JARRED TAYLOR has probably shouted you a beer in the late afternoon sun at The Longyard Hotel.
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It's Tamworth's turn to get behind him, as one of 10 finalists in the Toyota 2020 Star Maker competition.
Since he made the decision to leave his band and go out into the world of music solo, Taylor has played on The Wolfe Brothers' Country Heart tour.
"I quit my job and decided to do music full-time, I wanted to enter Star Maker because I respected the competition a lot," he said.
"We've never had a Tamworth Star Maker and I'd love to be the first."
The only male finalist in a sea of women, Taylor is up against an unprecedented number of female artists.
A number of them are return entrants, Toyota Star Maker coordinator Cheryl Brown said.
"The females in this year's competition were simply stronger, resulting in this unprecedented outcome, at a time when male artists dominate the country music industry," she said.
"It is refreshing to see so many young women entering the ranks.
"This year, the competition will be tough as ever with former winners setting strong examples of what is possible when committed to a career in the country music industry."
The talent competition has kickstarted the careers of Brad Cox, Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, and Beccy Cole.
Taylor always thought about himself as a rock and roll artist, until a studio session with Rusty Hook illuminated his love of country music.
From there he went on to win the John Minson Scholarship and a place at the CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music in Tamworth.
It was a great way to learn about the business side of the industry, he said.
"I'm a little bit nervous but I'm very excited, I performed on the main stage at the Australia Day concert last year, but had I gone in Star Maker then, I think I would have been unprepared," he said.
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"I know I'm up against nine beautiful ladies with beautiful voices.
"But, my mum tells me I'm a big enough man to handle it."
The finalists battle it out with two songs live on the main stage at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2020 in front of a crowd of thousands, and take the spot held by Golden Guitar Award nominee Blake O'Connor.
The Toyota Star Maker Grand Final is on January 19.