Lee Kernaghan
Man in black hat sitting on ground
Background information
Birth nameLee Raymond Kernaghan
Born (1964-04-15) 15 April 1964
Corryong, Victoria, Australia
GenresCountry, Country Rock, Rock, Pop, Country Pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1977–present
LabelsABC Music
Websiteleekernaghan.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 sold over two million albums, and as of 2021,[1] has won 38 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia (second to Slim Dusty).

He was the 2008 Australian of the Year, in recognition of his support for 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.[4]

Biography

1965–1990: Early years

Lee Kernaghan was born on 15 April 1964 in Corryong, Victoria and is the son of country music singer and truck driver Ray Kernaghan. Lee spent his formative years growing up in Albury New South Wales. His grandfather was a third generation drover of sheep and cattle.[5]

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

1990s

In 1992, Kernaghan released "Boys from the Bush" which became his first number one on the country chart.[5] Kernaghan said "When Garth (Porter) and I first wrote 'Boys from the Bush' I had no idea it would ever be a hit. It was just a song about me and my mates, working on the land, going to the pub and tearing around in utes. I didn't think anyone would be that interested in us... we were just kids from the bush but Garth said 'this record (The Outback Club) has to be about your life and where you come from so we wrote that song and several others and before long I had a band and we were out on the road performing them live."[5]

In May 1992, Kernaghan released The Outback Club. The album debuted at number 94 on the ARIA Charts.[6] At the 1993 Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA), the album won Album of the Year the ARIA Award for Best Country Album.[7] The album re-entered the chart later peaking at number 58 in May 1994.[6]

In August 1993, Kernaghan released his second studio album, Three Chain Road. The album again won the CMAA Album of the Year and the ARIA Award for Best Country Album.[7]

In July 1995, Kernaghan released his third studio album, 1959, which peaked at number 9 on the ARIA Chart, becoming Kernaghan's first top ten album.[6] The album won Kernaghan his third Album of the Year at the CMAA of 1996.[7]

In February 1998, Kernaghan released his fourth studio album, Hat Town. The album peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Chart[6] and won his fourth Album of the Year at the CMAA of 1999.[7]

Kernaghan's fifth studio album was The Christmas Album in November 1998. The album peaked at number 31 on the ARIA chart.[6]

2000s

In January 2000, Kernaghan released his sixth studio album, Rules of the Road. This was followed by Electric Rodeo in July 2002 which won Album of the Year and Top Selling Album of the Year at the 2003 CMAA.[7] Electric Rodeo peaked at number 5 on the ARIA chart.[6]

Kernaghan was part of The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular in 2002.

In October 2004, Kernaghan released his first greatest hits collection titled, The Big Ones: Greatest Hits Vol. 1. The album peaked at number 16 on the ARIA charts and was certified platinum.[6]

In April 2006, Kernaghan released his eighth studio album, The New Bush. The album peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Charts and won Album of the Year and Top Selling Album of the Year at the 2007 CMAA.[7]

In July 2007, Kernaghan released his ninth studio album, Spirit of the Bush. The album's title track peaked at number 11 on the ARIA singles chart, becoming Kernaghan's highest charting single. The song won three awards at the 2008 CMAA.[7]

In November 2009, Kernaghan released his tenth studio album, Planet Country.

In 2009 Kernaghan was named the biggest hit-maker of the last twenty years on the Australian Country Tracks chart, beating musical greats from Australia and international.[5]

2010s

In September 2011, Kernaghan released his second greatest hits collection, Ultimate Hits. The album peaked at number 8 on the ARIA chart.[6]

In October 2012, Kernaghan released his eleventh studio album, Beautiful Noise. The album peaked at number 9 on the ARIA chart.[6]

During a visit to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) 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.[8] The power of the letters affected Kernaghan 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) in March 2015. 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.[4]

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

In March 2017, Kernaghan released his fourteenth studio album, The 25th Anniversary Album. The album peaked at number 2 on the ARIA chart.[6]

In 2019 Kernaghan released his fifteenth studio album, Backroad Nation with the title track staying four weeks at #1 on the country singles charts.[9]

2020s

In 2022 Kernaghan is set to celebrate his 30th anniversary as an artist. In January 2022, he released a 3-CD greatest hits collection titled The Very Best of Lee Kernaghan: Three Decades of Hits on 14 January 2022 which peaked at number 17 on the ARIA charts.[10]

Personal life

During July 2015, Kernaghan's music was played at anti-Islam rallies in Australia, without his permission.[11][12] 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."[12] Fellow local artists, Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham and Mark Seymour, objected to the use of their material at those rallies.

Kernaghan married musician Robyn McElvie in 1999. They have two sons, Jet and Rock.[13]

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.[14][15] Kernaghan has described the time during which he owned the Great Western Hotel as one of the greatest periods of his life.[16]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[6]
The Outback Club
  • Release date: 4 May 1992
  • Label: ABC Music (512 336-2)
 58
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

Collaboration albums

Title Album details
Family Tradition
(with Ray Kernaghan)
  • Release date: 1985
  • Label: KCR (KCR 009)

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[27]
Live at the Deni Ute Muster
  • Release date: 15 April 2022[28]
  • Label: ABC (ABCC0016)
 53

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[6]
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
The Very Best of Lee Kernaghan: Three Decades of Hits
  • Release date: 14 January 2022
  • Label: ABC Music (ABCC0012)
 17

Video albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
DVD
[29]
Access All Areas
  • Release date: June 2004
  • Label: ABC Country (1391-9)
 8

Charting singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[31]
"This Is the Outback" 2004 84 non-album single
"Missin' Slim"
(with Colin Buchanan)		 49 non-album single
"Spirit of the Bush"
(with Adam Brand and Steve Forde)		 2007 11 Spirit of the Bush
"Spirit of the Anzacs"
(featuring Guy Sebastian, Sheppard, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington)		 2015 32 Spirit of the Anzacs

Awards and nominations

Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004.[32]

In 2008, he was Australian of the Year,[33] 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.[3] He was presented with the award by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

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[34] Beautiful Noise Best Independent Country Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2018[35] The 25th Anniversary Album Best Independent Country Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2020[36][37] 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.[38] 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" (directed by Duncan Toombs) Best Video Nominated
Garth Porter forSpirit 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.[39]

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[40] Won
2020 "Backroad Nation"[41][42] 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.[43][44]

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

Country Music Awards (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973. Kernaghan has won thirty-eight Golden Guitar awards at the Tamworth Country Music Awards of Australia.[7]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993"Boys from the Bush"APRA Song of the YearWon
1993The Outback ClubAlbum of the YearWon
1993"Boys from the Bush"Male Vocalist of the YearWon
1994"Three Chain Road"APRA Song of the YearWon
1994Three Chain RoadAlbum of the YearWon
1994"Three Chain Road"Male Vocalist of the YearWon
1994"Leave Him in the Longford" (with Slim Dusty) Vocal Group or Duo of the YearWon
1995Three Chain RoadTop Selling Album of the YearWon
19961959Album of the YearWon
19971959Top Selling Album of the YearWon
1997"A Bushman Can't Survive" (with Tania Kernaghan) Vocal Collaboration of the YearWon
1999Hat TownAlbum of the YearWon
1999Hat TownTop Selling Album of the YearWon
1999"Goondiwindi Moon"Male Vocalist of the YearWon
1999"Changi Banjo"Heritage Song of the YearWon
1999"Tough Job" (with Colin Buchanan) Vocal Collaboration of the YearWon
2003"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (with Josh Arnold) Vocal Collaboration of the YearWon
2003Electric RodeoAlbum of the YearWon
2003Electric RodeoTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2005"Missin' Slim"Heritage Song of the Year (with Colin Buchanan)Won
2007The New BushAlbum of the YearWon
2007The New BushMale Artist of the YearWon
2007The New BushTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2007"Close as a Whisper (The Gift)"Heritage Song of the Year CloseWon
2008"Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Vocal Collaboration of the YearWon
2008"Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Video of the YearWon
2008"Spirit of the Bush" (with Adam Brand and Steve Forde) Single of the YearWon
2011Planet CountryTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2012"Channel Country Ground" (with Dean Perrett) Ballad of the YearWon
2014Beautiful NoiseTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2014"Flying with the King"Male Artist of the YearWon
2014"Flying with the King"Single of the YearWon
2014"Flying with the King"Video clip of the YearWon
2016"Spirit of the Anzacs"
(with Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Jon Stevens, Amy & George Sheppard, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington) 		Vocal Collaboration of the YearWon
2016"Spirit of the Anzacs"
(with Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Jon Stevens, Amy & George Sheppard, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington) 		Video clip of the YearWon
2016Spirit of the AnzacsTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2018The 25th Anniversary AlbumTop Selling Album of the YearWon
2020Backroad NationTop Selling Album of the YearWon

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Lee Kernaghan won five awards in that time.[45]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1992 Lee Kernaghan Country Performer of the Year Won
Lee Kernaghan Male Country Entertainer of the Year Won
1993 Lee Kernaghan Country Performer of the Year Won
Lee Kernaghan Male Country Entertainer of the Year Won
1994 Lee Kernaghan Male Country Entertainer of the Year Won

Music for a New Generation Awards

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

Tamworth Songwriters Awards

The Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) is an annual songwriting contest for original country songs, awarded in January at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They commenced in 1986.[46] Lee Kernaghan has won three awards in that time.[47]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1993 "Boys from the Bush" by Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter Contemporary Country Song of the Year Won
Country Song of the Year Won
1996 "1959" by Lee Kernaghan Contemporary Country Song of the Year Won

References

  1. ↑ "Backroad Nation". JB HiFi. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "Kernaghan. Lee". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Australian of the Year Awards". www.australianoftheyear.org.au. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. 1 2 "ARIAs: Lee Kernaghan wins achievement award". www.skynews.com.au. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Lee Kernaghan". ABC Music. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1990′s :: Country Music Australia". Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Lee Kernaghan – "Outstanding Achievement Award" for Spirit of the Anzacs | Australian War Memorial". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart". countrytrackschart.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "Very Best Of Lee Kernaghan: Three Decades Of Hits". JB Hi-Fi. 30 December 2021.
  11. ↑ (staff writer) (24 July 2015). "Lee Kernaghan Sits on Fence Over Reclaim Australia Use of Song". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  12. 1 2 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.
  13. ↑ "What I know about women - Lee Kernaghan". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  14. ↑ Kernaghan buys Great Western pub, Chris Lawson, Queensland Country Hour, ABC Rural, 9 April 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  15. ↑ Boy from the bush buys QLD pub, National Rural News, ABC Rural, 9 April 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  16. ↑ Country music legend Lee Kernaghan returns to 'second home', Michelle Gately, The Morning Bulletin, 7 May 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "The Outback Club by Lee Kernaghan". leekernaghan.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "ARIA album accreditations 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  19. ↑ "1959: Lee Kernaghan". leekernaghan.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  20. ↑ "ARIA album accreditations 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  21. ↑ "ARIA album accreditations 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "ARIA album accreditations 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  23. 1 2 "ARIA album accreditations 2007". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  24. 1 2 "ARIA album accreditations 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  25. 1 2 "ARIA album accreditations 2013". ARIA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "ARIA album accreditations 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  27. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 25 April 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1677. Australian Recording Industry Association. 25 April 2022. p. 6.
  28. ↑ "Lee Kernaghan: Live At Deni Ute Muster". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  29. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 153.
  30. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  31. ↑ 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.
  32. ↑ "KERNAGHAN, Lee Raymond OAM". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  33. ↑ "Lee Kernaghan named Australian of the Year". The Australian. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  34. ↑ "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  35. ↑ "2018 AIR Awards Nominees". 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  36. ↑ "2020 AIR Awards Nominees". scenestr. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  37. ↑ "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  38. ↑ "ARIA Awards Search Results – Lee Kernaghan". ARIA Awards. www.ariaawards.com.au. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  39. ↑ "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. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021.
  40. ↑ "Country Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  41. ↑ "Tones and I Leads Nominations for 2020 Virtual APRA Awards". Noise11. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "2020 Awards". APRA. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "Roll of Renown". Tamworth Country Music Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  44. ↑ "Roll of Renown". TCMF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  45. ↑ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  46. ↑ "Tamworth Songwriters Association". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  47. ↑ "Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
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