Jamaican music icon Nadine Sutherland, O.D., will be honoured with the Key to the City of Tamarac, Florida, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Jamaican music and her lasting cultural impact across the Caribbean and its diaspora.
The reggae singer, songwriter and actress will receive the prestigious civic honour during the second annual Red Gala at the Tamarac Community Center. The event will also mark the tenth anniversary of elected service by Tamarac Vice Mayor Marlon D. Bolton.
Bolton is recognizing Sutherland for a career that has helped bring Jamaican music to international audiences while strengthening cultural connections among Caribbean communities worldwide.
“Your voice, artistry, and presence have brought joy to generations,” Bolton said. “Your music has helped carry the sound and spirit of Jamaica far beyond its shores.”
The Key to the City is among the highest civic honours bestowed by a municipality, recognizing individuals whose achievements and contributions have made a meaningful impact.
For Sutherland, the recognition is particularly significant given Tamarac’s strong Caribbean presence.
“To be recognized in a community with such a strong Caribbean presence is especially meaningful to me,” Sutherland said ahead of the ceremony. “Music has always been about connection, and I am grateful that the music I have been privileged to make continues to connect Jamaica with people around the world.”
The Red Gala will also serve a philanthropic purpose, raising awareness and support for individuals, families and organizations affected by breast cancer and other forms of cancer.
The honour comes during another eventful year for the veteran entertainer. Earlier in 2026, Sutherland was named the inaugural Grand Marshal of the Jamaica Rising Parade in Brooklyn, New York, and performed at the 0121 Festival in Birmingham, England.
She also returned to the stage for Tastee’s 60th anniversary celebrations, revisiting the institution that helped launch her musical journey. Sutherland won the Tastee Talent Contest in 1979 at just 11 years old, setting the stage for a remarkable career that would see her become the first artiste signed to Bob Marley’s legendary Tuff Gong record label.
From her early success as a child performer to her evolution into one of Jamaica’s enduring reggae and dancehall voices, Sutherland has remained a respected figure in the island’s entertainment industry.
Her body of work, spanning music, acting and cultural representation, has connected generations of listeners in Jamaica and overseas.
The Key to the City of Tamarac adds another international distinction to Sutherland’s career, celebrating not only her musical achievements but also the role Jamaican artistes continue to play in preserving and promoting Caribbean culture around the world.
