Jodi Vaughan Cemented in History with Induction into Tamworth Hands of Fame

Australian-born country music legend Jodi Vaughan has officially taken her place among the greats of the industry. In a moving ceremony held today at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Vaughan was inducted into the Australian Country Music Hands of Fame, cementing her legacy with handprints in concrete at Hands of Fame Park, a tribute to a career spanning over five decades.

Now residing in Hamilton, New Zealand, Vaughan’s induction is a significant Trans-Tasman milestone. While she has long been celebrated as the “Queen of Country” in her adopted home of New Zealand, today’s ceremony marked a triumphant homecoming for the Balmain-born singer of Biripi Aboriginal descent.

Vaughan’s rise to superstardom is inextricably linked to her legendary collaborations with fellow New Zealand icons Gray Bartlett and Brendan Dugan. Discovered by Dugan & Bartlett in 1976 following her success on The Entertainers, Jodi became a cornerstone of the “Golden Era” of New Zealand country music.

The trio became a powerhouse touring act, breaking box-office records across the South Pacific. Most notably, her duet partnership with Brendan Dugan became the stuff of folklore; their 1982 album Fairweather Friends reached Platinum status, and their 1990 Together Again album (with Bartlett) hit #1 and went Platinum, becoming one of the fastest-selling records in New Zealand history.

“To have my journey recognised here in Tamworth, back where my roots are, is an incredible honor,” said Vaughan. “From the early days being discovered by Brendan & Gray to the decades spent on stage with Brendan and now with Aly with Sisters in Country this award belongs to the fans who have followed my music from the very beginning.”

This induction creates a rare “double” for Vaughan. Having been inducted into the Gore Country Music Hands of Fame in New Zealand in 2024, she now holds the distinction of being recognized at the two most prestigious country music shrines in the Southern Hemisphere.