Nashville and Tamworth, Australia Join as Sister Cities

Tamworth Mayor Col Murray and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean sign the treaty that officially links Nashville and Tamworth as Sister Cities. Photo Credit: Gary Layda, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Tamworth, Australia and Nashville are officially joined as sister cities. On June 7, Nashville mayor Karl Dean and Mayor Col Murray of Tamworth signed a treaty at the Hall of Fame Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum that officially joined the cities; Tamworth is the seventh sister city to Nashville.

Tamworth, known as the “Country Music Capital of Australia,” hosts the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. The signing ceremony was held to coincide with the CMA Music Festival taking place downtown.

“Our shared love and appreciation of country music make this Sister City partnership a natural fit,” Mayor Dean said. “I look forward to a rich and long-lasting relationship that gives our citizens opportunities for musical, artistic, cultural and educational exchanges.”

Ten delegates from Tamworth, including three city “councillors,” are visiting Nashville to take part in the ceremony and the CMA Music Festival. Tamworth officials have an educational booth at Fan Fair X as part of CMA activities.

“There have been many links developed between Tamworth and Nashville over the years through the affinity both cities have for country music,” Mayor Murray said. “It is fantastic that we are now formalizing our Sister Cities relationship after years in the making.”

Clare Bowen, the Australian actress/artist who portrays Scarlett O’Connor in the television show Nashville, was to attend the ceremony; Australian duo Mark and Jay O’Shea and singer Morgan Evans performed. The husband-and-wife O’Sheas have multiple No. 1 singles in Australia and live and work in Nashville.

Nashville’s other sister cities include: Belfast, Northern Ireland; Caen, France; Edmonton, Canada; Magdeburg, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; and Taiyuan, China.

Music Executive Bob Saporiti, CMA Board Member/AristoMedia CEO Jeff Walker, Country Music Hall of Fame Museum Director Kyle Young, Tamworth Mayor Col Murray, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and CMA Board Member and Entertainment Edge CEO Rob Potts join Australian performers (seated, L-R) Mark O’Shea, Clare Bowen (“Nashville”), Jay O’Shea and Morgan Evans at the official Sister Cities Signing Ceremony. Photo Credit: Gary Layda, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Members of the Tamworth Delegation at the Sister Cities Signing Ceremony. Top row (L to R): Judy Coats, Tamworth Mayor Col Murray, Councilor Helen Tickle, Councilor Tim Coats, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, GM – Tamworth Regional Council Paul Bennett, Carol Murray, Gail Bennett, Country Music Hall of Fame Museum Director Kyle Young, Tamworth Country Music Festival Coordinator Kate Baker. Bottom row (L to R): Mark O’Shea, Clare Bowen, Jay O’Shea and Morgan Evans. Not pictured: Tamworth Regional Council Director of Business/Events John Sommerlad, CEO West Entertainment Group Rod Laing. Photo Credit: Gary Layda, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County