Three things with Lee Kernaghan: ‘You can’t put babies in a tray back!’

Lee Kernaghan is a country music hero. The longtime recording artist has picked up a whopping 38 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia – second only to Slim Dusty. In addition to selling more than 2m albums across his decades-long career, he has also received an Order of Australia medal and named Australian of the Year in 2008 in recognition of his support for rural and regional Australia.

Last year, the musician took fans behind the scenes when he released Boy from the Bush – part concert film, part road movie. Kernaghan says the film, shot around regional Queensland, is as much “about Australia” as it is about his career.

While he might be associated with the guitar, Kernaghan actually writes many of his songs on the grand piano in the living room at his home in Queensland’s McPherson Range. Here, the veteran musician tells us why he would rush to save this prized possession in a fire, as well as the stories behind other important personal belongings.

What I’d save from my house in a fire

I’d try and save my Kawai grand piano, but I’d need a few mates to help me get it out.

It’s been a part of the family ever since I got it probably 20 years ago – it’s there for every celebration. Although I play guitar on stage, piano was my first instrument and a lot of my songs were written on piano. Sometimes when my wife Robbie’s taking forever to get ready, I’ll sit down and play some old songs. I think grand pianos have a soul about them.

My most useful object

It might sound a little bit bland, but my iPhone is my absolute number one most useful item. I record all of my song ideas on to voice memos and jot down the song titles I start off with in the Notes app – I’ve got hundreds that will one day hopefully turn into songs and maybe end up on an album.

Of course, not every idea is a keeper. I’ve woken up in the middle of the night before with this really great song idea and I’ve recorded it on to my phone. And then I wake up in the morning and I think, “oh, what was that song I did last night?” So I have a listen to it and realise it’s absolute crap.

The item I most regret losing

This is the big one. It brings tears to my eyes to even remember it. I had a 79 series Land Cruiser ute with a bench seat. I absolutely loved that Cruiser. I had it all customised with a water tank and every option you could think of. Then when our second son was born back in 2002, we couldn’t all fit into the Land Cruiser any more – we had to get a bigger vehicle. You can’t put babies in a tray back!

A young bloke from the Darling Downs bought it off me. And I remember the day he backed it down out of the driveway – my lip actually quivered. I was like the guy in that Hilux ad, Baby Come Back, where the car goes over the cliff – inconsolable.