iHeartCountry NZ's Country Music Honours & Gold Guitar 2026 highlights

iHeartCountry NZ headed down to Gore this May for the Country Music Honours and Gold Guitars, as well as a few Tussock Country Festival events... here are our highlights!

Country Music Honours

We had the pleasure of being on the red carpet and chatting with all the Best Country Music award and MLT Songwriting Award nominees!

A huge congratulations to Marlon Williams and Kommi Tamati-Elliffe, who have took out the 2026 APRA Best Country Music Song Award with their powerful track ‘Whakameatia Mai’.

Whakameatia Mai stood out among a strong field, earning Marlon his second APRA Best Country Music Song Award after his 2013 win with co-writer Delaney Davidson, for Bloodletter. 

The MLT Songwriting Award, which celebrates unreleased original songs, was awarded to Ron Mitchell for Wedding Ring. Performed on the night by his daughter Maegan Mitchell, the track is a classic country rock feel and is written for anyone waiting for a cowboy to pop the question.

The Mitchell Twins (Maegan & Nicola) honoured the Topp Twins with a phenomenal performance of Untouchable Girls. 

One of the most moving moments of the evening came with the presentation of the Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music, awarded to the Topp Twins. Dame Lynda and Dame Jools were recognised for their longstanding impact on the industry and their commitment to uplifting others. 

Watch Dame Lynda's acceptance speech at the Gold Guitar awards:

We also kidnapped TheWesternGuide and attempted to replicate Ella Langley's beer opening trick from her Choosin' Texas music video...

MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards

Each year, the NZ Gold Guitar Awards induct a country music legend into their “Hands of Fame”.

This year Kaylee Bell & Glen Moffatt got their hands cemented into the history books!

The crew shared why they keep coming back year after year to be a part of the MLT Gold Guitar Awards