Country music peers acknowledge one of Australia’s finest

Kasey Chambers’s acclaimed 20-year country music career has been set in stone in Tamworth.

Country musician Kasey Chambers with her Roll of Renown plaque in Tamworth. Picture: AAP

Country songwriter Kasey Chambers was paid the highest compliment by her industry peers at the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth on Saturday when she joined the Roll of Renown, in recognition of her significant and lasting contribution to Australian country music.

For Chambers, who was moved by the sight of a standing ovation, it was a fitting reward for a life proudly immersed in a musical genre that she has helped to popularise during her two decades as a solo performer.

“I’ve always been very proud of being a country music artist, and I’ve never, ever shied away from that term,” she said from the stage. “I love taking country music to a new audience, as well. I’m really proud of that.”

After growing up on the Nullarbor Plain while raised by musician parents, Chambers first travelled to the Tamworth country music festival to perform with the family’s Dead Ringer Band in 1992. “I think the key to having a longstanding career is to be authentically you, and surround yourself with people who encourage that in you,” she said.

She became one of few female musicians to have been honoured by the Roll of Renown, which began in 1976. “I’ve been so lucky to work with so many strong, inspiring women,” Chambers said. “I’ve also been really lucky to work with so many strong, inspiring men who encourage strong, inspiring women.’’

Backstage, Chambers told The Australian of a persistent desire to connect with people through her music and the remarkable feeling that accompanies such a connection.

“It’s things like someone coming up to me and saying, Barricades & Brickwalls got me through a suicidal time in my life, and I’m still here because of it’,” she said, referring to her 2001 album, which sold more than 500,000 copies.

Her creative powers continue to strengthen. Her 11th studio album, Dragonfly, also won the alt country album of the year award on Saturday night, which brought her career tally of individual and combined Golden Guitars to 27.

Other winners on the night included sister act The McClymonts, who won three awards including country music album of the year for Endless, and a collaboration between songwriters Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence named Our Backyard, which received three awards including song of the year.

Yesterday morning, a plaque denoting Kasey Chambers’ achievement was affixed to a granite boulder near Tamworth’s 30 year-old Big Golden Guitar landmark, which stands 12m high at the city’s southern edge.

She joins familiar names such as Slim Dusty, John Williamson and Lee Kernaghan as one of the true greats of Australian country music.