**Shane Nicholson tops the night, taking home four Golden Guitar Awards including Toyota Album of the Year award at Toyota County Music Festival in Tamworth**
**Troy Cassar-Daley claims three Awards, including Male Artist of the Year, taking his career tally to 40 Golden Guitar Awards **
**Toyota Ambassador, Lee Kernaghan, marked the 30th anniversary of the release of his iconic breakthrough album, The Outback Club**
Australian country music trailblazers and industry icons have been recognised and celebrated, at the 2022 Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, NSW.
Shane Nicholson has taken home four awards from his five nominations. Shane's ninth studio album Living in Colour won the prestigious Toyota Album of the Year 2022 which was released on Lost Highway Australia, Universal in August 2021.
The album also won Alternative Country Album of the Year and his song, And You Will Have Your Way was crowned ARPA AMCOS Song of the Year and Apple Music Single of the Year, with Nicholson also taking to the stage to perform his award-winning song.
Toyota Australia Senior Manager of Marketing Integration Tim Stuckey attended on behalf of Toyota Australia, congratulating all the finalists and winners of the 2022 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards for their outstanding contribution to country music in Australia.
"For over 30 years, Toyota has been a keen supporter of country music in Australia and in this, the 50th anniversary of the Toyota Country Music Festival, we are particularly proud to support such a strong creative industry," Mr Stuckey said.
"From the performances we have seen tonight, Australia has a wealth of talented musicians and artists, many of whom play on the global stage, and we give our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them," he said.
The night also featured a star-studded tribute to country music great and Toyota Ambassador, Lee Kernaghan, to mark the 30th anniversary of the release of his iconic, multi-platinum breakthrough album, The Outback Club.
The performance featured The Wolfe Brothers, Catherine Britt, Christie Lamb and James Johnston, artists that Lee has inspired and nurtured throughout his career.
Other fantastic performances on the night included Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, Ashleigh Dallas, Angus Gill, and new talents Camille Trail, Cass Hopetoun, and Raechel Whitchurch.
In an historic night, Troy Cassar-Daley was named Male Artist of the Year. His album The World Today claimed gold in the Top Selling Album of the Year category, while his track South with Ian Moss was named Vocal Collaboration of the Year.
Troy has now claimed 40 Golden Guitar Awards, surpassing fellow country legends Slim Dusty and Lee Kernaghan, to claim the greatest number of Golden Guitars Awards ever won by an individual artist.
The accomplished artist also performed Back On Country, the lead-single from his award winning album The World Today.
Tamworth local, Ashleigh Dallas took home two awards from her two nominations. She was crowned Female Artist of the Year, while her track with Luke O'Shea, Long Way 'Round took out CMT Video of the Year, which was co-directed by Jay Seeney and Luke O'Shea.
Other award-winners from the evening included, Adam Harvey, Angus Gill, Michael Waugh, Wolfe Brothers and The Weeping Willows.
Now in its 50th year, the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards is Australia's longest running music awards program and is presented annually by Tamworth Regional Council and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA).
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, Executive Producer, Mr. Peter Ross said it was an honour to celebrate the industry as it emerges from a difficult and exhausting time.
"It has been a long and hard journey for many artists over the last few years, but the Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards was a moment to stop and reflect on how strong and resilient Australia's country music industry is. It has been a privilege to provide artists, the industry and fans with a close to normal awards night, and it was a great celebration. Onwards and upwards for the 51st awards!"
Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia, Mr Dobe Newton said: "On behalf of the Board of the Country Music Association of Australia, I would like to congratulate tonight's winners, nominees and everyone who brought the Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards show to life.
"Five decades is a truly remarkable moment to celebrate and tonight we honoured and saluted the legends and icons of the industry. And we celebrated new talent and up and comers, who'll no doubt one day leave a fantastic mark on Australia's country music scene. Congratulations everyone and here's to another 50!"
The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are the only industry affiliated country music awards in Australia and the greatest celebration of Australian country music talent. The awards are the pinnacle event on the Australian country music calendar and are presented LIVE by Tamworth Regional Council and the Country Music Association of Australia.
2022 TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LIVING IN COLOUR: Shane Nicholson | Producer: Shane Nicholson
Alt Country Album of the Year: LIVING IN COLOUR Shane Nicholson | Producer: Shane Nicholson
Contemporary Country Album of the Year: KIDS ON CASSETTE The Wolfe Brothers | Producers: Nick Wolfe, Matt Fell, Lindsay Rimes, Johnny Gasparic, Scott Bradley Steven, Patrick James Traditional
Country Album of the Year: SONGS FROM HIGHWAY ONE Adam Harvey | Producer: Adam Harvey
Male Artist of the Year: TROY CASSAR-DALEY
Female Artist of the Year: ASHLEIGH DALLAS Country
Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year: THE WOLFE BROTHERS
Vocal Collaboration of the Year: TROY CASSAR-DALEY & IAN MOSS South (feat Ian Moss)
Bush Ballad of the Year: THE EASY WAY Angus Gill | Songwriters: Angus Gill & Manfred Vijars
Heritage Song of the Year: DIRTY RIVER Michael Waugh | Songwriter: Michael Waugh PROTECTED
Coca-Cola Instrumental of the Year: SOUTHERN GOTHIC The Weeping Willows
Bluegrass Recording of the Year: BLACK CROW The Weeping Willows
New Talent of the Year: DARLINGHURST Where Do We Go
APRA AMCOS Song of the Year: AND YOU WILL HAVE YOUR WAY Shane Nicholson | Songwriter: Shane Nicholson
CMT Video of the Year: LONG WAY 'ROUND Luke O'Shea (feat Ashleigh Dallas) | Directors: Jay Seeney and Luke O'Shea
Apple Music Single of the Year: AND YOU WILL HAVE YOUR WAY Shane Nicholson
Top Selling Album of the Year: THE WORLD TODAY Troy Cassar-Daley
