Kaylee Bell is a New Zealand-born country pop singer-songwriter known for her emotive storytelling and blend of traditional country with modern pop influences.[1][2]Born in Waimate on New Zealand's South Island, Bell began performing publicly at age four, influenced by her musical family where her mother sang and played piano.[1] She grew up competing in local country music events alongside her siblings and honed her skills in the competitive New Zealand country scene, winning the NZ Gold Guitar award early in her career.[3] At 21, she relocated to Australia to advance her music ambitions, marking a pivotal shift in her professional journey.[4][2]Bell's breakthrough came in 2013 when she won the prestigious Toyota Star Maker award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, becoming the first New Zealander to claim the honor since Keith Urban in 1990.[1][5] This victory launched her into the spotlight, leading to chart-topping singles on the Australian Music Network Radio Chart and opportunities to open for major artists, including Brad Paisley on his World Tour in New Zealand and Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour to crowds exceeding 150,000.[2][6]A defining moment occurred in 2022 during her appearance on The Voice Australia, where she performed her original song "Keith"—a tribute to Keith Urban—that went viral after leaving the judge speechless and earning widespread acclaim.[7] This exposure propelled her to international recognition, solidifying her as one of Australasia's brightest country stars and the most streamed female country artist in the region for the past five years.[8][1]Her discography includes notable releases such as the debut single "Heartfirst" in 2013, the ARIA Gold-certified The RED EP featuring "Keith," and her fourth studio album Cowboy Up in 2025, which showcases her independent artistry from her Nashville base.[9][10][11] Bell has amassed accolades including the 2023 CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award presented by Tyler Hubbard and a Golden Guitar for Best Vocal Collaboration at the Country Music Association of Australia Awards in 2023, as well as the 2025 Golden Guitar for Vocal Collaboration of the Year.[12][13][14]Now residing in Nashville, Tennessee, as an independent artist and mother, Bell continues to tour extensively, including her "Boots n’ All" New Zealand tour and releases like the 2025 single "Song For Shania," while advocating for women and mothers in country music.[15][16][7]
Early life
Upbringing
Kaylee Bell was born on December 4, 1989, in Waimate, a small rural town in South Canterbury, New Zealand.[17] Growing up in this close-knit community on the South Island, she experienced a quintessential rural upbringing surrounded by the landscapes and lifestyle that would later influence her affinity for country music.[18]Bell was raised in a family of five, including her parents and two siblings—a brother and a sister—who shared a deep passion for country music. Her parents provided strong encouragement and logistical support for her early interests, such as driving her to guitar lessons in nearby Timaru starting at age eight, fostering an environment where artistic pursuits were valued alongside the family's hardworking rural ethos.[18][17] The family frequently traveled across the South Island to participate in local talent quests and music events, instilling in Bell a sense of responsibility, gratitude, and connection to her roots from a young age.[17]During her secondary education, Bell attended Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru, where she continued to develop her talents within a supportive school community.[18] These formative years in Waimate, marked by family bonding over music and outdoor activities, solidified her ties to the authentic, storytelling essence of country traditions. As a child, she showed an early interest in singing, often performing alongside her siblings at local gatherings.[18]
Musical beginnings
Kaylee Bell's musical journey began in her early childhood in the rural town of Waimate, New Zealand, where she started singing country songs at the age of four alongside her brother and sister for local audiences.[18] These informal family performances laid the foundation for her passion for country music, fostering a sense of stage presence from a young age.[18]Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Bell actively participated in local talent quests and country music events, honing her skills and gaining exposure in New Zealand's regional music scene.[18] These competitions provided opportunities to perform original and cover songs, building her confidence and connecting her with the country's burgeoning country music community.[18]Bell achieved her first major national recognition by winning the New Zealand Gold Guitar Award in 2007, a prestigious honor that capped years of dedication to local competitions.[18][19] This victory, held at the GoreTown and Country Club, marked a pivotal moment in her youth, highlighting her emerging talent on a national stage.[20]During these formative performances, Bell drew early influences from country music icons such as Shania Twain and Keith Urban, whose styles and careers inspired her approach to songwriting and performance from childhood.[21][18]
Career
Early career and debut (2008–2013)
Following her win at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in 2007, Kaylee Bell, then 18, began establishing herself in the local country music scene through a series of performances across New Zealand. She played at regional festivals and events, including appearances that built her reputation as an emerging talent, while also attending the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) College of Country Music in Tamworth in 2009 for professional development. These experiences, combined with opening slots for established acts in her home country, helped her refine her stage presence and songwriting skills ahead of pursuing international opportunities.[22][19]In 2011, after earning a Bachelor of Performing Arts in musical theatre from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Bell relocated to Australia to immerse herself in the vibrant country music industry there. Based initially in Sydney and later Bathurst, she entered the prestigious Toyota Star Maker Quest at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in both 2011 and 2012, using these attempts to network and gain visibility. Her persistence paid off in January 2013 when, at age 23, she claimed the title as the 34th winner, a breakthrough that provided mentorship, industry connections, and a recording deal—propelling her from local performer to national contender in the Australian scene.[23][22][24]The Star Maker victory directly led to Bell's early releases, including the debut single "Heart First" in April 2013, which highlighted her emotive vocals and country-pop blend. She also featured on the collaborative single "Pieces" with 2014 Star Maker winner Jared Porter, released that year as a precursor to further projects. Culminating her early momentum, Bell independently issued her debut studio album Heart First on July 5, 2013 via Rural Press Events, recorded partly in Nashville as part of the prize package and featuring 12 original tracks co-written by Bell. The album earned praise for its accessible sound.[25][26][27]
Breakthrough and international recognition (2014–2019)
In the years following the release of her debut album Heart First in 2013, Kaylee Bell solidified her presence in the Australasian country music scene, earning the Best Country Album award at the 2014 New Zealand Country Music Awards for the project.[28][29] She also received the APRA Best Country Song award in 2015 for "Pieces" (with Jared Porter), recognizing her songwriting contributions and helping to establish her as a rising talent in New Zealand's country music landscape.[28][30]Bell's profile elevated significantly in 2016 with the release of her breakout single "Getting Closer," co-written with Australian country artist Morgan Evans, which became a staple in her live sets and marked her first major chart success.[31] The track debuted at number 14 on the New Zealand Top 40 singles chart and topped the iTunes Country chart in the country, while in Australia, it reached number 1 on the Australian Music Network Country chart and contributed to her tally of twelve Top 10 singles on the Australian Country Music Radio charts.[32] That same year, she gained widespread media attention for joining Keith Urban onstage during his concert at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, where they performed a duet of Urban's hit "We Were Us," an event described in coverage as a career highlight that boosted her visibility among international country fans.[33][34]Building on this momentum, Bell expanded her touring footprint in 2017 by opening for Australian country group The McClymonts on their national tour across Australia, where she debuted new material like "Next Somebody" to enthusiastic crowds and further honed her stage presence.[35][36] Media outlets, including NZ Musician magazine, highlighted her ambition to elevate New Zealandcountry music during this period, noting her plans for broader Australasian exposure and collaborations that reflected her growing songwriting prowess.[35]By 2018, Bell's international aspirations came into sharper focus, as profiled in The Spinoff, which detailed her efforts to bridge New Zealand's country scene with Nashville influences through targeted networking and releases.[28] This groundwork paid off in 2019, when she released the single "Keith," a personal tribute to Keith Urban that underscored her thematic focus on admiration and romance in country storytelling. The track, initially self-released, later achieved Gold certification in both Australia and New Zealand for exceeding 35,000 units in sales and streams each.[37] That year, she performed at the inaugural C2C: Country to Country festival in Australia and made her UK debut at the London edition, showcasing "Keith" on the ICON Stage to audiences seeking fresh international country voices, as covered in festival recaps and artist interviews.[38][39] She also appeared at the Key West Songwriters Festival in the United States, marking her first notable U.S. performance slot and signaling her expanding global reach within country music circles.[4]
Independent era and recent releases (2020–present)
In 2020, Kaylee Bell transitioned to an independent artist, self-managing her career and releasing music through her own label, which allowed greater creative control and direct fan engagement.[21] Her first independent project, the EP The Red, arrived on February 26, 2021, featuring five tracks including the hit "Keith," which built on prior U.S. interest from her earlier work.[40] The EP achieved ARIA Gold certification in Australia in May 2023, marking the first time an independent Australasian female country artist reached this milestone.[12]Later that year, Bell released her second studio album, Silver Linings, on November 26, 2021, comprising eight songs that explored themes of love, heartbreak, resilience, and finding hope amid adversity, as reflected in titles like "Be With You," "A Heart Don't Break Like That," and the title track.[41] The album received positive reception for its polished production and emotional depth, with reviewers noting its blend of country-pop elements and Bell's strong vocal delivery, though some critiqued its brevity at 24 minutes.[42] It solidified her growing presence in the Australasian market, contributing to her recognition as the most streamed female country artist in the region by 2023, with over 40 million streams across platforms.[9]Bell's visibility surged in 2022 when she auditioned on The Voice Australia, performing her original song "Keith" for coach Keith Urban, an appearance that garnered widespread attention and propelled her streams and fanbase.[43] This exposure led to high-profile touring opportunities, including opening for Brad Paisley during his World Tour NZ shows in late 2022, Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics Stadium Tour across six New Zealand dates in 2023, and Kane Brown on his In the Air World Tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2024.[44] These performances reached hundreds of thousands of fans and enhanced her international profile.[45]In March 2024, Bell issued her third studio album, Nights Like This, an 11-track collection that debuted at number one on the New Zealand Artists Chart and number three on the Official Top 40, praised for its energetic country-pop sound and personal storytelling.[46] The album's lead single and title track highlighted themes of living in the moment and rural life, further cementing her streaming dominance.[47]Bell continued her momentum with the release of her fourth studio album, Cowboy Up, on September 26, 2025, featuring banjo-driven tracks like the viral title song and "Red Dirt Romeo," which emphasize empowerment and country roots.[48] To promote it, she launched the Cowboy Up Tour in November 2025, her largest headline run across New Zealand venues, performing to sold-out crowds and showcasing hits from her independent catalog.[49]
Musical style and influences
Genre and songwriting
Kaylee Bell's music is primarily classified as country-pop, incorporating elements of traditional country while blending influences from Australasian and American styles.[18][50] Her sound draws from Nashville's songwriting traditions, evident in her collaborations with American producers, yet retains a distinctive Kiwi-Aussie flair through themes rooted in rural life and personal resilience.[35] This fusion has positioned her as a bridge between regional country scenes, appealing to audiences in New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.[17]Bell is an active songwriter, often co-writing her material to infuse personal narratives into her tracks. A notable example is her 2019 single "Keith," which she co-wrote with Australian songwriters Phil Barton and Lindsay Rimes, drawing inspiration from Keith Urban's catalog to craft a playful tribute to country romance.[51] Her songwriting process emphasizes storytelling drawn from lived experiences, frequently involving collaborators to refine hooks and melodies that balance pop accessibility with country authenticity.[52]Over her career, Bell's composition style has evolved from the upbeat, debut-driven energy of her 2013 album Heart First—which leaned into straightforward country-pop structures—to more introspective and self-reflective works in her independent phase.[53] Her 2025 release Cowboy Up marks this shift, featuring deeply personal lyrics that explore motherhood, empowerment, and emotional vulnerability, co-written to highlight her matured voice in the genre.[48][54] This progression reflects a move toward greater artistic autonomy, prioritizing raw, narrative-driven songs over commercial polish.[55]
Themes and vocal approach
Kaylee Bell's music frequently explores themes of heartbreak and resilience, often drawing from personal experiences of love's challenges and recovery. In songs like "A Heart Don't Break Like That" from her 2021 album Silver Linings, she delves into the slow, lingering pain of romantic loss, with lyrics reflecting on how "love came so fast, but it leaves so slow."[56] Similarly, the title track "Silver Linings" addresses perseverance amid hardship, portraying the struggle to "make a livin' but feelin' like I'm barely gettin' by" while emphasizing getting back up after falling.[57] These motifs of emotional endurance underscore a narrative of overcoming adversity, evident across her discography.Empowerment emerges as another core theme, particularly in tracks that transform vulnerability into strength. Bell has described turning personal setbacks into uplifting anthems, as in her approach to songwriting where she aimed to craft an "empowerment song" reflecting her life situation.[35] On her 2025 album Cowboy Up, the title track delivers a bold ultimatum of "Cowboy Up or Cowboy out," symbolizing decisive self-assertion in relationships and life choices.[55] Rural life also permeates her work, celebrating small-town simplicity and nostalgia, as seen in "Home" from Silver Linings, which evokes growing up in New Zealand's South Island with lines about roots and the pull of hometown familiarity.[58]Bell's vocal approach is characterized by a strong, emotive delivery that blends clarity with a twang-infused tone, making it versatile for both intimate ballads and energetic uptempo numbers. Reviewers note her "anthemic vocals" and "powerhouse chorus" that command attention, as in "Ring On It" from Cowboy Up, where her voice "cuts sharp" to convey frustration and fire.[55] This polished yet powerful style suits country-pop arrangements, allowing her to hit notes with precision and infuse performances with raw passion.[59]Her vocal influences draw from prominent country figures, including Shania Twain, whom Bell cites as a childhood inspiration for stadium-filling presence and genre-blending confidence.[21] Keith Urban's impact is also evident in her emotive phrasing and narrative-driven delivery, reflected in her tribute song "Keith" and overall mainstream country hooks.[15] Local New Zealand country traditions further shape her approach, grounding her twang in the rarity of pop-infused country within a scene dominated by alt-country acts.[18] These elements combine to create a voice that bridges her rural origins with global appeal.Bell's themes often reflect her New Zealand roots, weaving in elements of small-town resilience and rural escape up to her 2024 album Nights Like This. Tracks like "When Summer Rolls Around" capture seasonal joys and open-road freedom reminiscent of South Island landscapes, tying personal growth to her Waimate upbringing.[60] This connection reinforces empowerment and heartbreak narratives, portraying life's cycles through a lens of hometown authenticity and unyielding determination.[17]
Discography
Studio albums
Kaylee Bell has released four studio albums to date, marking her evolution from an independent New Zealand country artist to an international performer with growing commercial success. Her debut, Heartfirst (2013), established her songwriting voice with heartfelt ballads and uptempo tracks, while subsequent releases like Silver Linings (2021) and Nights Like This (2024) showcased polished production and collaborations that boosted her streaming presence. The most recent, Cowboy Up (2025), reflects personal themes amid her rising profile. These albums have collectively amassed tens of millions of streams globally, with Nights Like This achieving her highest chart positions in New Zealand.
Heartfirst (2013)
Bell's debut studio album, Heartfirst, was independently released on July 5, 2013, through Rural Press Events, following her win at the ToyotaStar Maker Award. Produced in Nashville, it features 12 original tracks blending traditional country with pop elements, highlighting Bell's vocal range on themes of love and small-town life. The title track served as the lead single, marking her first solo release after earlier collaborations. While the album did not enter major international charts, it received acclaim in Australasian country circles and helped secure her Best Country Album win at the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards.[61][18]
Total length: 40:38. The album's intimate production, recorded with Nashville session players, emphasized Bell's raw delivery, contributing to its enduring play in her live sets.[27]
Silver Linings (2021)
Self-released on November 26, 2021, Silver Linings marked Bell's return after a period of touring and singles, produced by Bell alongside Nashville collaborators. This eight-track EP-length album (though classified as full-length in her discography) explores resilience amid heartbreak, with key tracks like the duet "That Summer" featuring Josh Mirenda and the reflective title song. It peaked at number 19 on the New Zealand Top 40 Albums Chart and number 18 on the Australian iTunes Country Albums Chart, driven by strong digital sales and radio play. Streaming milestones include over 10 million combined plays for its singles by mid-2022, underscoring Bell's growing digital footprint.[62][63][64]
Total length: 24:44. Production notes highlight its home-recorded elements during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding authenticity to tracks like "Home," which resonated with audiences seeking uplift.[65][66]
Nights Like This (2024)
Bell's third studio album, Nights Like This, was released on March 15, 2024, via Sony MusicNew Zealand, co-produced by Bell and Nashville's Justin Niebank. Comprising 11 tracks, it captures high-energy country-pop anthems about summer escapades and self-empowerment, with standout cuts like "Take It to the Highway" and the title track emphasizing road-trip vibes. The album debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand Artists Albums Chart and number 3 on the overall Top 40 Albums Chart, spending 62 weeks on the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums Chart as of November 2025; it also entered the Australian Country Albums Chart at number 5. Reception praised its infectious hooks and Bell's matured vocals, earning spots on Rolling Stone Australia's best-of lists for New Zealand releases. No certifications were reported as of November 2025, though lead single "Boots 'N All" contributed to early streaming surges exceeding 5 million plays.[9][67][60][47]
Total length: 34:54. The album's vibrant sound, blending banjo riffs with electronic accents, solidified Bell's appeal to younger audiences.[68]
Cowboy Up (2025)
Released on September 26, 2025, via her independent label under Sony distribution, Cowboy Up is Bell's fourth studio album, an eight-track collection self-produced with Nashville input, focusing on bold romance and personal growth. It includes fan-favorite singles like the title track, which garnered over 1 million social media views pre-release, and pays homage to influences in "Song for Shania." Initial reviews lauded its concise energy and Shania Twain-esque swagger, with Entertainment Focus calling it a "fierce collection of bangers" and 13th Floor noting its "economical 25 minutes" packed with driving guitars. A limited-edition vinyl pressing was available through Bell's official store, featuring gatefold artwork and digital download codes. As of November 2025, it debuted at number 20 on the New Zealand Top 40 Albums Chart, with streaming totals surpassing 2 million in the first month. No certifications have been issued yet.[69][55][54][70]
Total length: 26:00. The vinyl edition's warm analog sound enhanced tracks like "Heartbeat," a personal closer about vulnerability.[71][72]
Extended plays
Kaylee Bell released her debut extended play, The Red EP, on February 26, 2021, marking her transition to independent artistry after parting ways with her previous label. Self-produced and distributed through her own imprint, the EP compiles five previously issued singles, showcasing Bell's evolution toward a more personal and unfiltered country sound rooted in her New Zealand heritage. This release underscored her growing autonomy in the industry, allowing her to retain creative control and directly engage with fans via digital platforms.[37]The track listing of The Red EP includes:
"Keith"
"Wasted On You"
"Getting Closer"
"Who I Am"
"One More Shot"
Among these, "Keith" stands out as the lead single, a heartfelt tribute to country legend Keith Urban that resonated widely with audiences for its nostalgic lyrics and Bell's emotive delivery. The EP's thematic focus on resilience, romance, and rural life further solidified Bell's niche in contemporary country music.[73]Commercially, The Red EP achieved significant milestones, earning ARIA Gold certification in Australia in May 2023 for exceeding 35,000 equivalent units, a feat that made Bell the first independent female country artist from Australasia to accomplish this for an EP. This certification highlighted the project's streaming success, driven by organic fan growth rather than major-label promotion, and positioned it as a benchmark for regional female artists in the genre. No additional extended plays have been released as of 2025, with Bell's subsequent work shifting toward full-length albums like Silver Linings.[74][37]
Singles
Kaylee Bell's singles career began with independent releases that gained traction in New Zealand and Australia through radio airplay and awards recognition. Her early work emphasized heartfelt country narratives, building a foundation for international appeal. Notable early singles like "Pieces," a 2014 duet with Jared Porter, topped Australian country radio charts and earned the APRA New Zealand award for Best Country Song in 2015.[75][46]In 2016, "Getting Closer" marked her first entry on the New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart, peaking at number 14 and demonstrating regional airplay success in both New Zealand and Australia. This track, from her debut album Heart First, highlighted her growing presence in the country music scene. Bell's breakthrough came with "Keith" in 2019, a tribute to Keith Urban that she performed on The Voice Australia. The single reached number 12 on the US Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart, certified gold in Australia by ARIA (35,000 units), and gold in New Zealand by Recorded Music NZ (7,500 units). Its music video, directed by Shae Sterling, contributed to its viral spread on social media.[76][77][37]Bell's independent era from 2020 onward saw consistent chart performance, particularly in New Zealand's Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles and Australia's country airplay charts. Singles such as "Boots 'N All" (2023) and "Good Things" (2023) both topped the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles chart, with the former also achieving number 1 on Countrytown's Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart for multiple weeks. "Boots 'N All" promoted her EP The Red, which itself received ARIA gold certification in 2023 as the first for an independent Australasian female country artist. By 2025, releases from her album Cowboy Up, including the title track "Cowboy Up" (peaking at number 5 on Hot 20 Aotearoa), "Red Dirt Romeo" (peaking at number 5), and "Song for Shania" (peaking at number 1) continued her streak of top-10 entries, underscoring her enduring popularity in the Australasian country market.[76][78][9][76]Overall, Bell has amassed over 20 charting singles in New Zealand since 2016, with four number-one hits on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles chart and multiple top-10 placements on Australiancountry airplay rankings via Countrytown. Her singles have collectively surpassed 100 million global streams, reflecting a blend of traditional countrystorytelling and modern production that resonates across borders.[76][79]
The APRA Awards, administered by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS), recognize excellence in songwriting and composition, emphasizing the rights and achievements of music creators across genres, including country music.In 2015, Kaylee Bell, alongside co-writer Jared Porter, won the APRA Best Country Music Song Award for their duet "Pieces," highlighting her early recognition as a composer in the Australasian country scene.[30]Bell received a nomination in the Most Performed Country Work category at the 2024 APRA Music Awards for "Same Songs," co-written with James Johnston, Gavin Carfoot, Jared Porter, and Nolan Wynne, underscoring her continued contributions to performed country compositions.[80]She earned another nomination in the same category at the 2025 APRA Music Awards for "Good Things," co-written with Michael De Lorenzis, Melanie Dyer, and Michael Paynter, reflecting her ongoing impact in songwriting up to the present.[81]
Country Music Awards of Australia
Kaylee Bell has garnered significant recognition at the Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA), also known as the Golden Guitar Awards, highlighting her rising prominence in the Australian country music scene. Since 2022, she has received multiple nominations and secured two wins, reflecting her songwriting, vocal performances, and overall artistry. These accolades have been presented annually in Tamworth, New South Wales, during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, where Bell has also performed, contributing to the event's vibrant atmosphere.[82]In 2022, Bell earned three nominations for the 50th Golden Guitar Awards, including Contemporary Country Album of the Year and Album of the Year for her album Silver Linings, as well as Vocal Collaboration of the Year for "Before I Met You" with The McClymonts.[78][83] She did not win that year but used the platform to perform tracks from Silver Linings, engaging with fans and industry peers at the festival.[78]The following year, at the 2023 ceremony, Bell won Vocal Collaboration of the Year for "Same Songs" alongside James Johnston, marking her first Golden Guitar.[13] She was also nominated for Contemporary Country Album of the Year and Album of the Year, again for Silver Linings.[13] During the event, she performed selections from her catalog, celebrating the collaborative win on stage with Johnston.[13]Bell's breakthrough came in 2024 at the 52nd awards, where she won Female Artist of the Year, becoming the first New Zealand-born artist to claim the honor.[84][85] She was additionally nominated for Single of the Year with "Boots 'N All".[86] Accepting the award on stage, Bell dedicated it to influential women in country music and performed a medley of her hits, underscoring her vocal prowess and connection to the genre's traditions.[87]In 2025, Bell secured her second win for Vocal Collaboration of the Year with The Wolfe Brothers for "Beer in a Bar" at the 53rd ceremony, though she was absent due to her pregnancy.[14][88] The award highlighted her ongoing impact through high-profile duets, and the track was performed live by her collaborators during the event.[89]
In 2007, at the age of 18, Kaylee Bell won the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in the Senior Overall category, marking an early breakthrough in her career.[19] Two years later, in 2009, she received the Tamworth Songwriters Association award in the Amateur Contemporary category for her song "Back Again," co-written with Lance Coassin.[90]Bell's rising profile led to her victory in the 2013 Toyota Star Maker competition, a prestigious Australian talent search that provided her with recording opportunities and industry exposure in Tamworth.[24] The following year, she earned the Best Country Music Album award at the New Zealand Music Awards for her debut album Heart First, recognizing her songwriting and vocal performance on tracks like the title song.[29]On the international stage, Bell was honored with the 2023 CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award by the Country Music Association, acknowledging her achievements as a non-U.S. artist, including over 60 million global streams and tours supporting major acts like Ed Sheeran.[74] That same year, her 2021 EP The Red achieved ARIA Gold certification in Australia for surpassing 35,000 units in sales and streams, making her the first independent female Australasian country artist to reach this milestone in two decades.[91]In 2024, Bell secured the Best Country Artist Tui at the Aotearoa Music Awards, along with the inaugural Te Manu Mātārae Impact Award, which celebrates artists for their global influence and contributions to New Zealand music.[92] Continuing her momentum into 2025, she won Female Artist of the Year at the Countrytown Awards, a fan-voted recognition of her independent success and touring presence across Australia and New Zealand.[8]