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2008 a big year for Kernaghan

20-01-08

LEE Kernaghan, country's favourite son, has been tipped as the favourite to take out next year’s Australian of the Year Award.

Lasseters has installed Kernaghan as the $2.50-to-one favourite to receive the nation’s top accolade at Parliament House in Canberra on January 25.

If named he will assume the mantle from current Australian of the Year Professor Tim Flannery.

Kernaghan, who was named Queensland’s Australian of the Year in November, is an even stronger favourite for Male Artist of the Year at the 2008 36th CMAA Country Music Awards.

"Hot on the heels of being installed as favourite to win Australian of the Year, Lee Kernaghan has opened as a raging red hot favourite to win Golden Guitars in the song of the year and male artist of the year categories at Tamworth in January," Lasseters said in a statement on their website yesterday.

"Kernaghan has won 24 country music awards to date, and given the success of Spirit of the Bush, that all points towards Kernaghan adding more trophies to the cabinet."

"Lasseters has made Kernaghan a 1.10 pop to be male artist of the year, ahead of Troy Cassar-Daley (7.00) and James Blundell (11.00), while he is even shorter at 1.05 to win the single of the year with Spirit of the Bush."

"Adam Brand and Steve Forde were also instrumental in the hit recording which has seen 100 per cent of all royalties go to the drought relief fund, and that of course was one of the main reasons why Lee was favoured to win the Australian of the year title."

Lasseters will also be betting on the female artist of the year.

“Beccy Cole looks set to add another title to her resume and that is reflected in her price (1.10), although we have taken a few small bets for the ever popular Gina Jeffreys at 5.50,” Lasseters said.

The decision on who will be named Australian of the Year rests with National Australia Day Committee board members Lisa Curry- Kenny (chair), deputy chair Shelley Reys and directors Ian Elliot, Bill Lenehan, Tuong Quang Luu and Andrew Metcalfe.

January 25 and 26 will be a couple of heady days for Kernaghan who formed his first band at the age of 12. Within 24 hours of the Canberra announcement he will be at TRECC for the Country Music Awards. Kernaghan, 43, has been nominated for six Golden Guitars this year. The three-time ARIA award winner is the second most successful Golden Guitar winner in Tamworth’s history. With 24 already to his credit he is second only to Slim Dusty.

If Kernaghan is named Australian of the Year he will be the fifth musician to receive the accolade in its 48-year history. Other nominees are social justice campaigner Lin Hatfield Dodds (ACT); film-maker Scott Hicks (South Australia); pediatrician Professor Jonathan Carapetis (Northern Territory); golfer Stuart Appleby (Victoria); and round-the-world sailor Ken Gourlay (Tasmania).

In naming Kernaghan Queensland’s Australian of the Year last month Qld Premier Anna Bligh paid tribute to his music and his charity work which has raised more than $1 million for communities in need.

“Just like Slim Dusty, his trademark black hat and smile mark him as a decent bloke making life happier for those he entertains. He’s a worthy winner,” she said.

Kernaghan leads the finalists field in the CMAA Country Music Awards – but shares four of his finalist spots with mates Adam Brand and Steve Forde for the trio’s charitable collaboration on the hit single, Spirit of the Bush. All profits from the release went to the drought relief organisation, Aussie Helpers.

Spirit of the Bush is a finalist in the single, video clip, heritage song and vocal collaboration of the year categories. Kernaghan is also a finalist in the male artist of the year category, as well as sharing an APRA song of the year nod for Spirit of the Bush with the song’s co-writers, Garth Porter and Colin Buchanan.

By David Ellery, Editor
Northern Daily Leader
Tamworth
Published 17th December 2007

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