Before a sell-out crowd, Kernaghan took away four and Cole accepted three “Golden Guitars” each with The McClymonts picking up two.

Lee Kernaghan took out Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year for his album, The New Bush, and won the coveted Heritage Song of the Year for Close As A Whisper (The Gift). Lee also took out the Award for Top Selling Album of the Year bringing his total to 24 Country Music Awards of Australia throughout his career. 

Her song in response to a letter from a fan, Poster Girl (Wrong Side Of The World), won Beccy Cole three Awards - the prestigious APRA Song of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Single of the Year, taking her total number of Golden Guitar trophies to seven.

Rising stars, The McClymonts, signalled their arrival in the big-time with two awards. Brooke, Samantha and Mollie McClymont won Group or Duo of the Year and Maton New Talent of the Year with their smash hit, Something That My Heart Does. Previously, Samantha was the only member of the trio to have won a Golden Guitar.

One of the most popular wins of the night was that of Anne Kirkpatrick whose performance of Peppimenarti Cradle, written by her mother, the legendary Joy McKean, took home the Award for Bush Ballad of the Year. It was both Anne and Joy’s sixth Golden Guitar.

Felicity Urquhart took out Video Clip of the Year for the beautiful Big Black Cloud, which was directed by Glenn Wilson. It was Felicity’s second Golden Guitar.

Legendary guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel, picked up Instrumental of the Year for his Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag, while Vocal Collaboration of the Year went to Allan Caswell & Drew McAlister for A Little Bit of Country In Us All.

The Country Music Association of Australia presented a special achievement award to Keith Urban to acknowledge his outstanding contribution to country music.

Adam Brand took home the inaugural viewer voted CMC Oz Artist of the Year Award.

The star-studded night featured performances by Australian country music’s finest, with a list of presenters that included noted musician Don Walker, actor Georgie Parker and country superstars Gina Jeffreys, Troy Cassar-Daley and Melinda Schneider.

The CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia, presented by Jayco, will be broadcast on the Southern Cross Network on Saturday, 3 February, 2006, at 6.30pm. Network Ten will also be airing the program in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth on Sunday, 4 February, 2007, at 12 noon. A further broadcast of the Awards will be shown on CMC on Friday, 9 February, 2007 at 7.00pm [all times EDST) and will include a Red Carpet and backstage special hosted by Steve Forde.