The red carpet was out and the anticipation was high to crown the next country music royalty at the Gore Town & Country Club.
About 1000 people packed in to hear competitors from all around New Zealand and Australia compete.
Results were unknown at time of publication, but competitors not only brought their best but also heart-warming tributes.
Dame Lynda Topp was there to watch, having picked up an award at the Aotearoa Music Awards last week, and many Gold Guitar competitors performed tributes to her sister, Dame Jools Topp, who died a week ago.
The contest was fierce as new faces from near and far competed against some tenured veterans, including some from across the Ditch.
Isobel Stevens, of Nelson, won the Junior Gold Guitar prize for her gospel section performance, while Emilie Mackay, of Blenheim, won junior solo vocal, earning her runner-up in the overall junior competition.
Grier Goodall, of Invercargill, was awarded intermediate overall winner prize after her stunning gospel performance, and Lexi Fehoko, of Gore, was overall intermediate runner-up after winning the solo vocal.
Other winners included the Cowgirl-Harts, of Waikaka, in junior duet, and Erica Byars, of Waikaka, in the junior country rock.
Grier also won the intermediate country rock and New Zealand song sections; William & Harvey, of Nelson, took out the intermediate duet; William Connor, of Nelson, won the intermediate traditional; and Briar Sharp, of Gore, won the intermediate new country.
