Top honour for Direen at country music awards

Wanaka country music singer Jody Direen was named Female Artist of the Year at the New Zealand Country Music Awards in Hamilton on Saturday.

Direen, who said she was ‘‘overwhelmed with excitement'' about the award, released her debut album, called Jody Direen Breaks Out, in April.

It reached No 1 on the New Zealand Country Album charts on iTunes and No 12 on the Official New Zealand Top 20 National chart.

Among Direen's upcoming performances is a New Year's Eve gig at the Lake Wanaka Centre.