He was presented with the award for contributions to traditional country music at the world’s second largest country music festival, the National Old Time Music Festival, in Iowa.

Mr Coates, 64, said receiving the award had been the best part of his long career.

“It has put the icing on my country music cake,’’ he said.

“But it won’t change me. I’ll still go about singing here and there and doing what I’ve always done in the past.’’

Mr Coates has played his mix of traditional country and original compositions across Australia, won 112 trophies for singing and songwriting and released 10 albums.

He has shared the stage with the likes of Stan Coster and Chad Morgan.

Unbeknown to Mr Coates, he and long-time friend and fellow musician Des Morgan were both in line to be inducted into the hall of fame, but he left for the US without suspecting a thing.

“I got a huge shock when it was presented to me, I’d originally just gone to America with Des,’’ he said.

“When I got over there, it was sprung on me. For the first time in my life I was speechless, but I’m glad it was a surprise,’’ he said.