International country award nominee Kaylee Bell to headline Christmas in the Park

Tuesday, 19 September 2023

The most streamed female country artist in Australasia, Kaylee Bell will take top billing at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park in Auckland in 2023.

Kiwi country music artist Kaylee Bell’s year just keeps getting better, with a nomination for the prestigious CMA Awards, and being named the headline act at New Zealand’s biggest Christmas celebration.

“My band and I are so excited to be headlining the Auckland show and can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with New Zealand in the very best way – on the big stage with lots of lights, great music and all the fun, energy, and joy of performing for a live Kiwi audience,” Bell said.

Bell had just been nominated for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist, alongside Australian artist Casey Barnes and Canadian artist Tebey, in the 2023 Country Music Association’s International Awards.

The awards honoured artists and industry executives who had supported and impacted the growth and promotion of country music in the international marketplace.

Kaylee Bell is presented with her Aria Gold award for her Red EP featuring the hit single Keith at the end of her first nationwide tour in her hometown of Waimate on June 4.

In June, Bell added a Gold Aria, for her EP Red, to her list of achievements for 2023, presented in her hometown of Waimate.

That list included supporting Ed Sheeran’s six-date Multiply tour of New Zealand, completing her first solo tour of the country, and picking up the Golden Guitar Award for vocal collaboration of the year at the prestigious awards in Tamworth, Australia, in January.

Kaylee Bell performs ahead of Ed Sheeran at Eden Park in February 2023.

At the time, Bell became the first female country artist in Australasia to receive a gold Aria in 20 years, with Australian country star Kasey Chambers achieving the same success in 2003, and becoming the first independent female country artist in Australasia to be accredited.

Bell first appeared at the Christmas in the Park in 2007. This year, as the headline act, she would be joined by artists such as Vince Harder, Ella Monnery, Lavina Williams, Tom Batchelor and Nyree Huyser.

Kaylee Bell and her band performed for thousands of people at Christchurch's Hagley Park for Christmas in the Park in November 2011.

“Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park has been a huge part of my life for so many years,” Bell said.

“From being part of the choir as a teenager, to performing as a soloist in 2016, to top billing at last year’s Christchurch show.

“I’m a huge Christmas fan … For me, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park signals the start of the countdown to Christmas and our fabulous Kiwi summer.”

The event’s creative director, Dixon Nacey, said they were thrilled to have Bell and her band return to headline the show.

“She’s a big part of the Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park whānau, and she’s on the fast track to the big time. The audience are in for an amazing night of truly world-class Kiwi entertainment.”

Bell was also the most streamed female country artist in Australasia and was now spending her time between Nashville and Auckland.

Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park would be held at the Auckland Domain on December 9.