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Country music fever is hitting the high seas with three of Australia’s latest and greatest country music stars confirmed to headline P&O Cruises’ first country music themed cruise departing Brisbane this December.Gold Coast star Casey Barnes who has performed alongside big international names such as Mariah Carey and Bryan Adams will take a break from his sell-out tour to perform his hit songs to more than 2000 guests onboard.

The home grown success story will be joined by Country Music Awards Hall of Fame inductee James Blundell and The X Factor Australia singer-songwriter Caitlyn Shadbolt.

Each of the three artists will take to the ship’s main stage for a spectacular solo performance before coming together on the final evening for an epic finale at the late night Country Music Jam Session.

P&O’s first country music cruise follows the hugely popular Groundwater Country Music Festival which broke records last weekend with more than 70,000 attendees soaking up the sunshine on the Gold Coast.

Fans voted the festival’s headline act, Casey Barnes, as the winner of the inaugural 2019 P&O Cruises’ People’s Choice Award for the most popular performance.

P&O Cruises Head of Entertainment Brett Annable said the Country Music Festival at Sea was being rolled out in response to Australians’ growing interest in new styles of country music including rockabilly and country rock to folk and bluegrass.

“Country music is on trend right now and many of our guests are fans of the genre and enjoy the festival vibe that goes with it,” Mr Annable said.

“The breadth of country music talent in Australia is outstanding and has provided a fantastic opportunity for P&O to partner with some of the best country artists in the business.

“Over three days, from morning to night, we’ll be packing in an exciting line up of country music with performers delivering well-known classics and today’s latest hits. There will also be plenty of opportunities to sit back and enioy the music or don the cowboy boots for dancing across the ship’s bars and lounges and on the top deck.”

Casey, James and Caitlyn will be supported by many more country musicians and singers including well-known comedian Rusty Berther who will perform with his band, The Cartridge Family.

Award-winning entertainer Donna Campbell will also take to the ship’s main stage to deliver the spectacular musical tribute show, From Rags to Rhinestones, which tells the story of one of the greatest country music singers of all time, Dolly Parton.

The country theme will extend throughout the cruise with line dancing, ukulele lessons, bush poetry and the cruise line’s first Country Music Sailaway Party in full swing as the ship leaves Brisbane.

Bookings for this year’s cruise are now available. Fares start from $479pp for a quad share cabin on the three-night cruise departing Brisbane on December 7, 2019.