Lee Kernaghan Wins An 'Embarrassment' Of Golden Guitar Awards

Lee Kernaghan has admitted that he feels a little bit embarrassed after claiming four Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth last night.

The country music star has been one of the most in-demand performers of the festival and it was his tribute to a flight between Sydney to Perth sitting next to the late Slim Dusty tat resonated with the awards voters. Flying With The King won Kernaghan Single, Video and Male Artist of the year, while it was also the highest selling song of the year.

“I was feeling a little bit embarrassed about it because there's so many great artists here that all deserved to be recognised with a Gold Guitar and I was very proud to be amongst them as a fellow nominee tonight,” he said. “I'm stoked to have won a few and very proud, but even prouder to be a country singer and an Australian country singer.”

The Flying With The King video was directed by Duncan Toombes and Kernaghan said that it was the trophy that touched him the most.

“The video of the year was one that was very close to my heart,” he said. “It was taken from the pages of my life, when I took that flight across Australia with the king of country music. To have that turned into a video and to have had Joy [McKean] and Anne and David [Kirkpatrick]'s blessing and then to win a Golden Guitar, it was a really special moment.”

The festival has marked the tenth anniversary of Slim's passing this year and his presence ran throughout the week, particularly the buskers and annual cavalcade.

One award Kernaghan didn't win was the Song Of The Year category, which went to Luke O'Shea's tribute to Joy McKean.

“I think they will be eternal,” Kernaghan said. “He's a part of the spirit of this place. You find that spirit down in where the statue's [of Joy and Slim] been unveiled… his spirits in the hearts of people who loved him all over Australia and his spirit lives on in our music and his music heritage.”

Sara Storer also enjoyed her night, with her first album since taking time off for the demands of motherhood, Lovegrass, picking up Album and Female Artist of the year. An emotional Storer accepted the Album award said she had “tears of joy” in her acceptance speech. She also won Best Collaboration with John Williamson for Pozie.

Full list of winners below:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Lovegrass – Sara Storer, produced by Matt Fell

APRA SONG OF THE YEAR

Lady Of The Land – written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister, recorded by Luke O'Shea

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Flying With The King – Lee Kernaghan

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Black Coffee – Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, produced by Lachlan Bryan, Mat Duniam, Shaun Ryan and Rod McCormack

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lee Kernaghan – Flying With The King

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Storer – Lovegrass

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

O'Shea – Thank You Angels

VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Pozie – Sara Storer & John Williamson

TOYOTA HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR

Lady Of The Land – written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister, recorded by Luke O'Shea

BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR

I Love Australia – written by Keith Jamieson, recorded by Jeff Brown

INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR

Cotton Eyed Joe – Pete Denahy

QANTASLINK NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR

Ashleigh Dallas – Me

CMC VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR

Flying With The King – Lee Kernaghan, directed by Duncan Toombs

TOP SELLING INTERNATIONL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Red – Taylor Swift (Universal)

SANITY TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Beautiful Noise – Lee Kernaghan (ABC Music)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ted Egan