Kelsea Ballerini has consistently made history. With the release of her debut album she became the only female country artist to hit number one with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album, attaining her fifth number one in four years with the 2x platinum “Miss Me More.” Her critically acclaimed sophomore album Unapologetically marked her second Top 5 debut on the Billboard Top 200.
Ballerini has garnered two GRAMMY® Award nominations, won two ACM Awards, and took home the iHeartRadio Music Awards honor for “Best New Artist.” The Black River recording artist’s debut and sophomore albums have both been certified gold, and she has a career total of ten gold and platinum singles certifications and total streams exceeding 2 billion to date. Additionally, she was welcomed as the Grand Ole Opry’s youngest current member. In 2019, Ballerini received a CMA nomination for “Female Vocalist of the Year” and an American Music Award nomination for “Female Artist Country.” Kelsea received a 2020 ACM nomination for “Female Artist of the Year.” Additionally, Kelsea leads the 2020 CMT Award nominations with nods for “Video of the Year,” “Female Video of the Year,” and “CMT Performance of the Year.” In addition to touring alongside everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Keith Urban, she ascended to the status of arena headliner with her 2019 the Miss Me More Tour.
This all paved the way for Kelsea’s self-titled third full-length album, which was released on March 20, 2020. Her most personal effort yet, the album was met with critical praise including by NPR who said, “Kelsea Ballerini is definitely one of the most influential women in country right now… she’s defining the sound of the genre.” The debut single from the album, “homecoming queen?”, which the New York Times deemed “excellent,” was certified recently platinum, marking her fastest single to achieve this milestone yet. Her currentl single, “hole in the bottle” recently reached Gold RIAA certification.
In the fall of 2020, Kelsea debuted her newest album ballerini, which is the follow up and second half of the story to the singer’s album, kelsea. While under quarantine, Kelsea carefully deconstructed each song and re-recorded everything with minimal accompaniment and co-producing this new album. Highlighting the eloquent songcraft, the vivid storytelling and the heartfelt delivery of the thirteen tracks, Kelsea shows yet another side of herself with this reimagined take on the entire album. The delicate sonics highlight the lyrical power of the record as she has stripped all of the songs down to the bare essentials.
Here is the official music video for “Hole in a Bottle” the massive hit from 2020.
Other talented ladies who paved the way to make country music what it is today 👇
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Jo Dee Messina rehearses for the "2002 Academy of Country Music Awards" at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. on Monday, May 20, 2002. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
NASHVILLE, TN – JULY 13: Pam Tillis performs onstage during Skyville Live Salutes the Magic of Music City on July 13, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images for Skyville)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 07: American Musician, Emmylou Harris gives a sneak preview of her Sydney Festival First Night performance at a media call on January 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 21: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS) (L-R) Musicians Emily Robinson, Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire of The Chicks pose backstage at the 2006 American Music Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on November 21, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/AMA/Getty Images for AMA)
PASADENA, CA – AUGUST 17: Musician Linda Ronstadt accepts the Trailblazer award onstage during the 2008 ALMA Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on August 17, 2008 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA – JANUARY 24: Singer Dolly Parton Performs at Agua Caliente Casino on January 24, 2014 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
INDIO, CA – MAY 02: Musician Trisha Yearwood performs onstage during day 1 of the 2008 Stagecoach Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field on May 2, 2008 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
403701 01: Country singer Tanya Tucker poses backstage April 13, 2002 after her concert at The Orleans in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: In this handout photo provided by The Country Rising Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, singer Martina McBride performs onstage for the Country Rising Benefit Concert at Bridgestone Arena on November 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Country Rising/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: Carrie Underwood attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for dcp)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 20: LeAnn Rimes attends Luli Fama fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 at Cabana Grande at The Raleigh on July 20, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Luli Fama)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 07: Host Reba McEntire speaks onstage during the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
November 17, 1965 (photo by Denny Moeller Talent-management/photographer-Fabry, Nashville)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 23: Crystal Gayle performs on August 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 28: Shania Twain performs during the opening ceremony on Day One of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 03: Jennifer Nettles performs at 2015 "Next Women of Country" Event at City Winery Nashville on November 3, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: Kelsea Ballerini speaks onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)
October 18, 1975 (Photo by Hubert Long/Epic Records)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 13: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Miranda Lambert speaks in the press room of the 53rd annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Leah Puttkammer/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 14: Faith Hill performs onstage during the "Soul2Soul" World Tour at Staples Center on July 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry in London, UK, May 1968. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 25: Patty Loveless performs during The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Country Music Association Celebrate Forever Country LIVE, presented by Southwest at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on September 25, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum)
Portrait of American country music singer and guitarist Loretta Lynn as she sits outside in a chair, 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 22: Singer Alison Krauss performs onstage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Medallion Ceremony to celebrate 2017 hall of fame inductees Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed And Don Schlitz at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 22, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum)
American country music singer Lynn Anderson, UK, 21st March 1971. Her song ‘(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden’ was a major pop hit in 1970 and early 1971. (Photo by Jack Kay/Daily Express/Getty Images)
Barbara Mandrell received the Academy’s Pioneer Award at the 36th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. 5/9/01. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.
Patsy Cline was a celebrated country singer best known for her crossover hits, including "Crazy" and "Walking After Midnight."
