LISTEN: HunTer and daughter in line for Holland awards

Benoni’s country songstress, HunTer Leite, is no stranger to City Times readers. Every time we hear from her she’s heading off to another music awards ceremony as a nominee.

This time though there is double excitement – HunTer’s daughter, 11-year-old Nicole, will be taking a trip overseas with mom as she has also been nominated in the FPCM Awards in Holland, set to take place in November.

That’s not all, HunTer’s 13 nominations in these awards include two for her show on Caxton Radio – Best Radio Programme (The Country Countdown) and Best Radio Host.

HunTer said news of her nominations and the fact that Nicole’s solo, Angels Sing, was also nominated for an award has been the best news they could have received this year.

ALSO READ: HunTer scoops another international award

“I won Most Amazing Female Voice for Modern Country Original in November and was then notified that I had been nominated for the Fair Play Country Music Awards 2021,” she enthused.

“It was so exciting as I now had something to look forward to in 2021, as 2020 had put a damper on my career as I was unable to perform due to dreaded Covid-19.

“On New Year’s Eve before going to bed early, I stood on my deck, looking up at the beautiful Bethlehem Star and said 2021 is going to be a year of unexpected blessings filled with excitement and joy and went to bed.

“I never dreamt I would ever be nominated for so many categories at one awards foundation. Receiving news on Facebook about the nominations was super exciting. 

“Scrolling through the categories my heart began to fill with amens, excitement and overwhelming feelings of joy when I saw how many categories I had been nominated in and that my beautiful daughter, Nicole, been nominated for the song her and I always sing at my shows.”

Nicole, her mom said, is a girl with a big passion for music and who has, since a young age, travelled South Africa with HunTer.

At most of her shows, Nicole performed a song with her mom, entitled Angels Sing, which was written for HunTer by Benoni songwriter Claudia Cox (who also happens to be Nicole’s godmother).

“Nicole performs this song so passionately at shows and her stepmom, Marihess Leite, decided to get Nicole to record it as a solo at my studio and then sent it into the FPCM Awards,” HunTer explained.

“My child was super excited about this as she could finally travel overseas should she be nominated. You can imagine her delight when this was confirmed. When nominations were announced, a very shy young girl’s dream fast became a reality and she said ‘yay! I’m going to Holland with you, mom’.

“Nicole has a great passion for many things but mostly for her horse, Troy, and, of course, singing and playing the keyboard.

“Sharing a stage with your child brings such a beautiful element into music. Music has a way of making us feel and heal, but when you have that much passion on stage it is twice as special.”
Caxton Radio

“Being a presenter on Caxton Radio has been a great honour for me, working alongside Paul Rotherham and the Caxton team, as this was also a dream come true,” HunTer said.

“In March I sent Paul a YouTube link saying I am hosting my show for people in lockdown to enjoy and it also gave me a listenership while I was unable to be on stage.

“Little did I dream of being nominated for Best Radio Host and Best Radio Show at the FPCM Awards. This is a huge honour and makes me so proud to be part of Caxton Radio.”

The station manager of Caxton Radio Paul Rotherham said it is a privilege having HunTer as part of the team.

“She is not only a talented performer with many years of experience but also a great radio host with a wealth of knowledge when it comes to country music.

“We’re very lucky to have someone of her calibre presenting The Country Countdown Show, as HunTer is very well connected and has worked with many bands, artists and music producers around the world.”

The 13 nominations for the FPCM Awards (which include several of HunTer’s original songs as well as two originals written for her by Claudia Cox):
1. Traditional Country Music Cover – Crazy
2. Modern County Cover – Halfway Around the World
3. Country Pop Cover – Dans
4. County Rock Original – Sweet Mary Jane
5. Different Language Country Original – Fluister van my Siel
6. Best Radio Programme – Caxton Radio The County Countdown with HunTer
7. Modern County Original – Emotions
8. Country Pop Original – Kicking up Dust
9. Country Rock Original – How Much More
10. Best Radio Host – HunTer Leite, Caxton Radio
11. Rock Music Original – Baby Ek Mis Jou So
12. Different Language Best Original – Damn Sexy
13. Female Voice of the Year – HunTer Leite/Halfway around the World

HunTer shared that she is releasing an Afrikaans single, Hoogtevrees, in March, which was written for her by local singer and one of South Africa’s top songwriters, Rudi Claase.

Catch HunTer’s The Country Countdown show on Caxton Radio on Sunday nights from 6pm to 9pm and a repeat on Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm (during lockdown only). Stream Caxton Radio at www.benonicitytimes.co.za

ALSO READ: [LISTEN] HunTer continues to amaze fans