Mitchell, a former New Zealand Gold Guitar winner, was named Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ) best country music artist of the year at the New Zealand Country Music Awards last night.
She beat fellow finalists Jamie McDell and Tami Neilson at St James Theatre in Gore.
New Zealand Songwriters Trust chairman Jeff Rea said it was fantastic for someone from the region to win.
"It's very cool.
"She's a young lady with exceptional ability and a rare talent,'' Rea said.
Mitchell, of Gore, won the MLT songwriting award in 2016.
"It's very special for us.
"One of our own has risen to the top after coming through the ranks - it's a huge boost for here.''
In the past 18 months Mitchell's sophomore album Wildfires entered the Official New Zealand Music Charts at number four.
The night came full circle when Rea, Mitchell and her father Ron Mitchell performed a song in memory of pioneer songwriting country music artist Dusty Spittle, who died in December.
"We are doing a tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the country music industry, who came from here.
"At the same time, we have a young lady who comes from here as well who is winning the top award - it's really cool,'' Rea said.
Kerryn Fields won the MLT songwriting award with her song Mama, which she performed last night.
Fields paid tribute to fellow New Zealand artist Chanelle Davis when accepting the award presented by MLT board president Horace McAuley.
"She's been a long-time songwriter and friend and she told me `you've got a great voice but you write crap songs','' Fields said.
She won the award out of 108 entries, which was up on last year.
"The standard is getting pretty high each year,'' Rea said.
"There were some established writers in New Zealand who never made the top 10.''
It indicated the award was becoming an important event in the songwriting community, he said.
Holly Arrowsmith won the Australasian Performing Right Association [APRA] best country song for her tune Slow Train Creek.
- Kayla Hodge
