Country music singer Felicity Urquhart has reflected on the death of her husband, Glenn Hannah, while accepting six Golden Guitar wins at the 48th Country Music Awards of Australia.
Key points:
- Felicity Urquhart was nominated for eight Golden Guitars and took out six
- She paid tribute to her late husband, Glen Hannah, who produced her album Frozen Rabbit
- Lee Kernaghan equalled Slim Dusty's career record of 38 Golden Guitars
Urquhart took out a slew of awards at the ceremony in Tamworth, including Song of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Frozen Rabbit, which she created with Hannah.
Hannah took his own life in May 2019, just one month after the album was released.
Prior to the ceremony Urquhart said she wished he was there to celebrate with her.
"I would have loved him to be here, to be proud of that and to celebrate the work that we've done together," she said.
Ms Urquhart paid tribute to the country music community when accepting her awards.
"Friends are forever, and family is everlasting — and you're all my family," she said.
"It has been a pretty tough 12 months … but we're here and music heals."
She dedicated the awards to her children, and told the crowd she hopes her husband would be proud of her.
"We all tried to impress Glenn, and I did too," she said.
"I'll always keep trying to impress Glenn."
Kernaghan equals Slim Dusty's record
Industry stalwart Lee Kernaghan picked up a Golden Guitar for Top Selling Australian Album of the Year for his record Backroad Nation.
The win took his career tally to 38 Golden Guitars, equalling the record set by the late Slim Dusty's, to whom Kernaghan dedicated the award.
"I just want to send this one out with love and respect to the great Slim Dusty, the King of country music," he said.
Meanwhile, Dusty's wife, Joy McKean, described as a "matriarch" of Australian country music, was the 2020 inductee to the Roll of Renown.
McKean described the award as a huge honour.
"I am very proud of the way that women in country music are really doing a great job now and they've been accepted and they've not been put into so many categories as they used to be," she said.
From Star Maker to Best New Talent
2019 Star Maker winner Blake O'Connor was named Best New Talent at the awards, topping off a huge year which saw him tour extensively across the nation.
The Port Macquarie, New South Wales local said the win came as a shock and thanked his family for their encouragement.
"Mum always said that, no matter what I wanted to do, just as long as you put your mind to it, you can do it," he said.