Tania Kernaghan is undoubtedly everybodys favourite country girl next door. She comes across as the "real deal" because she really is like the people she sings about on her hit records. But take a closer look past the youthful demeanor and youll see theres even more to Tania. She's a uniquely Australian woman with a lot of heart and strength. Shes also proud of who she is and where shes from.
Tania Kernaghan was born in Albury in New South Wales, and, has had country music running through her veins from a very early age. In fact, Tania's first pubic appearance was at the Boomerang Hotel in her hometown when she was only 4 years old. She could not have known at that tender age that her family would one day be considered a country music Dynasty. Singing and performing simply came naturally to Tania. However, by the time she left high school she had years of touring experience under her belt and there was no doubt in Tania's mind, that she would follow in her father Ray's and brother Lee's footsteps and become one of Australias most popular country performers of all time.
In 1993 Tania and her sister, Fiona, co-wrote their first song together which caught the attention of ABC Music and the burgeoning ABC Country record label. The song, "I'll Be Gone", was inspired by Tania's real life experiences and represented the birth of a wildly successful creative partnership between Tania and Fiona.
1995 saw Tania sign her first record deal with ABC Music and the release her debut album, "December Moon". The album produced 6 hit singles, won numerous awards including Album Of The Year, Female Vocalist and Vocal Collaboration of the Year at the prestigious Country Music Awards of Australia. In the years to come Tania's second and third albums "Dancing on Water" and "Big Sky Country", soon followed suit earning Tania further awards, 6 more Number 1 hits, 17 other chart topping radio singles and an ever increasing loyal legion of fans.
Tania formed her own record label, KCR, and released her fourth album, "Higher Ground" in November of 2005. You can hear the new confidence and maturity Tania has developed in every note she sings on her latest album. Although Tania has developed her own independent vision and revels in the challenge of heading up her own label, music is still a family affair with her sister, Fiona, writing all the tracks and Fiona's husband, Daniel Kresco, producing and engineering the record. Tania's fans have embraced the record wholeheartedly and the chart topping singles (including the country rocker, "Harley McTaggart") have even been crossing over to mainstream pop radio.
Tania brought her signature bubbly personality and country charm to Channel 7s "Queenslander Weekender" program, when she co hosted the show in 2004 and again in 2005. Both "Outback Specials" exceeded television ratings and won their time slots on each occasion. "I really enjoyed working as a television presenter and would love to pursue that part of my career more in the coming years", Tania said.
Tania was invited to become Vice Patron to the Riding for the Disabled Association in 1999 (a title shared by Princess Ann, sister RDA chapters in the U.K) The RDA adopted Tania's award winning song for Most Performed Country Song in 2000, "When I Ride", as their national theme song. Tania's is a skilled horsewoman and is a favourite at Celebrity Cutting and other rodeo sports events. She holds her CAMS race car driver license and was one of the fastest past the checkered flag in the 2000 "Celebrity Grand Prix". Some of Tanias outstanding achievements include being named 2003 Australia Day Ambassador, People's Choice Award recipient for Female Vocalist in 2000 and 2006 and being the first female to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. One of Tania's many career highlights was the invitation to perform at the world famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
With record sales now in the hundreds of thousands and chart success that is matched by her reputation as one of Australias finest live performing artists crowds can hear a good time coming as soon as she steps out on stage. From Broken Hill to Bondi, Darwin to the Dandenongs and from Perth to Parachilna Tania Kernaghan's career continues to build from strength to strength.
