Storer celebrates Tamworth comeback
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Winner … Sara Storer arrives at the 42nd Country Music Awards Of Australia in Tamworth. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams
Source: Getty Images
LEE Kernaghan may have taken out the most Golden Guitars, but the 42nd CMAA Country Music Awards was Sara Storer’s night.
Kernaghan’s single Flying with the King took out Single of the Year and Video Clip of the Year, while his Beautiful Noise took out Top Selling Australian Album of the Year.
He was also named Male Artist of the Year.
But, it’s Sara Storer who will be the toast of the industry on Saturday Night, taking out three Golden Guitars after a six-year hiatus from writing.
She took out Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her 2013 album Lovegrass.
Her song Pozie, sung with John Williamson, took out Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
It’s a remarkable comeback for Storer, who almost gave up writing after having children.
She was emotional accepting the Album of the Year win saying: "I’m just so thankful, these are tears are happiness.”
Williamson, who has acted as a mentor during Storer’s career, said he was proud of the songstress.
"She was born just up the road from where I was born and I’m just so proud of her,” he told AAP.
"Every time she picks me to do a song with her we win a Golden Guitar.”
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell was on hand to present the New Talent of the Year award to Tamworth local Ashleigh Dallas, who hugged her mentor Kasey Chambers before getting on stage.
Dallas, who is the granddaughter of Golden Guitar winner Rex Dallas, told AAP the win was unbelievable.
"Ifeel like I need to be pinched,” she said.
Luke O’Shea and Drew McAlister took out Heritage Song of the Year and APRA Song of the Year for their song Lady of the Land, inspired by the life of Slim Dusty’s wife Joy McKean.
Luke said he wasn’t expecting to win either award and just wanted people to know "how remarkable Joy McKean is”.
Group or duo of the year was awarded to husband and wife team O’Shea, who accepted the award via video from Nashville.
Jeff Brown and Keith Jamieson took out Bush Ballad of the Year with I Love Australia, while Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes took out Alternative Country Album of the Year with Black Coffee.
Instrumental of the Year went to Pete Denahy for Cotton Eyed Joe and International Top Selling Album went to Taylor Swift’s Red.
The night was hosted by sister trio The McClymonts and included performances from Kaylee Bell, Kaylens Rain, The Adam Eckersley Band, the Wolfe Brothers and Golden Guitar winners Dallas and Storer.
Williamson presented iconic country artist and Hall of Fame inductee Ted Egan with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards were shrouded in controversy after Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey withdrew their nominations for The Great Country Songbook, following criticism from Williamson about the number of American covers on the album.
Cassar-Daley wasn’t nominated for any other Golden Guitars, but did pick up an achievement award for Producer of the Year.
After the ceremony, he told AAP he enjoyed the awards.
"I think with the bits of controversy coming into the awards it made me more comfortable here with our decision,” he said.
"I wanted to celebrate the country music industry here tonight and I think we have.”
Kernaghan paid his respects to Cassar-Daley and Harvey after the show, saying they had shown "generosity of spirit” by attending the awards.
"I hold them in the highest esteem” he said.
WINNERS AT THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Lovegrass – Sara Storer, produced by Matt Fell
ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Black Coffee – Lachlan Bryan and 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
APRA SONG OF THE YEAR
Lady of the Land – written by Luke O’Shea & Drew McAlister, recorded by Luke O’Shea
CMC VIDEO CLIP OF THE YEAR
Flying With The King – Lee Kernaghan, directed by Duncan Toombs
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Flying With The King – Lee Kernaghan
TOP SELLING INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Red – Taylor Swift (Universal Music)
SANITY TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Noise -Lee Kernaghan (ABC Music)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ted Egan
