Guy Sebastian delivers emotional speech while accepting Song of The Year at the ARIAs

Guy Sebastian took out the final award at the ARIAs, choking back tears in an emotional tribute. See all the night’s big winners.

Aussie music’s night of nights saw 2019 success story Tones and I clean up as expected – taking out four awards from her whopping eight nominations.

But it was host Guy Sebastian who scored the last gong of the ARIAs, his hit Choir collecting Song of The Year, the public-voted award many anticipated would go to global chart-topping hit Dance Monkey.

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Choir was written as a tribute to Sebastian’s former band member Luke, who passed away earlier this year. While accepting the award, the singer was on the verge of tears as he dedicated the win to his late friend.

Guy Sebastian accepts the ARIA Award Song of The Year. Picture: Getty

“He played in our band and just like everybody else, you know, we have been personally affected. There’s so many people who need love. And, you know, we get up at industry awards and we’re dressed to the nines and there’s just people who are hurting in this world,” the singer said, his voice quavering.

Sebastian was also praised by viewers for his hosting abilities throughout the night, particularly his cheeky swipes at industry peers including Flume, The Veronicas and Shannon Noll.

Among the big winners of the night was Sydney artist Dean Lewis, who took out Album of The Year for A Place We Knew after landing Best Male Artist.

Dean Lewis scored two awards tonight. Picture: AP.

Tones and I scored Best Female Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release and Breakthrough Artist, with viewers praising the star for her heartfelt, handwritten speech.

“Sometimes I don’t think that I’m the most relatable female artist. I’m not into make-up or dresses or typically girly things. But to me, those things don’t really define what it is to be a female artist in this industry any more,” she said, to huge cheers and applause.

“Thank you for Australia letting me know that I’m OK just the way I am.”

Check out all the winners below:

GUY’S BEST JOKES

Host Guy Sebastian, who also won Best Video for Choir, took the opportunity to drop cheeky zingers aimed at his industry pals The Veronicas and Australian Idol runner-up Shannon Noll early on.

Taking the stage 16 years on from his Australian Idol win, the beloved Aussie pop icon reminisced on his first time at the ARIAs all those years ago.

“I remember pulling my chair back and bumping into John Farnham, my absolute hero and I was busy fan girling and I know John was probably thinking ‘who is this random fat little half Asian with an afro’,” he said in the coverage aired on Channel 9.

“But so much has changed. That little fatty is hosting the ARIAs now!”

Launching into some “housekeeping” for the evening, the star couldn’t resist a reference to The Veronicas’ infamous Qantas baggage stoush from earlier this year.

Guy Sebastian had the audience in stitches early on. Picture: AAP.

“If your bags are sticking out, just shove them back under, unless of course it is The Veronicas’ bag, for God sake, just leave it, it’s not worth it, trust me,” he joked.

But his speech wouldn’t have been complete without a dig at Nollsy – prompting a huge reaction from fans watching at home.

“Now, if you do win, please just be gracious or at least pretend. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I’ve been nominated about 30 times. I’ve only won three.

“But there’s no shame in coming second. Just ask Nollsy!,” he added.

Geez, Guy Sebastian's got some bloody good gear here #arias

— Ti Butler (@tibutler) November 27, 2019

GUY SEBASTIAN BRINGING UP NOLLSIE COMING 2ND i- #ARIAs

— scarlett (@latenitedevil) November 27, 2019

Laughing my arse off and we’re only 5 minutes in. Thank you #ARIAs for making Guy Sebastian a host and letting him take the piss out of everyone.

— Maddie Riddle (@maddie_riddle) November 27, 2019

Later on, Sebastian even made a joke about surely this year’s most shocking musical moment – DJ Flume performing a graphic sex act on his girlfriend on stage at the Burning Man festival back in September.

“I am here backstage at the ARIAs. We have quite the spread for the artists … Next door we have Flume’s catering table, which is just normal catering table, except you eat it out the back,” Sebastian quipped.

But it was the first speech of the night that won for most controversial.

While accepting the award for Best Australian Live Act, Adelaide trio Hilltop Hoods raised eyebrows with a shocking statement about Jeffrey Epstein during their speech.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t cut from Channel 9’s coverage.

And the winner of the first #Arias award Best Australian Live Act are the Hilltop Hoods who came home from their European tour and head back out tomorrow. That’s commitment

— Kathy McCabe (@McCabeRadar) November 27, 2019