Sammi Palinkas
Biography
Sammi Palinkas is an Australian contemporary country Artist & Songwriter who started singing at the age of 3. After growing up on a diverse range of music including Country greats such as Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and Loretta Lynn, Sammi’s journey in the music industry began at a young age, winning a national televised singing competition (Channel 7, 20th Century Fox, Gold FM & partners) at the age of 8, celebrating the release of the Children’s movie “Anastasia” and sending her family on an all-expenses paid trip to Paris.
Sammi’s love for performing led her to many stage and TV appearances, including at the age of 11 she played “Pepper” in SEL/GFO’s Melbourne season of “Annie” at the Regent Theatre starring Anthony Warlow. Over the years, she has developed her craft and written for many years between Australia and the US (LA, NY, Nashville) collaborating with renowned songwriters and producers including Andrew Bolooki (Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, Post Malone), Fiona Kernaghan (Mindy McReady, Tina Arena), Sally Barris (Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack), Sam Gay (Deric Ruttan, Little Texas, Bryan White) and Templeton Thompson (Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina & Little Texas), amongst others. She has been on stage for as long as she can remember, performing to crowds of over 25,000 people, as well as national television audiences.
Most recently Sammi performed the National Anthem for the televised VFLW Grand Final (AFL, Channel 7) for the second year running, appeared as the headline act at “Big Hug Day” (3AW/Channel 9/Eynesbury Homestead) in October, and performed to 14,500+ people at “Carols by Kingston”. She was named in NSAI’s (Nashville Songwriters Association International) “One’s to Watch” list for her single “Don’t Blink”, and recently announced as a 2023 Country Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for her single “Meet in the Middle”.
Having already made waves in the country music scene, Sammi has recently completed her 15-track debut album with award-winning Producer Rod McCormack (Paul Kelly, The Wolfe Brothers & Lee Kernaghan). Her first Country single “Meet in the Middle” debuted at #3 on the Australian iTunes Country chart, #8 All Genre and charted on the official CountryTown National Airplay Chart. Follow up singles “You’ve Lived”, “Don’t Blink” and “Let Your Hair Down” all debuted in the Top 10 on the Australian iTunes Country chart, as did her Christmas single “From Me to You”. Most recently she released country power ballad “She’s Mine to Love” demonstrating her capability as both a singer and heartfelt writer, “In a Country
Song” and “Sunset State of Mind”
“No Settlin’” (October 11) is set to be another key moment in Sammi Palinkas’ ever-growing catalogue and will be the last standalone single released before her debut album.
Sammi’s musical influences are evident in her dynamic vocal range and powerful stage presence, drawing inspiration from the likes of Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood.
Rising Australian Country Star Sammi Palinkas Unveils Empowering New Single – “No Settlin’”
Emerging contemporary country artist Sammi Palinkas is set to release her highly anticipated single, “No Settlin’”.
“No Settlin’” is a powerful anthem about embracing authenticity and refusing to settle for anything less than what brings true happiness.
“I had so much fun writing this song with Rod McCormack and Nashville’s Sally Barris,” says Palinkas. “When Rod came up with the line, ‘there’s no settlin’ for me, even when I settle down,’ it immediately struck a chord with me. We grow up with this idea of the ‘white picket fence’ dream, but life doesn’t always unfold that way. ‘No Settlin’ came from that realisation: I’d rather be happy on my own, pursuing what I love, than settle for anything less.”
The song channels the energy of country icons like Lainey Wilson, alongside nostalgic influences from late ’90s and early 2000s country music—the era when Palinkas first fell in love with the genre. “I hope listeners feel empowered to follow their own path, whatever that looks like for them,” she adds.
Visually, “No Settlin’” stands out just as much as it does sonically. Palinkas collaborated with Bonnie Jarrett of BonnCreative to craft a vibrant and imaginative music video. Inspired by comments that she looked like a “Western Barbie,” Palinkas was determined to avoid becoming just another blonde country singer. “I had this colourful, dollhouse-like vision for the video, and I used AI to bring my ideas to life and share them with Bonnie. From there, we worked to create something truly special,” she explains.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the video depicts Palinkas literally setting the traditional “white picket fence” dream on fire, before driving off in a vintage Mustang, symbolising her journey toward personal happiness and freedom.
“No Settlin’ marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for me, and I’m beyond proud of the world we’ve built around this song and my album. I can’t wait to share it with everyone,” says Palinkas.
Sammi Palinkas has already made a significant impact on Australia’s country music scene. Working with award-winning producer Rod McCormack (known for his work with Paul Kelly, The Wolfe Brothers, and Lee Kernaghan), her debut album is set to be one of the year’s most anticipated releases.
Palinkas’ previous singles have garnered impressive success. Her debut country single “Meet in the Middle” debuted at #3 on the Australian iTunes Country chart and #8 across All Genres. Subsequent releases, including “You’ve Lived,” “Don’t Blink,” and “Let Your Hair Down,” all landed in the Top 10, further cementing her place as one of the brightest emerging stars in the genre.
From winning a national singing competition at just eight years old to performing at major events like the VFLW Grand Final, Sammi Palinkas has dedicated her life to her craft. Her musical journey has taken her across the globe, collaborating with top songwriters in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville. Recognised by prestigious organizations like NSAI and the International Songwriting Competition, her talent and determination continue to shine.
“No Settlin’” promises to be another significant milestone leading into Palinkas’ debut album release. Fans can catch her first headline show at George Lane in St Kilda this November 14th.