Willow CMMA Country Music Awards Nominations

Sydney, AU. (Top40 Charts/ EMI MUSIC Australia) - Great Australian story teller and music icon, John Williamson, has today been nominated for six Golden Guitar Awards for his No 1 ARIA Country album 'Hillbilly Road'; the highest amount of artist nominations across all categories for 2008.

EMI Music Australia has picked up a total of nine nominations with winners being announced on Saturday 24th January, 2009 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Convention Centre.

The legendary Williamson is nominated for:
No APRA Song of the Year - "Cydi"
No Album Of The Year - "Hillbilly Road"
No Male Artist Of The Year - "Cydi"
No Heritage Song Of The Year - "Rivers Wood 'N' Wire'
No Bush Ballad Of The Year - "Australia Is Another Word For Free"
No Vocal Collaboration Of The Year - "Australia Is Another Word For Free"

John Williamson has won an exceptional 23 Golden Guitar Awards over his recording career spanning 38 years to date with 'Hillbilly Road' being his 38th album release. 'Hillbilly Road' is still Top 10 sitting comfortably at No 6 on the ARIA Country chart this week.

Picking up two award nominations for the Slim Dusty Family Reunion album are Slim Dusty and Joy McKean for "Sunburnt People" (Bush Ballad Of The Year) and Slim's son David Kirkpatrick for his song "Old Purple" (Heritage Song Of The Year).

The Slim Dusty Family Reunion album peaked at No 1 on the ARIA Country chart while the 'Slim Dusty Family - Live In Concert' DVD, recorded from the successful national July tour, is currently No 17 on the official ARIA TOP 40 MUSIC DVD chart this week.

Sara Storer is nominated for Female Artist of the Year for her stunning single 'Long Live The Girls' lifted from her ARIA nominated 'Silver Skies' album which peaked at No 2 on the ARIA Country Music chart.

Amos Morris shares his nomination for 'Australia Is Another Word For Free' with John Williamson and Warren H Williams in the category for Vocal Collaboration.

Paul Kelly also shares a nomination for his Vocal Collaboration with Melinda Schneider on the track 'Still Here' from Melinda's album 'Be Here'. Paul releases his new greatest hits package this week as 'Songs From The South Vol 1 & 2' album and 'The Video Collection 1985 - 2008' DVD both hit stores this week.