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Born in the bush, Corryong, Victoria, on the foothills of the Snowy Mountains high country is where Lee’s life began. The son of a truck driver and later multi platinum recording artist Ray Kernaghan, Lee spent his formative years growing up in the Riverina country of Southern NSW. Lee’s Grandfather was a third generation drover of sheep and cattle and his experiences on the road with his Pop ran deep, producing a string of hits that began with the release of his first album the ARIA award winning ‘Outback Club’ in 1992. His first number one hit ‘Boys from the Bush’ became an anthem, a celebration of a way of life that would change the face of Australian country music forever.
Throughout his career Lee Kernaghan has dominated the charts with successive hit albums including ‘Three Chain Road’, ‘1959’, ‘Hat Town’, ‘Electric Rodeo’, ‘The New Bush’ and his most recent #1 album‘Spirit Of The Bush’. In early 2000 Lee was named Hit Maker of the Decade in recognition of the unprecedented chart success across the decade. Not only did Lee achieve more number one hits than any other artist during the 90’s he also began creating a new musical landscape in country music. He has done to country music in Australia what Garth Brooks did in the USA.....he blurred the lines and took country music out of the box that it had existed in for decades....he added a spectacular live show and along the way has sold in excess of 1 million albums In Australia, won 27 Golden Guitars, 3 Aria Awards, 26 number 1 hits and 9 hit albums.
Lee Kernaghan has become a towering figure in Australian country music and a great ambassador for his craft. Lee has a passion for his music and his country and brings these together in his support for country communities across Australia. To many people he represents the very essence of the spirit and values of contemporary rural Australia. In the past ten years his ‘Pass the Hat around Australia Tours have raised more than a million dollars for communities in need and his participation in the ‘Spirit of the Bush’ tours raised spirits as well as money for farming families doing it tough in the drought.
In 2004 Lee was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to rural and regional Australia and on Australia Day 2008 Lee was named Australian of the Year by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the nationally telecast ceremony from Parliament House Canberra. At the 2008 Country Music Awards of Australia Lee was awarded 3 more Golden Guitars for his smash hit song Spirit of the Bush. Lee was proud to announce that all royalties from the sale of the song are to be donated to needy community causes in perpetuity.
Lee is proud to serve as patron for CampQuality and Aussie Helpers. He provides strong advocacy for the Australian Made Campaign and is a national ambassador and spokesperson for Cure Our Kids, National Tree Day and Keep Australia Beautiful.
Lee Kernaghan will be headlining at several major outdoor events throughout Australia during 2009 including Australia Day Celebrations across the country and the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. He will be recording his tenth studio album for a mid 2009 release followed by a twelve-month national tour. Through his significant contribution to our music and Australian life Lee Kernaghan has cemented his place and one this nations favourite sons.
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