Australia has a new country music star in Brad Cox, the Jindabyne local who won the illustrious Star Maker award in Tamworth on Sunday.

Brad tells Ray Hadley how it felt to win the award and have his name in lights alongside former winners Lee Kernaghan, Keith Urban and James Blundell.

“This is the beginning. This is where the hard work starts and she’ll be all guns blazing.

“[I’ll be] making the most of this prize to kickstart a long career in the industry.”

Brad used his moment to pay tribute to 14-year-old Dolly Everett, who took her own life early this year due to cyberbullying.

“It’s out of control… it needs to be fixed.

“I don’t think there’s one simple solution to it but I think awareness is a big part… to start making a bit of a change.

“If I could say one thing, it’s just be nice to people.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview