Nashville Universe is a social media website for musicians, singers and bands, similar to Facebook, and works so that people can get together and get their music out there. “Someone recommended I join up to it, so I did a few months ago and have had a pretty good response since then,” Wendy said.

“You have to be nominated by somebody for the awards and I was nominated for Female Vocal, Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year.

“They had one round of voting and there were 20 people in the first round, then it had to be cut down to five.”

After the public vote, Wendy made it into the finalists of Female Vocal and Songwriter of the Year; voting has begun again to decide the winners.

“Voting finishes on January 31 and the awards ceremony is on February 17 in Nashville,” she said.

“Anyone can get on and vote at thenashvilleuniverse.com and you can only vote once.”

Along with Wendy, The Viper Creek Band, with members from Narrabri, is also nominated for Video of the Year.

“I was totally shocked when I was told I’d been nominated in the first place, but I wouldn’t be in the final five if it wasn’t for the people who voted for me,” she said. “I really need them to get behind me again.” 

Wendy is no stranger to awards and during the festival she will also vie for a People’s Choice Award for Vocal Event, for a duet with Steve Charles, and for Album of the Year for Enchanted Wood. At the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association Awards she’s also a finalist for Contemporary Song of the Year.