Kelsea Ballerini continues to take over the country music scene.
Kelsea Ballerini has been making major headway in the country music scene since the May 2015 release of her debut studio album, The First Time. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native’s first single from that album, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” was publicly praised by critics for its seamless pop-country blend. This recognition earned her a spot on CMT’s Next Women of Country list.
Since then, Ballerini’s career has skyrocketed. In 2015, she won the Rising Star Award at Billboard’s Women in Music and most recently won the New Female Vocalist of the Year at the ACM Awards. Her second single, “Dibs,” reached the top of Country Airplay. Not far behind was her third single, “Peter Pan,” earning Bellerini the distinction of being the first solo female artist to top Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts simultaneously.
“Peter Pan,” arguably the most popular song on her debut album, was co-written by Ballerini, Forest Glen Whitehead, and Jesse Lee. The country-pop ballad used the beloved children’s book character Peter Pan as a metaphor for a lost love who was immature. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America after it sold more than 487,000 copies. On November 2nd, Ballerini performed the hit at the CMA Awards — where she was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year — and received an overwhelming amount of applause.
We’re excited to see where Ballerini's career will take her next. In the meantime, catch a wonderful Opry performance of “Peter Pan” by the breakout star.
Ballerini’s next performance will be at the Chicago Theater on November 9, for her The First Time tour.
