Lee Kernaghan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lee Kernaghan
Background information
Birth name	Lee Raymond Kernaghan
Born	(1964-04-15) 15 April 1964 (age 61) Corryong, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Country, country rock, rock, pop, country pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1977–present
Labels	ABC Music
Associated acts	The Blue Devils Fiona Kernaghan Ray Kernaghan Tania Kernaghan

Lee Kernaghan is a famous Australian country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was born on April 15, 1964. Lee has won many awards, including four ARIA Awards and three APRA Awards. He has sold over two million albums! By 2021, he had won 38 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia. This makes him second only to the legendary Slim Dusty.

In 2008, Lee Kernaghan was named the Australian of the Year. This was to honor his great support for people in rural areas of Australia. He also received a special award at the 2015 ARIA Awards for his album Spirit of the Anzacs.

About Lee Kernaghan

Early Life and Music Journey

Lee Kernaghan was born in Corryong, Victoria. His dad, Ray Kernaghan, was also a country music singer and a truck driver. Lee grew up in Albury, New South Wales. His grandfather was a drover, moving sheep and cattle for a living.

In 1986, Lee went to the United States. He represented Australia at the 'Fan Fair' country music festival in Nashville, Tennessee. This was a big step in his music career.

Rising to Fame in the 1990s

In 1992, Lee Kernaghan released a song called "Boys from the Bush." This song became his first number one hit on the country music charts! Lee said he wrote it about his own life and friends growing up in the bush. He didn't expect it to be so popular.

His album, The Outback Club, came out in May 1992. It won 'Album of the Year' at the 1993 Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA). It also won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album.

Lee's second album, Three Chain Road, was released in 1993. It also won 'Album of the Year' and the ARIA Award for Best Country Album. His third album, 1959, came out in 1995. It was his first album to reach the top 10 on the ARIA Chart.

In 1998, Lee released Hat Town, which also reached the top 10. Later that year, he released The Christmas Album.

Music in the 2000s

Lee continued to release popular albums in the 2000s. These included Rules of the Road (2000) and Electric Rodeo (2002). Electric Rodeo won 'Album of the Year' at the 2003 CMAA awards.

In 2004, he released his first collection of greatest hits, The Big Ones: Greatest Hits Vol. 1. This album was very successful and became platinum.

His album The New Bush came out in 2006. It won 'Album of the Year' at the 2007 CMAA awards. In 2007, he released Spirit of the Bush. The title song became his highest-charting single.

By 2009, Lee Kernaghan was named the biggest hit-maker in Australian country music over the past twenty years.

Highlights of the 2010s

In 2011, Lee released his second greatest hits album, Ultimate Hits. His eleventh studio album, Beautiful Noise, came out in 2012.

A very special album, Spirit of the Anzacs (album), was released in 2015. Lee was inspired to create it after reading letters from Australian soldiers at the Australian War Memorial. The album reached number one on the ARIA charts. It was the best-selling Australian album of 2015!

Lee also released his first book in 2015, called The Boy from the Bush, These Are My Songs, These Are My Stories. In 2017, he released The 25th Anniversary Album. His album Backroad Nation came out in 2019, with the title track staying at number one for four weeks.

Recent Years (2020s)

In 2022, Lee Kernaghan celebrated 30 years as a music artist. To mark this, he released a 3-CD collection of his greatest hits, The Very Best of Lee Kernaghan: Three Decades of Hits.

Lee's Life Outside Music

Family Life

Lee Kernaghan married musician Robyn McKelvie in 1999. They have two sons named Jet and Rock.

Business and Community

For some years, Lee owned the historic Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton, Queensland. He bought the pub in 2003. He has said that owning the hotel was one of the best times of his life.

Lee is known for supporting rural and regional Australia. His 'Pass the Hat Around' tours have raised over a million dollars for communities during tough times like droughts.

Sometimes, Lee's music has been used at events without his permission. He has always said that his music should be used in a way that respects the memory of soldiers who fought for freedom. Other artists have also spoken out about their music being used without permission.

Awards and Recognitions

Lee Kernaghan has received many important awards for his music and his work helping others.

• In 2004, he received the Order of Australia Medal.
• In 2008, he was named Australian of the Year for his support of rural Australia.
• In 2015, he was added to the Australian Roll of Renown, which honors musicians who have greatly shaped country music.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards celebrate excellent Australian music. Lee Kernaghan has won two ARIA Awards and received a special Outstanding Achievement Award in 2015.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards recognize great songwriting and music performance. Lee Kernaghan has won four of these awards.

Golden Guitar Awards (CMAA)

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) are also known as the Golden Guitar Awards. They are held every January in Tamworth. Lee Kernaghan has won an amazing 38 Golden Guitar awards!

See also

In Spanish: Lee Kernaghan para niños