Tami Neilson and Delaney Davidson Win 2023 APRA Best Country Music Song Award

The 2023 winners of the APRA Best Country Music Song Award were announced last night at the 2023 Country Music Honours in Gore, presented to songwriting luminaries Tami Neilson and Delaney Davidson for their song ‘Beyond The Stars’ — performed by Tami Neilson and Willie Nelson on Neilson's latest album Kingmaker.

Also presented on the night was the MLT Songwriting Award, an intriguing accolade which "celebrates unreleased songs from Aotearoa and Australia" — taken away this year by Matt Joe Gow (who wraps up his epic nationwide tour with Kerryn Fields this month) for ‘Whirlwind’, while Jenny Mitchell and Ron Mitchell's ‘Daffodils’ was announced as runner up.

"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." — Delaney Davidson

2023 APRA Best Country Music Song:

WINNER: ‘Beyond The Stars’ written by Tami Neilson and Delaney Davidson, performed by Tami Neilson and Willie Nelson (Published by Concord Music Publishing)

‘Find A River’ written by Maegan Mitchell, Nicola Mitchell and Tami Neilson*, performed by The Mitchell Twins (*Published by Concord Music Publishing)

‘Slow Burn’ written and performed by Mel Parsons (Published by Concord Music Publishing)

2023 MLT Songwriting Award:

WINNER: ‘Whirlwind’ written by Matt Joe Gow

RUNNER-UP: ‘Daffodils’ written by Jenny Mitchell and Ron Mitchell

‘Compte de Paris’ written by Kate Targett-Adams and Chad Robinson

‘Co-Parent’ written by Peter & Joanna Green

‘Goosebumps’ written by Keith Pereira

‘Help Me Remember’ written by Keith Pereira

‘Little Less Lonely’ written by Jenny Mitchell

‘Love Ya Like I Can’ written by Kerryn Fields and Matt Joe Gow

‘Nobody Warns You’ written by Mel Parsons

‘Prairie Song (Hard Times)’ written by Kerryn Fields