ACRAs 2023: Amanda Keller breaks down after emotional win

The popular broadcaster was overcome with emotion as she took to the stage at the annual radio awards in Sydney.

Amanda Keller broke down in tears after winning the top prize at this year’s commercial radio awards.

Keller and her co-host of 18 years, Brendan Jones, won the Best On Air Team (FM) award at the 34th ACRAs on Saturday night (which is the equivalent of the Gold Logie at the TV awards).

WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda show beat out several big name shows including KIIS FM’s The Kyle and Jackie O Show and Nova’s national drive show, Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel.

Keller was emotional as she accepted the trophy on stage in Sydney, and later sobbed as she told news.com.au that this was the most meaningful win of her career, despite having won the Best On Air Team award three times in the past.

Jonesy and Amanda at the ACRAs.

Winners! Picture: Commercial Radio Australia.

“I’m very emotional this time,” Keller said about the honour. “It’s been a week of really hard news this week, and to share that with your audience, as hard as it is to rock up every day and acknowledge what’s going on in the world and play the dance of acknowledging it, but cheering people up is such a dance and it’s a privilege to attempt to do that dance every day.”

Keller was also full of praise for her WSFM co-host after the win, telling news.com.au: “Jonesy has a life enthusiasm that lifts you no matter what. There’s a very sunny energy to him that’s very attractive.”

WSFM's Jonesy and Amanda team at the ACRAs. Picture: Commercial Radio Australia

Jonesy was reciprocal in his praise, saying about Keller: “Sometimes my brain is like a hive of bees, but Amanda will come in early in the morning and just say, ‘let’s do this’. And I’ll go, ‘OK.’ She’s always the nub of what we’re doing every day, and I don’t know how she does it.”

The ACRAs win was especially emotional for Keller because it was just two weeks ago that she announced publicly for the first time that her husband, Harley, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Harley and Amanda in 2016.

Speaking on her podcast, Double A Chattery, Keller revealed that her husband of 34 years was diagnosed six years ago.

“This was something I’ve never spoken about,” Keller told news.com.au about the revelation at the ACRAs.

As for why she chose to speak out about it now, Keller said: “I want to go to a restaurant and not have people think, ‘what’s going on with Harley?’ I just want people to go, ‘there it is, that’s what’s happening. He’s a smart, funny, interesting man but this is happening to him’. I just wanted him to be understood.”

Of course, there were many other winners at this year’s ACRA’s.

The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power was named Best Networked Program, while Kyle Sandilands received the inaugural Individual Talent of the Year Award.

Retiring 3AW legend Neil Mitchell won Best Talk Presenter for the eighth time, as well

receiving the award for Best News Event Coverage for the Victorian floods.

2GB’s Ben Fordham was named Best Current Affairs Presenter for a second time.

And two legends of Queensland radio were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Laurel Edwards (4BC, Nine Radio) and Steve ‘Pricey’ Price (Triple M Townsville, SCA).

Abbie Chatfield also won an award on the night, taking home the trophy for Podcast Host of the Year for It’s A Lot.

Originally published as ACRAs 2023: Amanda Keller breaks down after emotional win