kernaghan's first studio album, "the outback club", was released in 1992. this album won the aria music award for best country album. his second studio album, "three chain road" (1993), also won him the best country album. the song "leave him in the longyard" from "three chain road", had slim dusty perform on it. he has won 37 awards at the country music awards. in 2004, he was awarded the medal of the order of australia (oam).