Male artists dominated the star-studded Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, with singer songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley and Australian legend John Williamson leading the charge.
After narrowly missing out to Adam Harvey last year, Cassar-Daley took out the prestigious Male Vocalist of the Year award.
Cassar-Daley, who was nominated in seven categories, also took home the APRA Song of the Year award for his track Lonesome But Free, written with Paul Kelly, the Vocal Collaboration of the Year award for his song with rocker Jimmy Barnes, Bird On A Wire, and Instrumental of the Year for Yellow Belly.
The wins take Cassar-Daley's career Golden Guitar tally to 14.
"I just really enjoy the spectacle and the excitement of the awards," Cassar-Daley said.
Harvey, who was nominated in five categories, went home empty handed.
"It's a tough race, it's like the Melbourne Cup," he said afterwards.
Williamson meanwhile took out the coveted Album of the Year for Chandelier of Stars.
He said he was very proud of the reaction to the album, his 35th.
"You never kid yourself you've got a good album until it sells," he said.
Of his win, Williamson said, "It's the best promotion, let's be real about it."
The awards had generated more competition in country music and raised the genre's profile, he said.
"There's just so many kids out there getting into it now, who in the past would have gotten into rock and roll because country wasn't cool. Country is cool now," he said.
Williamson also took home an award for Bush Ballad of the Year for his song Bells in a Bushman's Ear.
Chandelier of Stars also won Top Selling Album of the Year, taking Williamson's career Golden Guitar tally to a staggering 23.
Paul Kelly took home the award for Heritage Song Of The Year for his stirring track, Rally Round The Drum.
Thirty-two-year-old former school teacher Sara Storer was nominated in five categories, but won only Female Vocalist of the Year, her ninth Golden Guitar.
Two years ago, Storer took home seven Golden Guitars, which remains the all-time highest number of awards for one artist in a single night.
Kasey Chambers won her eighth Golden Guitar, Single of the Year, for her song Pony, the opening track from her best-selling Wayward Angel album.
Grafton girl Samantha McClymont took out New Talent of the Year, following up on her Toyota Star Maker talent quest win last year.
The 20-year-old said her first red carpet experience was more meaningful than she'd expected.
"It's so wonderful how many fans come out to support country music," McClymont said.
Legendary country rockers The Flood won Best Group.
The Golden Guitars are the signature event of the annual Telstra Country Music Festival in Tamworth, which is now in its 34th year.
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