Keith Urban has selected Ethan Calway as the inaugural recipient of the Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship, a program created in partnership with the Tamworth Country Music Festival to help launch the next Australian country artist onto the international stage.
Calway, who hails from Warragul in regional Victoria, stood out for his guitar work, raw vocal style, and natural authenticity, which organizers say give him real global potential. He was a grand finalist in the 2023 Gympie NAB Talent Search, a top 10 finisher in the 2024 Toyota Star Maker competition, and a contestant on The Voice Australia in 2025.
Urban personally delivered the news to Calway in a surprise Zoom call. As the winner, Calway will receive a fully funded trip to Nashville, including performance and songwriting opportunities, industry introductions, and dedicated recording time at Urban’s own studio, The Sound.
Urban himself got his start competing at Tamworth before building a career that has included four Grammy Awards and 15 Golden Guitar Awards. The scholarship is his way of offering the same kind of pathway to the next generation of Australian country artists.