Australian country music’s night of nights, the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, were delivered tonight to a capacity crowd in Australia’s Country Music Capital, Tamworth. The Awards were hosted by country music sister trio, The McClymonts.

The night belonged to Troy Cassar-Daley who walked away with a total of 6 Awards for his ARIA Award winning album, I Love this Place. The impressive win brings Troy’s cumulative total of Golden Guitar trophies to 20.

The country music singer/songwriter, who was a finalist in 8 Awards’ categories in total, won Album of the Year (co-produced with Rod and Jeff McCormack), Male Artist of the Year, APRA Song of the Year and Single of the Year (both for Big Big Love), Heritage Song of the Year for Chasin’ Rodeo and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for Ain’t Gonna Change For You with The McClymonts.

The Jayco Country Theatre erupted with applause when Tamworth born, Felicity Urquhart, was awarded her first solo Golden Guitar as Female Artist of the Year. Felicity’s album, Landing Lights, has received critical acclaim since its release in 2009.

International country music sensation, Keith Urban, was awarded the Top Selling Album of the Year for his album Defying Gravity. Urban could not attend the Awards, having commitments overseas, and accepted the Award via a recorded video message.

Having received 3 finalist placings, Jetty Road, the quartet featuring identical twin sisters Lee and Paula Bowman, topped off a hugely successful year with their track Million Miles scoring them their first Golden Guitar trophy for Group or Duo of the Year.

The Bushwackers collected their second CMAA Country Music Award of Australia, having won their first Award almost 20 years ago (1981). Their Bush Ballad of the Year win was secured for their single The Road to Thargomindah which was penned by Colin Buchanan.

2005 CMAA College of Country Music graduate, Victoria Baillie, won the Maton New Talent Award for her single Make Me from her 2009 album, Start Brand New.

Brother and sister finalists, Greg Storer and Sara Storer, created a family celebration winning Video Clip of the Year for their duet When I Was A Boy. The clip, directed by Duncan Toombs, was created using thousands of still images of the two performing to give a unique animated impression.

Victorian Bluegrass duo and graduates of the CMAA Australian College of Country Music, The Davidson Brothers, returned to the winner’s arena once again collecting their second consecutive Fender Instrumental of the Year Award, this time for Fox On The Freeway.

The Telstra Horizon Award is a new inclusion in the Awards program this year and was presented to Sydney’s Amber Lawrence. The Award was developed to recognise a young ambassador of Australian country music. The criteria for this CMAA Board selected Award is that the recipient is always improving their skills, including touring, recording, song writing and performing and whilst being young themselves, are excellent mentors. Amber Lawrence fit the criteria perfectly and was chosen to be the inaugural winner.

Also presented during tonight’s program was, for the first time in the history of the CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, a Lifetime Achievement Award. John Williamson, who is celebrating his 40th year in the business in 2010, presented this special “Golden Guitar” to Chad Morgan. Chad, known fondly as “The Sheik of Scrubby Creek”, released his first album in 1952 and is well known as an Australian comedic singer/guitarist renowned for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth, and goofy stage persona. During his long career he has toured extensively, including the Slim Dusty Show, the All Star Western Show and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and his live performances and was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 1987, and awarded an OAM in 2004.

The 38th Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, are the pinnacle event of the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. The 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival has welcomed thousands of fans to its city over the past nine days and will conclude tomorrow.

The 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia will broadcast on CMC on Foxtel Digital and Austar from 7.00pm on the evening of Thursday, 11 February, 2010, followed by an encore screening on Southern Cross Television and Network Ten nationally on Saturday, 13 February, 2010, at 1.30pm.

Winners in the 38th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco

APRA Song of the Year Big Big Love - written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley

Vocal Collaboration of the Year Ain’t Gonna Change For You – Troy Cassar-Daley & The McClymonts

Bush Ballad of the Year The Road to Thargomindah - written by Colin Buchanan, recorded by The Bushwackers

Video Clip of the Year When I Was A Boy – Greg Storer & Sara Storer, directed by Duncan Toombs

Single of the Year Big Big Love – Troy Cassar-Daley

Fender Instrumental of the Year Fox On The Freeway - Davidson Brothers

Group or Duo of the Year Jetty Road – Million Miles

Heritage Song of the Year Chasin’ Rodeo - written and recorded by Troy Cassar-Daley

Top Selling Album of the Year Defying Gravity – Keith Urban

Maton New Talent of the Year Victoria Baillie - Make Me

Female Artist of the Year Felicity Urquhart - Rollercoaster

Male Artist of the Year Troy Cassar-Daley – I Love This Place

Album of the Year I Love This Place – Troy Cassar-Daley Produced by Rod McCormack, Troy Cassar-Daley & Jeff McCormack

Special CMAA Award Presentations
Telstra Horizon Award – Amber Lawrence

CMAA Lifetime Achievement Award – Chad Morgan

2009 Industry Achiever Awards

• Producer of the Year – Nash Chambers & Shane Nicholson
• Engineer of the Year – Nash Chambers
• Musician of the Year – Jeff McCormack