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James Johnston (Australian musician)

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James Johnston
Born (1990-11-26) November 26, 1990 (age 35)
Wingham, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationCountry music artist
Years active2009–present
Known forThird place on Australian Idol (2009), contestant on The X Factor Australia (2014), debut single "Raised Like That"

James Johnston (born 26 November 1990) is a country music artist from Australia. He achieved third place in the seventh season of Australian Idol in 2009 and later advanced to the top 24 in the sixth season of The X Factor (Australia) in 2014.

Johnston's debut single, "Raised Like That," was released in July 2021 and quickly became the fastest debut single by an Australian country musician based locally to surpass one million streams. By mid-2022, the track earned gold certification in Australia, marking Johnston as the first independent country artist to reach this accomplishment in over two decades. His first full-length studio album was launched on 29 September 2023.

Early life

Hailing from Wingham, New South Wales, Johnston spent his childhood moving between farms alongside his father, who worked selling and maintaining tractors. From an early age, he was influenced by legendary country performers such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Garth Brooks. At just four years old, Johnston gave his initial public performance by singing "Friends in Low Places" to his kindergarten peers.

Throughout his teenage years, he engaged in busking around Tamworth and played with several bands on various stages. In 2005, he also took part in Newcastle’s Star Struck school spectacular.

2009: Australian Idol

In 2009, Johnston auditioned for the seventh season of Australian Idol, delivering a rendition of John Mayer's "Your Body Is a Wonderland" that impressed all four judges. He ultimately secured third place behind finalists Stan Walker and Hayley Warner.

Following his stint on Australian Idol, Johnston purchased a van which he used to tour regional parts of Australia, performing live concerts over several years.

2014: X Factor

In 2014, Johnston took part in the sixth season of The X Factor (Australian TV series). He advanced to the top 24 contestants but was eliminated before the live show stage.

After his time on The X Factor, Johnston traveled to Nashville, Tennessee. Immersed in the city's renowned songwriting environment, he found inspiration that reinforced his commitment to country music and narrative-driven songwriting.

2020–2023: Raised Like That

Between 2020 and 2021, Johnston penned more than 200 songs. His debut single, "Raised Like That," was released on 9 July 2021, highlighting themes of community spirit and values rooted in small-town life. Shortly after, on 21 July, he invited followers on social media to contribute footage for a music video aligned with the song's message, which he personally edited and unveiled on 1 September 2021.

By October 2021, "Raised Like That" reached number one on the Countrytown Music Network Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart and climbed to number four on the Australian Independent chart. The track earned a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in 2022.

Johnston’s follow-up single, "Small Town," debuted on 19 November 2021. He described this release as an expression of the joy experienced when returning to his hometown of Wingham after spending time in urban areas. In August 2023, Johnston announced his first studio album, titled Raised Like That, scheduled for release on 29 September 2023.

2024: Signed with Warner

In September 2024, Johnston secured a contract with Warner Music Australia and subsequently released the single "Blame."

Style

In November 2021, Johnston explained, "My early years were filled with country music until I was about sixteen, but my distinctive style emerged after experimenting with genres like funk, indie acoustic, and rock 'n' roll covers. Returning to country at age twenty-five allowed me to merge these varied influences into a unique sound."

Reflecting on his formative career stages, he added, "During my time on Idol and The X Factor, I often felt like I was portraying a role rather than being authentic. At that age, I didn’t fully see myself as an artist—just someone who loved singing songs—so being directed along different paths was part of learning."

Albums

Comprehensive list of albums including release information and peak chart rankings
Title Details Highest Chart Positions
AUS
Raised Like That
  • Release date: 29 September 2023
  • Available formats: CD, double LP, digital download
  • Label: James Johnston
 7

Singles

Catalogue of singles as main artist with chart rankings and certifications
Title Release Year Highest chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
Indie 		NZ
Hot
"Raised Like That" 2021 1 — Raised Like That
"Small Town" 1 —
"Anything Like Me" 2022 5 —
"Country Boys" 1 —
"Same Songs"
(with Kaylee Bell) 		2 —
"My People" — —
"Got It Good" 2023 2 —
"We Grew Up On" 1 —
"Some Things Never Change"
(featuring Zac & George) 		2 —
"Worth Its Weight in Gold" — —
"Who I Am"
(with Lee Kernaghan) 		2024 — — rowspan="6" Template:Tba
"Blame" — —
"Country Is for Me"
(with Appel) 		30
"Hell Boy" 2025 —
"Back in the Day" —
"Good for Me" —


APRA Awards

The APRA Awards annually acknowledge excellence in songwriting, sales, and radio airplay across Australia and New Zealand.


! |- | 2023 | "Raised Like That" | Most Performed Country Work of the Year | | |- | scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2024 | rowspan="1"| "Got it Good" | rowspan="2"| Most Performed Country Work of the Year | | |- | rowspan="1"| "Same Songs" (with Kaylee Bell) | | |- | scope="row" rowspan="1"| 2025 | rowspan="1"| "Some Things Never Change" (with Zac & George) | rowspan="1"| Most Performed Country Work of the Year | |-


ARIA Music Awards

Each year, the ARIA Music Awards honor outstanding accomplishments within Australia's music sector.


! |- | 2024 | Raised Like That | Best Country Album | |-


Bokkies

The Bokkies, hosted by South Africa's Bok Radio, celebrate global country music achievements.


! |- | 2025 | "Country Is for Me" (with Appel) | Song of the Year | |-


Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia take place annually each January as part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, honoring outstanding achievements within the Australian country music scene since 1973.

! |- |rowspan="6"| 2023 || "Small Town" || Single of the Year || ||rowspan="6"| [1][2] |- | "Small Town" || Song of the Year || |- | "Small Town" (video directed by Elijah Cavanagh) || Video of the Year || |- | "Same Songs" (featuring Kaylee Bell) || Vocal Collaboration of the Year || |- |rowspan="2"| James Johnston || New Talent of the Year || |- | Male Artist of the Year || |- |rowspan="6"| 2024 ||rowspan="2"| Raised Like That || Album of the Year || ||rowspan="6"| [3][4] |- |Contemporary Country of the Year || |- | "Got It Good" || Single of the Year || |- | "We Grew Up On" (video directed by Jay Seeney) || Video of the Year || |- | "Some Things Never Change" (with Zac & George) || Vocal Collaboration of the Year || |- | James Johnston || Male Artist of the Year || |- | rowspan="4"| 2025 || rowspan="4"| "Who I Am" (collaboration with Lee Kernaghan) || Vocal Collaboration of the Year || || rowspan="4"| [5] |- | Song of the Year || |- | Single of the Year || |- | Video of the Year || |-

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards—previously known as Q Song Awards—are held yearly to acknowledge both rising and established musical artists from Queensland, beginning in 2006.

! |- ! scope="row"| 2023 | "Country Boys" | Country Award | | [6] |}


Rolling Stone Australia Awards

Each year, the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine hosts the Rolling Stone Australia Awards, which recognize exceptional achievements in popular culture.

! |- | 2023 | James Johnston | Best New Artist | | [7] |-

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