Singer-songwriter Josh Cunningham says he has not seen his name on a trophy since primary school.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Now it's engraved on three glittering Golden Guitar awards right next to his partner Felicity Urquhart's name.
"That's the name of ... the person who means the most to me in the world," Cunningham said, accepting the award for traditional country album of the year.
The duo also claimed song of the year and single of the year for Size Up at the ceremony in Tamworth on Saturday night.
The sunny track was inspired by Cunningham's upbringing, having dreamt of big things while having very little.
"There was a lot of love in that little house we grew up in and there's a lot of love in our house," said Cunningham, who is also The Waifs' guitarist.
Urquhart, who now has 16 Golden Guitars, fought back tears accepting the awards as her young daughters watched on from the audience.
"It is real - we love what we do," she told reporters backstage.
"We're really grateful and family is a big part of what we do, so this is so special."
The awards cap off the 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival, which brings thousands of visitors to the NSW New England region every year.
New Zealand singer-songwriter Kaylee Bell won female artist of the year after a stellar 12 months on the international stage.
Bell said representing women in the industry was an honour.
"That's a space I feel is really important," she said ahead of the awards.
"There's such an incredible thing with the Australian country industry ... where people get to know each other and care about each other and become fans of each other's music."
Bell, the most streamed female country artist in Australasia, played stadium shows supporting Ed Sheeran on the NZ leg of his Mathematics tour last year.
In December, she won the US Country Music Association's Jeff Walker global country artist award, which recognises musicians signed outside America.
Sensation Brad Cox also cleaned up, taking home male artist of the year, contemporary country album of the year and top-selling album for Acres.
The Wolfe Brothers won album of the year for Livin' the Dream and duo of the year.
They were also honoured with vocal collaboration of the year for their single with Travis Collins, Runnin' the Country.
Max Jackson, who was an ambassador for the festival, won her first Golden Guitar for best new talent.
Jackson said it was hard to describe what the award meant after decades of admiring Australian country acts.
"It's so special to be recognised by the industry and to join all of my favourite artists, who I've grown up listening to," she said backstage.
Organisers declared the festival a resounding success, drawing a big and diverse crowd despite sweltering summer heat.
Country stalwart Dobe Newton, of the folk group The Bushwackers, said the event had returned to its pre-pandemic glory.
"The number of people on the streets has been fantastic," Newton said on the red carpet.
"We haven't seen it like this for five years."
Australian Associated Press
