everyone away," Cassar-Daley said, his voice surging with emotion.
"It's just that sometimes to heal you have to take the journey on your own."
The win takes Cassar-Daley's collection of Golden Guitars to 45.
Keith Urban flew into Australia's country music capital to be inducted into the Roll of Renown, which honours artists who have made a significant contribution to the industry.
He also accepted a Golden Guitar for Top Selling Album of the Year for his record High.
Urban spent the day making surprise appearances around town, taking the stage at The Tamworth Hotel and delighting fans at the Big Golden Guitar on a typically sweltering festival day.
Accepting his inclusion on the roll, Urban said he found early believers in his music in Tamworth.
"Thank you to the city of Tamworth because I have so many memories here," he said, also thanking his wife Nicole Kidman and their daughters Sunday and Faith.
Tamworth local Ashleigh Dallas took home the award for Traditional Country Album of the Year for Setting Suns.
Dallas, who is a third-generation Golden Guitar winner, said her work became more honest and vulnerable after the birth of her two daughters.
"I want to show the next generation, and obviously my girls, that being who you are is all we should be asking for," she told AAP.
Max Jackson, a festival ambassador, won two awards, Female Artist of the Year and Single of the Year for Little More Country.
Jackson said she wrote the song about the best of country people.
"They come together when times are tough and times are good," she said.
GOLDEN GUITAR WINNERS 2025
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
* Max Jackson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
* Troy Cassar-Daley
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
* Between The Fires - Troy Cassar-Daley
SONG OF THE YEAR
* Some Days - Troy Cassar-Daley
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
* Little More Country - Max Jackson
ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
* Between the Fires - Troy Cassar-Daley
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
* Setting Suns - Ashleigh Dallas
HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
* Windradyne - Troy Cassar-Daley
VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
* Beer in a Bar - The Wolfe Brothers and Kaylee Bell
