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Ladyhawke accepts Breakthrough Artist award at ARIA - Source: ONE News -
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I love it when a Kiwi gatecrashes an Aussie party and the Australian Music night of nights was no exception.
Pip Brown, aka LadyHawke, came, saw and conquered her Aussie muso sisters, including television Idol show graduate Jessica Mauboy at the ARIA awards.
Mauboy was up for seven awards and was one of the first to arrive on the red carpet at Acer Arena near the Olympic stadium.
More than a thousand fans braved the 36 degree heat to catch a glimpse, hug or a photo with a celeb or two.
Things really got heated when Keith Urban and Robbie Williams arrived. Chaotic scenes unfolded as journalists and cameramen scrambled for position. I'd already spoken to Williams earlier in the day when I was helping organise his interview with Mark Sainsbury for Close Up. He's not a bad bloke but the conversation did take a strange twist when Williams asked me if I worked out!
Back to the red carpet where Pip Brown hopped out of limo, smiling shyly, giving the odd wave. I called her over and she immediately told me the woollen poncho wasn't the best choice to be wearing in the Sydney heat.
Pip was a bit nervous because her first Aria's appearance had been tainted somewhat by questions raised over her eligibility for the awards. Aria organisers saw no problem, but the damage had been done. Much like the underarm bowling affair!
Other stars arrived, including recent Australian Idol winner Kiwi Stan Walker. I asked Stan how much life had changed in the week since he'd won Idol. He grinned at me and said "massively bro". Walker was backing fellow Kiwi Pip Brown to win and make it a double whammy for NZ artists in OZ and put the stupid controversy to bed.
As it happened, it was a former Australian Idol winner, Guy Sebastian who handed Pip Brown the first of her two gongs that night. The first for best single by a breakthrough artist for her hit Delirium and then minutes later for best Album in the same category. The applause and cheers from the five thousand people inside Acer Arena killed off any lingering controversy about Pip Brown's eligibility.
I waited for Pip in the media room back stage where she told me that she was still a touch sad about the controversy but hopes people will move on. And move on they have.
Pip Brown capped off a wonderful achievement by closing out the awards with a live version of Delirium to a captivated crowd. At one stage I even spied Robbie Williams moving to the Delirium beat.
