Higgins Crowned Queen Of Arias

Singer/songwriter Missy Higgins was the big winner at this year's (05) Australian Record Industry Association (Aria) Awards last night (23OCT05), taking home five accolades.

The SPECIAL TWO hitmaker, 22, picked up Best Pop Album, Highest Selling Album, Breakthrough Album and Album of the Year for THE SOUND OF WHITE, as well as Best Female Artist at the star-studded ceremony in Sydney's Superdome.

Rocker Ben Lee was the second big winner of the night, triumphing in the Single Of The Year, Best Independent Release and Best Male Artist.

Western Australian band Eskimo Joe were named Best Group, and made their night even more special when guitarist STU MacLEOD proposed to his girlfriend live during the televised show.

Meanwhile, last year's (04) big winners Jet picked up Best Music DVD for RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT and country star Keith Urban won Best Country Album for BE HERE.

Former Crowded House frontman Neil Finn performed in tribute to his late bandmate PAUL HESTER, who committed suicide in a Melbourne park earlier this year (MAR05).

The full list of winners are:

Album of the Year - MISSY HIGGINS, THE SOUND OF WHITE

Single of the year - BEN LEE, CATCH MY DISEASE

Breakthrough Artist - Album - MISSY HIGGINS, THE SOUND OF WHITE

Breakthrough Artist - Single - END OF FASHION, O YEAH!

Best Group - ESKIMO JOE

Best Male Artist - BEN LEE

Best Female Artist - MISSY HIGGINS

Best Rock Album - GRINSPOON, THRILLS KILLS AND SUNDAY PILLS

Best Country Album - KEITH URBAN, BE HERE

Best Blues and Roots Album - MIA DYSON, PARKING LOTS

Best Children's Album - THE WIGGLES, LIVE HOT POTATOES

Best Dance Release - Infusion, SIX FEET ABOVE YESTERDAY

Best Urban Release - Daniel Merriweather, SHE'S GOT ME

Best Adult Contemporary Album - THE GO-BETWEENS, OCEANS APART

Best Pop Release - MISSY HIGGINS, THE SOUND OF WHITE

Best Independent Release - BEN LEE, AWAKE IS THE NEW SLEEP

Best Comedy Release - TRIPOD, MIDDLEBOROUGH ROAD

Best Music DVD - JET, RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT

Highest Selling Album - MISSY HIGGINS, THE SOUND OF WHITE

Highest Selling Single - ANTHONY CALLEA, THE PRAYER

ARIA Awards Hall of Fame Inductee - JIMMY BARNES.