The Tamworth singer-songwriter said she could not speak when she got the phone call from Star Maker co-ordinator Cheryl Byrnes that she had made it into the long-running country music talent quest.

“She informed me I was one of the finalists and I was in shock for a while. I’m pretty sure I didn’t say anything for a while but ‘wow’ and ‘oh my God’,” Forbes said.

“I didn’t know what to say.”

This is something that Forbes has wanted to achieve, as she has entered once before.

“I keep telling myself that there is a one-in-10 chance that I could win,” she said.

“I didn’t think things like this happened to people my age (37), but you just never know, because Bob Corbett won it when he was 40. He’s one to aspire to, because he’s done some amazing things since he won.”

Forbes said she wanted to be part of Star Maker because it was such a prestigious part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“Toyota Star Maker is the heart and soul of the festival, because it’s something that’s been there for so long,” she said.

“It’s always been somewhere to look for the future of country music and there are so many who have done amazing things after Toyota Star Maker, even if they didn’t win. Troy Cassar-Daley is a perfect example of that (Keith Urban won the year Troy entered).”

As well as the competition side, the country artist said she looked forward to meeting the other entrants.

“I know the show at the town hall is going to be a massive one and I think the friendships you make out of it are so great,” Forbes said.

“There is going to be some networking.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a lot of fun and it will add another element to the festival for me.”

Forbes said she hoped it would be the next step in her country music career.

“I have a single coming out two days before the Toyota Star Maker finals, so I will perform that, but I don’t know what the other song will be yet,” she said.

The single, Augustine, was recorded with ARIA Award-winning artist and producer Shane Nicholson, and Forbes plans to release an EP of the same name in early March.

As well as Star Maker, Forbes has a busy festival planned, with one of the other highlights being a show with Jess Holland at the Tudor Hotel.

She will also host the Medicine Show Sessions, also at the Tudor.

“It’s going to be a very big festival, with a lot of new things, which is exciting,” she said.

“It’s called the Medicine Show Sessions because hopefully the shows will cure any ailments you may have.

“It’s a hats off to alt-country.”

The other finalists are Damien Agius, Hayley Jensen, Hayley Marsten, Karin Page, Kate Hindle, Liam Kennedy-Clark, Missy Lancaster, Sharmain Kendrick and Tom Coulson.

The Toyota Star Maker finals are on Sunday, January 17, at the Tamworth Town Hall.

The grand final is in Bicentennial Park on Friday, January 22.