2008 National Country Music Awards

Awards winners.

On Saturday 16th August 2008, at the beautiful Founders Theatre, Hamilton, New Zealand, a HUGE audience witnessed an awesome night of the very best of New Zealand’s Country Music Professionals and new artists.

“This event, I think, would have to be one of the most important events in country music in this country in a long, long time, and its great to see, really great to see. In fact I will go so far as to say TVNZ and TV3 have got a lot to answer for” says Suzanne Prentice, this years Legend Award winner.

Country Music Female Artist of the year Joy Adams, was totally surprised by the Award and said “It’s almost 18 years to the day since I won my first Award, on this stage”. Country Music Male Artist of the year was awarded to Dennis Marsh, who announced he will perform on this year’s Legends Tour beginning in October.

The Horizon Award went to Ashley Cooper from Tauranga who sang one of her original songs. Ashley received a Fender guitar and will appear as a guest artist on one of Australian’s Telstra Road to Tamworth heats, next year. Ashley expressed her gratitude towards the Kiwi Pro-Am committee.

Celebrities in the audience were Robert Stebbing (Stebbing Productions), Mr Rob Potts (Australia based) International Director from CMA America, Gray Bartlett, Ritchie Pickett, Brendan Dugan, and other dignitaries.

Mr Rob Potts congratulated the city of Hamilton for supporting these awards and was very impressed with the NZ talent he witnessed and the way in which the Awards Show was presented. He also mentioned the growing relationship between NZ and Australia in exchanging the NZ Horizon Winner with the Telstra Road to Tamworth Winner each year. Jasmine Rae the current Telstra Road to Tamworth winner had the audience in the palm of her hand when she sang “Unbelievable”, Jasmine said her journey so far has just been unbelievable.

With moving lights, fantastic sound and top artists from throughout NZ, the audience were witness to a night to be remembered.

----------------Suzanne Prentice--------------------------------- Roger Tibbs------------------------ Jasmine Rae with the Horizon Award
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- winner Ashley Cooper

Ashley Cooper------------------------------------- Joy Adams--------------------------- ------------ Dennis Marsh


Kevin Greaves-------------------------- Nadine Newman-Dempster----------------------- Neil Mackenzie-Hall


Aaron Jury--------------------------------------- Celine Toner------------------------------------- Phil Doublet


Jasmine Rae and Suzanne Prentice