Out of nowhere in the festival crowds, the number-one chart topper Lee Kernaghan appeared and watched the aspiring star sing and placed $20 in his guitar case.

"It felt like winning the lottery," Collins said.

"He took off his hat, shook my hand and said well done mate, you sang that better than I did.

"It stayed with me forever... this guy just exposed himself by walking thorugh the crowd, he stayed and signed autographes.

"It took him about 25 minutes to make that one kind gesture - that's country music right there, it's not just about the music, it's about the people doing it."

Years later Travis Collins is now up against Kernaghan in the 2018 Golden Guitar awards.

After taking out three this year, he's up for six for his collaboration with Amber Lawrence, Our Backyard.

"In January, I was standing on stage getting an award and guys like Lee Kernaghan were down there smiling ear to ear,” he said.

"It makes me see what this journey is about and wanting to give back.

"This January, the first thing I want to do is take all the change out fo my change jar and walk up and down Peel St and give the kids who are busking some ... and years later I hope I’ll be clapping for them as they're getting their first golden guitar."

Collins will perform his main Tamworth Country Music Festival show at the Albert Hotel on Thursday, January 25 from 8pm.

He'll be supported by emerging artist Missy Lancaster.

"It's going to be very exciting, we're in the marquee again," he said.

"We were sold out last year and I'm excited to hit the mark again.

"Missy is hotter than a pistol at the moment. She's making all the right steps and has great songs and has done a lot of hard work."

Collins said he is totally "ecstatic" to be up for six finalist nominations with Lawrence.

"This year we did it because it was pretty much something we wanted to do for a really long time,” he said.

"When the finalists were announced, it didn't really sink in for me until the next morning, and I shot Amber a text and said I was really proud of this and proud of the songs and our friendship.

"She is one of the hardest workers I know, I had the best time creating this with her."

Tickets to Travis Collins' show are available from the venue.