Kelsea Ballerini
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Rare are the number of country female artists who earn a number one hit on the Billboard charts from their debut album. Kelsea Ballerini is one of them.
When Ballerini was just 22 years old, she released her 2015 debut LP The First Time. It featured “Love Me Like You Mean It”, which went on to hit no. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. From there, Ballerini’s star has been set.
The same year as her debut, she won the Billboard Women in Music Award for Rising Star, the ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year and was nominated for the prestigious Best New Artist category at the Grammys.
Riding those accolades, she followed The First Time with her best-selling album Unapologetically in 2017, refining her hybrid country-pop sound, which favors moving storytelling as much as it does soaring rhythms.
Her third studio album Kelsea followed in 2019 – the same year she was invited by Little Big Town to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In April, Carrie Underwood inducted her.
Quick on the heels of Kelsea, Ballerini released her fourth studio album in 2020, titling it after her last name. Ballerini serves as a stripped down companion to Kelsea.
- Full name: Kelsea Ballerini
- Born: September 12, 1993
- Hometown: Mascot, TN
- Fun facts: Ballerini filled in for Kelly Clarkson briefly as a coach on The Voice.
- Genre: Country, Pop
CMT Music Awards 2022
Kane Brown leads the star-studded list with four nominations, including Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year. Co-host Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton and first-time nominees BRELAND and Cody Johnson all have three nominations apiece.
ESSENTIALS•The Best Kelsea Ballerini Songs
Revisiting her songbook so far, we handpick Ballerini's best songs, from hit singles to essential deep cuts.
ESSENTIALS•The Best Country Break Up Songs
Holler picks out 15 of country music’s best break up songs
ALBUM REVIEW•Kelsea Ballerini - ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini strips away the gloss on ballerini to show there really are two sides to every story.
INTERVIEW•In Conversation: Russell Dickerson
Is anyone having a better 2020 than Russell Dickerson? It's doubtful.
GUIDE•A Guide To: The Troubled Relationship Between Fonts and Country Music
Florida Georgia Linotype? Chalkboard Psychopath? Holler investigates ten of the most widely used font styles in country music to discover the secrets behind the typefaces. Here are 10 fonts and the truth.
ESSENTIALS•Holler's Records of the Year 2020
In a year of deep tragedy and anxiety, the 20 records here have offered deep empathy, comfort and empowerment to carry us through.
Carrie Underwood and More Win Big at the CMT Music Awards
Gabby Barrett won Female Video of the Year while Kane Brown won Male Video of the Year.
Brad Paisley, Lady A and More Plot 2021 Tours
The number of musicians going out on the road later this year keeps growing.
Missing Live Music? The 2021 CMT Awards Has You Covered
This year's initial lineup features Miranda Lambert, Mickey Guyton, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osbourne, and so much more.
LONG READ•Behind the Industry: Ross Copperman
The Nashville songwriter, famed for writing no.1 smash hits for Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and many more, opens up about his career as a performer and songwriter to Helen M Jerome.
