Suzanne Lena Prentice (born 19 September 1958 in

Invercargill Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...

) is a New Zealand politician and

country singer Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

. Her most successful single "When I Dream" peaked at number 11 in New Zealand during 1982. She recorded on 27 August 1977 with Allan Gardner and his Accordion Band live at the Marlborough RSA in Blenheim a two-album-set "Saturday Dance". She stood as a candidate for the 2010 mayoral elections in

but was unsuccessful. In 2016, she was presented with the

Benny Award The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who h ...

from the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

, the highest honour for a New Zealand entertainer.

Discography

Charting albums

Awards and honours

Prentice has won three

Golden guitar The Big Golden Guitar is one of the many "big" attractions that can be found around Australia. Located in Tamworth, New South Wales, the monument is one of the best-known points of interest in New England. It is also a major attraction duri ...

awards and was inducted into the Roll of Renown at the Tamworth

Country Music Awards of Australia The Country Music Awards of Australia also known as the Golden Guitar Awards (originally named Australasian Country Music Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wale ...

(CMAA). , - , 1974 , , Suzanne Prentice ''Dust On Mother's Bible'', , Female Vocalist of the Year , , , - , 1977 , , Suzanne Prentice ''Sweet Country Music'', , Female Vocalist of the Year , , , - , 1978 , , Suzanne Prentice ''How Great Thou Art'', , Female Vocalist of the Year , , , - , 1983 , , Suzanne Prentice ''One Day At a Time'', , Top Selling, , , - In the

1995 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1995 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Of ...

, Prentice was appointed

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) for services to music. In the

2025 New Year Honours The 2025 New Year Honours are appointments by King Charles III among the 15 Commonwealth realms to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The ...

, she was appointed

Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

(CNZM) for services to music and the community.

References

Living people New Zealand country singers New Zealand women country singers People from Invercargill 1958 births New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century New Zealand women singers Invercargill Licensing Trust Board members Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit {{NewZealand-singer-stub

Discography

Charting albums

Awards and honours

See also

References