Hitting the big time TAMI'S A COUNTRY LEGEND

How singing her tunes on her favourite TV show led to a 'pinch-me moment' starring role

- Rebekah Hebenton

Canadian-born Kiwi musician Tami Neilson talks about her breakout acting role on The Brokenwood Mysteries, life on the road and her life-changing friendship with country legend Willie Nelson.

We’re so sorry to hear about the end of your New Zealand tour being cancelled. How are you feeling now? When you’re touring with 12 people, odds are someone is going to get Covid. Sadly, half my band got it. I came out unscathed – I just had the good old-fashioned flu!

You’re about to depart for the European leg of your tour. How do you cope with being away from your family? I’m away for a month and I don’t normally go away that long. I made it a rule that I can’t be away from my kids that long, it’s too hard for me. Originally, they were coming with me, but now I have two weeks in Europe, then I’m meeting them in Los Angeles for five days before I head down to Nashville. We’re going to Disneyland and having a real family blowout after the past couple of years of not being able to go anywhere.