Tommy Emmanuel Presented With CMA Global Artist Award

(L-R): CMA CEO Steve Moore, Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel

Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel was presented with the 2011 CMA Global Country Artist Award last night (6/6) by fellow Aussie guitar slinger Keith Urban. The presentation took place during the CMA Global Artist Party at The Stage.

After dazzling the audience with selections from his own catalog as well as a Beatles medley and the Australian folk song “Waltzing Matilda,” Emmanuel was surprised when Urban joined him onstage to make the presentation. The Global Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an artist who has furthered country music’s popularity and brought it attention in a foreign territory. Previous winners include Paul Brandt (Canada), Troy Cassar-Daley (Australia), Lee Kernaghan (Australia), and Jason McCoy (Canada).

“This award means so much to me because I spend 90 percent of the year on the road, traveling around the world playing music,” said Emmanuel. “And I tell people about America because I love this place. I choose to live in Nashville because a lot of the roots of the music that I play are right here and in Kentucky. I’ve always seen it as not just my job but my calling to get out there and play music and show the younger generation that it’s cool to be yourself and set your mind on being the best that you can.”

Emmanuel’s set and presentation kicked off the CMA Global Artist Party, which featured nine international acts. In addition to Emmanuel, performers included Raintown (UK), Luke Dickens (Australia), Kaylee Bell (New Zealand), McAlister Kemp (Australia), Chad Brownlee (Canada), Dianna Corcoran (Australia), Marlee Scott (Canada) and Dean Brody (Canada). Aussie husband-wife duo O’Shea hosted the standing room only event.

(L-R): Top row: CMA President Steve Moore, artist Marlee Scott, artist Kaylee Bell, artist Chad Brownlee, Global Artist Party producer/director Mark Moffatt, artist Tommy Emmanuel, artist Drew McAlister (McAlister/Kemp), artist Claire McArthur (Raintown), artist Troy Kemp (McAlister/Kemp), artist Paul Bain (Raintown), artist Dean Brody, artist Dianna Corcoran, artist Luke Dickens. Bottom row: AristoMedia Director of Operations Matt Watkins, hosts Jay and Mark O’Shea, AristoMedia President/CEO Jeff Walker.