The finalists for the 2021 Country Music Awards, best song and album, have been announced.

The three finalists for Recorded Music NZ Te Kaipuoro Tuawhenua Toa | Best Country Music Artist for 2021 include two previous winners in Jody Direen (who won the same Tui in 2017 with her third album ‘Shake Up’) for ‘Smokin’ Ashes’, and multiple Tui-winner Tami Neilson for her 2020 album ‘Chickaboom!’.

The one awards’ newbie in the running is former Doprah member and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Fisherman (real name Ryan Chin), for his debut solo album ‘Vibe’.

Tami Neilson is also one of three finalists for the APRA Best Country Music Song with clap-along single Queenie, Queenie, with a second chance of 2021 glory alongside Delaney Davidson, for his song Sleep, which also features on her ‘Chickaboom!’ album. 

Kendall Elise Todd is the third finalist for this year’s award with her single release Between Hello And Goodbye. Kendall Elise was previously a finalist for the 2020 Country Music Artist Tui with her 2019 debut album ‘Red Earth’.