Suzanne Prentice

Suzanne Lena Prentice CNZM OBE (born 19 September 1958 in Invercargill)^[1] is a New Zealand politician and country singer. Her most successful single "When I Dream" peaked at number 11 in New Zealand during 1982.

Prentice in 2025

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".^{[citation needed]}

She stood as a candidate for the 2010 mayoral elections in Invercargill^[2] 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.^[3][4]

Discography

Charting albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [5]
Dreamin' My Dreams	Released: 1980 Format: LP Label: J&B (JB047)	55
One Day At a Time	Released: 1982 Format: LP Label: J&B (JB107)	46
So Precious to Me	Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cassette Label: kTel (NA 672)	91
Songs from the Heart – 16 Beautiful Songs	Released: 1988 Format: LP, Cassette Label: J&B (JB327)	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).^[6]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1974	Suzanne Prentice Dust On Mother's Bible	Female Vocalist of the Year	Won
1977	Suzanne Prentice Sweet Country Music	Female Vocalist of the Year	Won
1978	Suzanne Prentice How Great Thou Art	Female Vocalist of the Year	Won
1983	Suzanne Prentice One Day At a Time	Top Selling	Won

In the 1995 Birthday Honours, Prentice was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music.^[7] 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.^[8]

See also

• Music of New Zealand
• 2010 New Zealand local elections