:: Spotlight :: 37th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) has announced that country music stars, Troy Cassar-Daley and Felicity Urquhart, are to host the 37th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, at Tamworth’s Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre (TRECC) on Saturday January 24, 2009.

Felicity said, “It will be great to join Troy in hosting the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards. The Awards represent the highest achievements in the Australian country music industry and to join my peers on our ‘night of nights’ is an honour.”

Troy concurred, “It's a great honour to be asked and I'm really looking forward to being on stage as a co-host with Felicity, especially as it's an opportunity to say more than a few lines as I usually do as a presenter. Tamworth and I have a lot of history and I look forward to continuing to be a part of that history moving forward into 2009 at the 37th ‘Golden Guitar’ Awards.”

The CMAA are also pleased to announce that 14 x Country Music Award winner Troy Cassar-Daley will also be performing on the night. Also announced to perform today are the multi-nominated Catherine Britt and Melinda Schneider, newcomers Jasmine Rae and Talia Wittmann and Peter Denahy and The Davidson Brothers. They will join Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, John Williamson, Adam Brand, The McClymonts and The Slim Dusty Family on stage at the biggest night on the Australian country music calendar.

The 37th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre on Saturday, January 24, 2009 and will be broadcast on Network Ten and Southern Cross Ten on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 2.00pm and on CMC (Country Music Channel) on Saturday, February 14 at 7.00pm.

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**Winners announced**

Australian country music’s night of nights, the 37th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, were delivered to a capacity crowd. The Awards were hosted by country music stars Troy Cassar-Daley and Felicity Urquhart.

Big winners on the night were husband and wife collaborators, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, taking home a total of 5 “Golden Guitar” trophies for their No. 1 Album Rattlin’ Bones. The couple won in the categories of Album of The Year (co-produced by Shane Nicholson & Nash Chambers), APRA Song of the Year, Video Clip of the Year (directed by Helen Clemens), Single of the Year and Top Selling Album Of The Year.

Adam Brand was awarded Male Artist of the Year for the second time, bringing his total career tally to 12 Country Music Awards of Australia. Being announced Female Artist of the Year capped off a successful year for Catherine Britt. Her album Little Wildflower has received critical acclaim and has scored her three No.1 airplay singles. Catherine can now add her first Golden Guitar trophy to her mantle.

The McClymonts continued their reign taking out once again the Group or Duo of the Year title, 2009 marks the third consecutive year Brooke, Mollie and Sam have won this Award. They join Bullamakanka in taking out the Group/Duo title over three consecutive years.

The Gibson New Talent Award went to 2008 Toyota Star Maker winner, Talia Wittmann, for Reckless Side of Me. Melinda Schneider and Paul Kelly won the Vocal Collaboration of the Year Award for Still Here and the Davidson Brothers, Lachlan and Hamish, took home the Fender Instrumental of the Year Award for Left Hand Drive

The 37th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia will be broadcast on Network Ten and Southern Cross Ten on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 2.00pm and on CMC (Country Music Channel) on Saturday, February 14 at 7.00pm

Winners in the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia presented by Jayco

APRA Song of the Year
Rattlin’ Bones - written and recorded by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Vocal Collaboration of the Year
Still Here - Melinda Schneider & Paul Kelly

Bush Ballad of the Year
Australia Is Another Word For Free - written by John Williamson, recorded by John Williamson, Warren H Williams & Amos Morris

Video Clip of the Year
Rattlin’ Bones - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, directed by Helen Clemens

Single of the Year
Rattlin’ Bones - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Fender Instrumental of the Year
Left Hand Drive - Davidson Brothers

Group or Duo of the Year
Finally Over Blue - The McClymonts

Heritage Song of the Year
Too Dark For The Light Horse - written by Darren Coggan & Ken McBeath, recorded by Darren Coggan

Top Selling Album of the Year
Rattlin’ Bones - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Gibson New Talent of the Year
The Reckless Side Of Me - Talia Wittmann

Female Artist of the Year
Catherine Britt - What I Did Last Night

Male Artist of the Year
Get On Down The Road - Adam Brand

Album of the Year
Rattlin’ Bones - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson; Produced by Nash Chambers & Shane Nicholson

CMC Oz Artist of the Year
Adam Brand