Lee Kernaghan

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Lee Kernaghan
Man in black hat sitting on ground
Background information
Birth nameLee Raymond Kernaghan
Born (1964-04-15) 15 April 1964 (age 57)
Corryong, Victoria, Australia
GenresCountry, country rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano
Years active1983–present
LabelsABC Music
Associated actsThe Blue Devils, Fiona Kernaghan, Ray Kernaghan, Tania Kernaghan
Websitehttp://www.leekernaghan.com.au/

Lee Kernaghan OAM (born 15 April 1964) is an Australian country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. Kernaghan has won four ARIA Awards and three APRA Awards, and has been nominated in award categories numerous times. He was named "Hit Maker of the Decade" twice, in 2001 and 2011.[1] This title goes to country artists from anywhere in the world who achieves the most hits in the Australian market over the past decade. He has sold over two million albums, and won 36 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia (second to Slim Dusty).

He was the 2008 Australian of the Year, in recognition for his support of rural and regional Australia.[2][3] Kernaghan was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 ARIA Awards, for Spirit of the Anzacs.[1]

Biography[]

Lee Kernaghan was born on 15 April 1964 as is the son of country music singer and truck driver Ray Kernaghan, Lee Kernaghan was born in the Victorian town of Corryong and raised in southern New South Wales.[citation needed]

In 1986, Kernaghan traveled to the United States to represent Australia at the Nashville 'Fan Fair' country music festival.

In 1993, Kernaghan released The Outback Club which won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album.

During a visit to the Australian War Memorial in 2013, Kernaghan's friend and AWM Director Dr. Brendan Nelson introduced Kernaghan to letters that were written by Australian service men and women during various wars dating back to the landing at Gallipoli during the First World War. These letters were held in the vaults at the AWM.[4] The power of the letters affected him deeply and the experience at the Australian War Memorial that day was the catalyst that saw these letters put to music in what would become the Spirit of the Anzacs (album). Upon release, the album peaked at number 1 on the ARIA charts, becoming Kernaghan's first chart topper. It was the highest selling Australian artist album for 2015.[1]

2015 also saw the release of Kernaghan's first book, The Boy from the Bush, These Are My Songs, These Are My Stories.

In 2019 Kernaghan released the album Backroad Nation with the title track staying four weeks at #1 on the country singles charts.[5]

Personal life[]

During July 2015, Kernaghan's music was played at anti-Islam rallies in Australia, without his permission.[6][7] He responded that the use of his work should be "consistent with – and respectful of, the memory of ... [soldiers who] laid down their lives for the freedoms we have today."[7] Fellow local artists, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham and Mark Seymour, objected to the use of their material at those rallies.

He is the father of two sons.[8]

Business ventures[]

For several years, Kernaghan owned the historic Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton, Queensland, after buying the pub in 2003 when it was placed into receivership after a downturn in trade and public liability concerns.[9][10] Kernaghan has described the time during which he owned the Great Western Hotel as one of the greatest periods of his life.[11]

Albums[]

Studio albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[12]
Family Tradition
(with Ray Kernaghan)
  • Release date: 1985
  • Label: KCR (KCR 009)
 —
The Lee Kernaghan Collection
  • Release date: 1986
  • Label:
 —
The Outback Club
  • Release date: 4 May 1992
  • Label: ABC Music (512 336-2)
 86
Three Chain Road
  • Release date: August 1993
  • Label: ABC Music (518 304-2)
 35
1959
  • Release date: July 1995
  • Label: ABC Music (479809-2)
 9
Hat Town
  • Release date: February 1998
  • Label: ABC Music (493846-2)
 7
The Christmas Album
  • Release date: 23 November 1998
  • Label: ABC Music (498040-2)
 31
Rules of the Road
  • Release date: January 2000
  • Label: ABC Music (524618-2)
 16
Electric Rodeo
  • Release date: July 2002
  • Label: ABC Music (1243-2)
 5
The New Bush
  • Release date: May 2006
  • Label: ABC Music (5101-13104-2)
 6
Spirit of the Bush
  • Release date: July 2007
  • Label: ABC Music (5144-21680-2)
 5
Planet Country
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Label: ABC Music (8000288)
 13
Beautiful Noise
  • Release date: October 2012
  • Label: ABC Music (8800973)
 9
Driving Home for Christmas
  • Release date: November 2014
  • Label: ABC Music (3798306)
 46
Spirit of the Anzacs
  • Release date: March 2015
  • Label: ABC Music (8800099)
 1
The 25th Anniversary Album
  • Release date: 24 March 2017
  • Label: ABC Music (LEE9898)
 2
Backroad Nation
  • Release date: 10 May 2019
  • Label: ABC Music (7760261)
 3

Compilation albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[12]
The Big Ones: Greatest Hits Vol. 1
  • Release date: October 2004
  • Label: ABC Music (1404-2)
 16
Ultimate Hits
  • Release date: October 2011
  • Label: ABC Music (8800919)
 8

Charting Singles[]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[23]
"This Is the Outback" 2004 84 non-album single
"Missin' Slim"
(with Colin Buchanan) 		2004 49 non-album single
"Spirit of the Bush"
(with Adam Brand & Steve Forde) 		2007 11 Spirit of the Bush
"Spirit of the Anzacs"
(featuring Guy Sebastian, Sheppard, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll & Megan Washington) 		2015 32 Spirit of the Anzacs

Musicals[]

Awards and nominations[]

Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004.[24]

In 2008, he was Australian of the Year,[25] in recognition for his support of rural and regional Australia; his 'Pass the Hat Around' tours have raised more than a million dollars for rural communities during a challenging period of drought.[26] He was presented with the award by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

In 2015, Kernaghan was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown.[27]

AIR Awards[]

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2013[28] Beautiful Noise Best Independent Country Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2018[29] The 25th Anniversary Album Best Independent Country Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2020[30][31] Backroad Nation Best Independent Country Album Nominated

ARIA Music Awards[]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Kernaghan has won two awards from 14 nominations.[32] Plus, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2015.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 The Outback Club ARIA Award for Best Country Album Won
1994 Three Chain Road Won
1995 Country Crowd Nominated
1996 1959 Nominated
2000 Rules of the Road Nominated
2002 Electric Rodeo Nominated
2006 The New Bush Nominated
2010 Planet Country Nominated
2013 Beautiful Noise Nominated
2015 Spirit of the Anzacs Nominated
"Spirit of the Anzacs" Best Video Nominated
Spirit of the Anzacs Producer of the Year Nominated
Spirit of the Anzacs Outstanding Achievement Award awarded
2017 The 25th Anniversary Album Best Country Album Nominated
2019 Backroad Nation Nominated

APRA Awards[]

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Kernaghan has won four awards from nine nominations.[33]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 "Boys from the Bush" Country Song of the Year Won
1996 "1959" Most Performed Country Work Won
1999 "Hat Town" Most Performed Country Work Won
2004 "Way It Is" Most Performed Country Work Nominated
2007 "New Bush" Most Performed Country Work Nominated
2008 "Spirit of the Bush" (featuring Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Most Performed Country Work Nominated
2011 "Planet Country" Country Work of the Year Nominated
2014 "Flying with the King" Country Work of the Year[34] Won
2020 "Backroad Nation"[35][36] Most Performed Country Work of the Year Nominated

Australian Roll of Renown[]

The Australian Roll of Renown honours Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the music industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to Country Music. It was inaugurated in 1976 and the inductee is announced at the Country Music Awards of Australia in Tamworth in January.[37]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Lee Kernaghan Australian Roll of Renown inductee

Country Music Awards (CMAA)[]

Kernaghan has won thirty-eight Golden Guitar awards at the Tamworth Country Music Awards of Australia.[38]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 "Boys from the Bush" APRA Song of the Year Won
1993 The Outback Club Album of the Year Won
1993 "Boys from the Bush" Male Vocalist of the Year Won
1994 "Three Chain Road" APRA Song of the Year Won
1994 Three Chain Road Album of the Year Won
1994 "Three Chain Road" Male Vocalist of the Year Won
1994 "Leave Him in the Longford" (with Slim Dusty) Vocal Group or Duo of the Year Won
1995 Three Chain Road Top Selling Album of the Year Won
1996 1959 Album of the Year Won
1997 1959 Top Selling Album of the Year Won
1997 "A Bushman Can't Survive" (with Tania Kernaghan) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
1999 Hat Town Album of the Year Won
1999 Hat Town Top Selling Album of the Year Won
1999 "Goondiwindi Moon" Male Vocalist of the Year Won
1999 "Changi Banjo" Heritage Song of the Year Won
1999 "Tough Job" (with Colin Buchanan) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
2003 "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (with Josh Arnold) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
2003 Electric Rodeo Album of the Year Won
2003 Electric Rodeo Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2005 "Missin' Slim" Heritage Song of the Year (with Colin Buchanan) Won
2007 The New Bush Album of the Year Won
2007 The New Bush Male Artist of the Year Won
2007 The New Bush Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2007 "Close as a Whisper (The Gift)" Heritage Song of the Year Close Won
2008 "Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
2008 "Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Video of the Year Won
2008 "Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Single of the Year Won
2011 Planet Country Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2012 "Channel Country Ground" (with Dean Perrett) Ballad of the Year Won
2014 Beautiful Noise Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2014 "Flying with the King" Male Artist of the Year Won
2014 "Flying with the King" Single of the Year Won
2014 "Flying with the King" Video clip of the Year Won
2016 "Spirit of the Anzacs"
(with Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Jon Stevens, Amy & George Sheppard, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington) 		Vocal Collaboration of the Year Won
2016 "Spirit of the Anzacs"
(with Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Jon Stevens, Amy & George Sheppard, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington) 		Video clip of the Year Won
2016 Spirit of the Anzacs Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2018 The 25th Anniversary Album Top Selling Album of the Year Won
2020 Backroad Nation Top Selling Album of the Year Won

Music For A New Generation Awards (Planet Country Radio)[]

The Music For A New Generation Awards are run by the Planet Country with Big Stu & MJ radio program and celebrate crossover country artist efforts each year. The awards have featured fan voting since 2016.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Himself Australian Male Artist of The Year Nominated
2017 Himself Australian Male Artist of The Year Won

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "ARIAs: Lee Kernaghan wins achievement award". www.skynews.com.au. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Kernaghan. Lee". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  3. ^ Lewis, Wendy (2010). Australians of the Year. Pier 9 Press. ISBN 978-1-74196-809-5.
  4. ^ "Lee Kernaghan - "Outstanding Achievement Award" for Spirit of the Anzacs | Australian War Memorial". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart". countrytrackschart.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  6. ^ (staff writer) (24 July 2015). "Lee Kernaghan Sits on Fence Over Reclaim Australia Use of Song". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Vincent, Peter (24 July 2015). "As Midnight Oil Demands Reclaim Australia Stop Playing Songs, Lee Kernaghan Refuses". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Hot in pink Robby X hits Top 30". 19 November 2014.
  9. ^ Kernaghan buys Great Western pub, Chris Lawson, Queensland Country Hour, ABC Rural, 9 April 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  10. ^ Boy from the bush buys QLD pub, National Rural News, ABC Rural, 9 April 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  11. ^ Country music legend Lee Kernaghan returns to 'second home', Michelle Gately, The Morning Bulletin, 7 May 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Peak chart positions in Australia:
    • Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com – Discography Lee Kernaghan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
    • Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 153.
  13. ^ "The Outback Club by Lee Kernaghan". www.leekernaghan.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  14. ^ "ARIA album accreditations 1998". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  15. ^ "1959: Lee Kernaghan". www.leekernaghan.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  16. ^ "ARIA album accreditations 1999". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  17. ^ "ARIA album accreditations 2000". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  18. ^ "ARIA album accreditations 2003". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA album accreditations 2007". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA album accreditations 2009". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA album accreditations 2013". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  22. ^ "ARIA album accreditations 2015". www.aria.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  23. ^ Peak chart positions in Australia:
    • Top 50 peaks: "australian-charts.com - Discography Lee Kernaghan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
    • Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 153.
  24. ^ "KERNAGHAN, Lee Raymond OAM". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  25. ^ "Lee Kernaghan named Australian of the Year". The Australian. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  26. ^ "Australian of the Year Awards". www.australianoftheyear.org.au. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  27. ^ "Roll of Renown". TCMF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  28. ^ "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  29. ^ "2018 AIR Awards Nominees". 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  30. ^ {cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2020-air-awards-nominees-20200707%7Ctitle=2020 AIR Awards Nominees|website=scenestr|date=7 July 2020|accessdate=8 August 2020}}
  31. ^ "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  32. ^ "ARIA Awards Search Results - Lee Kernaghan". ARIA Awards. www.ariaawards.com.au. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  33. ^ "Nine first-time winners in 12 APRA Music Award categories". APRA Awards. Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 6 March 2015.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Tones and I Leads Nominations for 2020 Virtual APRA Awards". Noise11. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  36. ^ "2020 Awards". APRA. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Roll of Renown". Tamworth Country Music Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  38. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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