Suzanne Prentice

{{Short description|New Zealand singer (born 1958)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2020}} thumb|right|Prentice in 2025 '''Suzanne Lena Prentice''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|OBE}} (born 19 September 1958 in Invercargill)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au/HandsOfFame/Prentice_Suzanne.htm |title=Suzanne Prentice |website=www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321123523/http://countrymusichalloffame.com.au/HandsOfFame/Prentice_Suzanne.htm |archive-date=2012-03-21}} </ref> is a New Zealand politician and country singer. 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".{{cn|date=December 2024}}

She stood as a candidate for the 2010 mayoral elections in Invercargill<ref name="ODT_102075">{{cite news |url= http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/102075/the-politician039s-a-prentice |title=The politician's a Prentice |last=McNeilly |first=Hamish |date=17 April 2010 |work=Otago Daily Times |accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> but was unsuccessful.

In 2016, she was presented with the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, the highest honour for a New Zealand entertainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vac.org.nz/awards/|title=Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc, 2016 Awards|date=13 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southlandexpress.co.nz/entertainment/prentice-honoured-with-benny-award/|title=Prentice Honoured With Benny Award, Southland Express, October 2016}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Charting albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with Australian chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions |- ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS</small><br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=237}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Dreamin' My Dreams'' | * Released: 1980 * Format: LP * Label: J&B (JB047) | align="center" | 55 |- ! scope="row" | ''One Day At a Time'' | * Released: 1982 * Format: LP * Label: J&B (JB107) | align="center" | 46 |- ! scope="row" | ''So Precious to Me'' | * Released: 1984 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: kTel (NA 672) | align="center" | 91 |- ! scope="row" | ''Songs from the Heart – 16 Beautiful Songs'' | * Released: 1988 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: J&B (JB327) | align="center" | 98 |}

== Awards and honours == Prentice has won three Golden guitar awards and was inducted into the Roll of Renown at the Tamworth Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.country.com.au/awards/past-award-winners |title=Past Winners|website=Country|accessdate=9 October 2020}}</ref>

{{awards table}} |- | 1974 || ''Dust On Mother's Bible''|| Female Vocalist of the Year || {{won}} |- | 1977 || ''Sweet Country Music''|| Female Vocalist of the Year || {{won}} |- | 1978 || ''How Great Thou Art''|| Female Vocalist of the Year || {{won}} |- | 1983 || ''One Day At a Time''|| Top Selling|| {{won}} |- {{end}}

In the 1995 Birthday Honours, Prentice was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-1995 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 1995 |date=19 October 2012 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref> In the 2025 New Year Honours, she was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to music and the community.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-year-honours-2025-the-full-list/HXG5CJOD4FE7RKA6HNK7BJO4F4/ |title=New Year Honours 2025: the full list |date=31 December 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prentice, Suzanne}} Category:Living people Category:New Zealand country singers Category:New Zealand women country singers Category:People from Invercargill Category:1958 births Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:20th-century New Zealand women singers Category:Invercargill Licensing Trust Board members Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit