Nashville, Tenn. (December 6, 2016) – Quickly becoming one of country’s most beloved new superstars, KELSEA BALLERINI is nominated for Best New Artist in the all-genre category at the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 12.
Humbled
by receiving her first GRAMMY nomination, Ballerini instantly took to
social media Tuesday morning to share her sweet reaction. “I was 15 the
first time I saw a GRAMMY. It was in a studio I was recording some of my
first demos in. I remember asking if I could hold it, being its biggest
fan, and knowing how important it was,” she recalled on Instagram.
“I wish I could go back and tell that 15 year old starry eyed girl that
she’d be nominated a few years later. #BestNewArtist @recordingacademy”
Read her additional tweet here.
She also took a moment to record a special video message to her fans: WATCH
The
Black River artist is also celebrating her fastest-selling single to
date, “Peter Pan,” which has now been officially certified PLATINUM by
the RIAA.
An
epic, girl-power anthem about a love interest who will never grow up,
“Peter Pan” was co-written by Ballerini with Jesse Lee and Forest Glen
Whitehead and is her second taste of PLATINUM success following the
breakout debut, “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Both tracks, plus the
GOLD-certified “Dibs,” were part of Ballerini’s groundbreaking first
album, THE FIRST TIME.
“PLATINUM
IS SO MANY. Knowing this song had the reaction it did and that a
million people liked it enough to welcome it into their radios and
stereos and lives is so incredible,” Ballerini shares. “As a songwriter,
that is one of my proudest accomplishments so far.”
Resonating
strongly with country fans since its release in March, “Peter Pan” was
already a historic milestone, making Ballerini the first female artist –
including duos or groups – to hit #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with her first three singles. Simultaneously, the fantasy-themed tune rose to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, also making Ballerini the first female artist to score a double #1.
A
visually-stunning video for the track was directed by Kristin Barlowe
and has already been viewed over 22 million times on YouTube, which can
be watched here.
Heading
for a strong finish to 2016, Ballerini kicked off her first ever
headlining tour – aptly titled THE FIRST TIME TOUR – claiming sold out
dates in Washington, D.C., her hometown of Knoxville, TN, Atlanta,
Chicago, Minneapolis, MN, Boston, New York City, and Buffalo, NY. The
tour continues this week with upcoming shows at The Wiltern in Los
Angeles (12/8) and a two-night run at Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las
Vegas (12/9-10) before wrapping in Houston, TX (12/14).
Meanwhile,
Ballerini’s new single – the fun-and-flirty “Yeah Boy” – is currently
making its way up the charts. She’ll also perform at Kelly Clarkson’s
Miracle on Broadway benefit concert in Nashville, TN on December 16.
About Kelsea Ballerini:
Kelsea Ballerini has launched to stardom after releasing three consecutive #1 smashes from her critically acclaimed debut album THE FIRST TIME;
the PLATINUM-certified hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan,”
and GOLD-certified “Dibs,” making her the only female artist in country
music history, including female duos and groups, to achieve this
accolade. The talented singer/songwriter’s credit is featured on all 12
songs on her debut. Abuzz with high-profile media looks, the Black River
Entertainment artist has been named “The Country Sweetheart” in People Magazine’s elite “Ones to Watch” portfolio, touted by Billboard Magazine as “Country’s Next Queen,” praised by Rolling Stone
as the “Nashville It Girl,” selected as one of CMT’s Next Women of
Country, and this summer co-hosted alongside Arsenio Hall on ABC’s
summer replacement series Greatest Hits. Awarded Billboard’s
“Rising Star” honor at the prestigious 2015 Women In Music event,
Ballerini has continued to gain recognition by scoring her first-ever
ACM Award win for New Female Vocalist of the Year, the fan-voted Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest – Best New Artist (all genre) and the American Country Countdown Award (ACCA) for Breakthrough Female of the Year.
