The competition is conducted by APRA AMCOS, and in recognition of the industry body’s 90th year, 90 finalists were chosen (including Client Liaison, Emma Louise, Jarryd James, Josh Pyke, Kevin Mitchell, M-Phazes, Ngaiire, Sheppard and Urthboy).

The judging panel had the unenviable task of narrowing the field from the 3934 songs submitted by more than 2400 artists.

Akers, 28, received a nod for her song Take Me Back, which was written about her parents’ divorce.

The song features on Akers’s latest album Burn Baby Burn, which debuted at number one on the ARIA country music charts in April.

Akers said the track is the most personal song on her album.

“Even though it happened when I was a grown adult, I always deal with everything through writing songs, no matter what the situation,” she said.

“Whenever I perform it, people always tell me how they relate to it.”

Akers, who grew up in Kurri Kurri, now divides her time between Wangi and Nashville.

She arrived back in Australia on Tuesday after a month-long stint in the world’s country music capital, where she performed at the Americana Festival.

She will play some local gigs including Branxton’s Country at the Camp on November 26 and will head back to Nashville after the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.

Akers was in Nashville when she heard that she had been named a finalist in the Vanda and Young competition.

“It was great to receive the news, especially considering how many people had entered,” she said.

“You don’t write songs with winning prizes in mind, but it would be amazing to win, for the recognition alone.”

The winner will receive $50,000; second prize is $10,000 and third prize is $5000.

The winners will be announced on October 27.

Previous winners include Megan Washington, Kimbra, The Preatures and Husky Gawenda.

This year’s competition raised $196,700 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia via its $50 entry fee.

The organisation uses creative music therapy to children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, trauma, mental health problems, depression and medical illnesses, and learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties. 

See the full list of Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition finalists here.