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Country music star Willie Nelson made a surprise appearance at an awards show in Gore on Thursday night – albeit on video from Nashville.
Tami Neilson and Delaney Davidson won the APRA Best Country Music Song Award at the 2023 Country Music Honours in Gore for their song ‘Beyond The Stars’ which is performed by Neilson and Willie Nelson, on Thursday night.
At the same glamorous event at the town’s SBS St James Theatre, the MLT Songwriting Award, which celebrates unreleased songs from New Zealand and Australia was presented to Matt Joe Gow for his song ‘Whirlwind’.
Gore’s own Jenny Mitchell and Ron Mitchell’s song ‘Daffodils’ was judged runner-up in the songwriting competition.
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‘Beyond The Stars’ was born of grief, capturing co-writers Neilson’s and Davidson’s pain at the loss of their fathers and the longing to be with them once again.
The award winning song comes from Neilson’s fifth studio album KINGMAKER, which was recorded at Roundhead Studios and features Nelson as the voice of Neilson’s father.
Supplied/Stuff
Tami Neilson and Delaney Davidson won the APRA Best Country Music Song Award at the 2023 Country Music Honours in Gore for their song âBeyond The Starsâ
Neilson was unable to attend the awards and sent a video from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville saying: “this song is so close to my heart for so many reasons, to have co-written this with my dear friend Delaney Davidson. It is a song that we both wrote for our beloved dads who are both gone now and to have Willie Nelson sing the part of my father, is truly beyond the stars.”
The video shared special congratulations from Nelson who said “Yay! We won Tami, Best Country Song in New Zealand. Congratulations.”
Davidson, who was at the awards in Gore to accept the award on the night said “I am very excited to have this song recognised as we wrote it about our fathers. It feels like a way to honour them and keep their spirit alive.”
APRA AMCOS head of New Zealand operations Ant Healey said the song had cemented a place in the hearts of the people of Aotearoa.
“We are blessed to have such songwriting talents in this world. Tami and Delaney have crafted a beautiful, raw and heartfelt tribute. Throw in gorgeous strings and the unmistakable voice of Willie Nelson and it is a true classic.”
The Mitchell family of Gore had a whirlwind of a night.
As well as Ron and daughter Jenny’s song ‘Daffodils’ being runner up in the songwriting competition, ‘Find A River’ written by Maegan Mitchell, Nicola Mitchell and Tami Neilson and performed by The Mitchell Twins was runner up for the APRA Best Country Music Song.
A song called ‘Little Less Lonely’ written by Jenny Mitchell was a finalist in the MLT Songwriting Award.
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