Tommy honoured for his fingerpicking

Tommy Emmanuel says things are going so well with his music that he expects it all to "explode" soon.

The guitarist now has more than his music to celebrate, after being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contributions to music.

The musician was also honoured for his support of the charity Kids Under Cover.

"I had no idea this would happen. Things like that happen when you least expect it, actually," he said.

Emmanuel, 55, has played the guitar professionally for 50 years and was the youngest professional guitar player in Australia for many years.

The two-time Grammy Award nominee has been living in Nashville for eight years.

"I get asked a lot if I miss Australia, and I don't really miss it as such, because I feel like it's a part of me," Emmanuel told AAP from his tour bus after a "sweaty" concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans.

"When I open my mouth, out it comes; it's in my music and the way I live in my principles."

Asked whether he would move back to Australia, the guitarist said: "I would, but not right now".

"Things are just rolling, and I'm on such an upward spiral right now that it's all going to explode in the next five years," he said.

"It's going so well, what we're looking for is some time off."

Emmanuel has won an array of awards, including two Golden Guitars in the Best Instrumental category at the Australian Country Music Awards and the Best Country Instrumental Album Award at the Nashville Music Awards.

He received a Grammy Award nomination in 1996 for the album The Day the Fingerpickers Took Over the World, and another one 10 years later for the tune GameshowRag/Cannonball Rag from the album The Mystery.

He plans to tour Australia in December.