Kernaghan and Storer dominate at 2014 Golden Guitars
Lee Kernaghan snared four Golden Guitars at Saturday's CMAA Country Music Awards in Tamworth, including Male Artist of the Year.
He also won Best Single, Best Video Clip and Top Selling Album.
Lee Kernaghan says he is humbled by the four wins from seven nominations.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed and I'm a little bit embarrassed at the moment [because] I'm hogging it out there and I don't really like that," he said.
"There's so many talented artists out there and they all deserve the recognition."
Lee Kernaghan says he also believes Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey's Great Country Songbook album would have won some Golden Guitars if it had not been withdrawn.
Cassar-Daley and Harvey withdrew their album after John Williamson suggested it included too many covers of American country hits.
Lee Kernaghan says he believes the album's content was acceptable.
"I think it's been a bit of a dust up, but the dust will settle [and] I believe Troy and Adam's album was eligible and I wish it had have been in there it deserved to be judged by the peers out there and I would have loved to see the boys there," he said.
"I feel saddened that they can't be there to, you know, enjoy picking up some Golden Guitars because I think they probably would have."
The CMAA Country Music Awards have been presented since 1973 and is Australia's longest-running Awards ceremony.
During that time more than 500 Golden Guitars have been presented, with Slim Dusty holding the record at 37, Lee Kernaghan with 28 and Troy Cassar-Daley with 25.
Sara Storer picked up the top female gong when she was named Female Artist of the Year.
All up, she collected three Golden Guitars from six nominations.
One of those awards included Vocal Collaboration of the Year for her song, Pozie, recorded with veteran country music star, John Williamson.
Sara Storer says her writing is inspired by real life.
"Wow, what a wonderful thing the song-writing gift is," she said.
"So I just kept writing and I thought, well, you've just got to write about the people around you and the places and the characters and I never just heard words, I always could see images."
John Williamson applauded the talents of his collaborator, saying he believes Sara Storer is the future of Australian country music.
He paid tribute to Sara Storer's "natural" style.
"I believe very much in Sara's writing, she was born just up the road from me we're both from the Mallee, and every time she picks me to do a song with her we win a Golden Guitar," he said.
"So this is the second one and I can't believe it and she's got such a beautiful natural Aussie voice and I just think she gets to so many people and she's the future I think."
A 20-year-old from the small town of Kootingal, near Tamworth, was named Best New Talent at this year's Country Music Awards.
New South Wales Premier, Barry O'Farrell, presented a Golden Guitar to Ashleigh Dallas, who hugged her mentor Kasey Chambers before getting on stage.
Dallas is the grand-daughter of four-time Golden Guitar winner, Rex Dallas.
Ashleigh Dallas says her family's support, when faced with peer pressure at school, has helped shape her music.
"This song's a bit extra special for me and I wrote it with my Dad and I was just thinking about my time where I felt insecure at high school and my Mum and Dad said, 'No, be yourself,'" she said.
"I'm so glad I listened to that and I feel so lucky that I got to write this song and to pick up a Golden Guitar with it as well, [so] if you have a dream then chase it because it can happen, obviously."
During the evening the NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, paid tribute to the country music industry for its contribution to Australia's economy and identity.
Premier O'Farrell told the packed auditorium he felt privileged to be among such strong musical talent.
"This is an event that the Prime Minister and every state Premier ought to come to every year, firstly, because of the importance of your industry to the economy," he said.
"But, equally, you tell the journey of our nation, you give voice to our spirit of the land, you help shape our identity and by doing all that you give us the confidence as Australians to set our goals high to know that we can achieve whatever we want to achieve in the world."
The full list of winners for the 42nd CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia is as follows:
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 and John Williamson
HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
Lady of the Land - written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister and recorded by Luke O'Shea
BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR
I Love Australia - written by Keith Jamieson and recorded by Jeff Brown
INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Cotton Eyed Joe - Pete Denahy
NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Ashleigh Dallas - Me
APRA SONG OF THE YEAR
Lady of the Land - written by Luke O'Shea & Drew McAlister and recorded by Luke O'Shea
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 INTERNATIONL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Red – Taylor Swift (Universal Music)
TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beautiful Noise – Lee Kernaghan (ABC Music)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ted Egan