NASHVILLE, TN (May 18, 2015) – Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini has been counting down to the release of her debut album THE FIRST TIME,
today (5/18) and will celebrate this week with a national media blitz
across several platforms, including performing her Top10-and-rising
smash “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Kerr,
Carpenter).
“I
feel like I’ve been dreaming about, writing, and wishing for this day
since I was twelve. To finally get these songs out to people, is really
special and something that I’ve been excited about for a long time,”
said Ballerini.
“This
is a such special day for Kelsea and Black River,” said Black River
Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr. “Over the last couple of years, we have
been privileged to share in the development of Kelsea’s amazing
songwriting talents and artistry. Today, the world gets to hear her
heart and we couldn’t be more proud!”
To kick off release week, fans can join Ballerini for a special #CMchat
online tonight at 6PM PT/9PM ET and celebrate with her when she returns
to her hometown of Knoxville, TN, on Tuesday (5/19) for a special
in-store appearance at Walmart (10900 Parkside Dr., Knoxville, TN) at
6PM EST. Then, she will jet off to NYC to make her national TV debut on
NBC’s TODAY show on Thursday (5/21) beginning at 10AM in all
time zones and take her performance to new heights at the top of The
Empire State Building on Friday (5/22).
On stands now, the stunning singer-songwriter graces the cover of NASH Magazine.
The story gives an inside look at Ballerini’s rise to becoming one of
CMT’s Next Women of Country, her songwriting inspiration and the making
of her debut album.
Produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, THE FIRST TIME highlights Ballerini’s skillful songwriting and contagious personality on all 12 songs.
Newly
crowned one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Ballerini has been abuzz
with recent shout-outs from Superstars Taylor Swift, Little Big Town,
Kristian Bush and TODAY’s Hoda Kotb and landing on several 2015 “Ones to Watch” lists, including Billboard, Country Weekly, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, Radio.com, Spotify, #CMChat and more. Racking up the firsts, she scored her first-ever award show nomination for the 2015 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year (“Love Me Like You Mean It”). Airing live on CMT June 10 at 8/7 CT, fans can vote now at http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/vote/breakthrough-video-of-the-year.jhtml.
Currently,
Ballerini is co-headlining CMT’s NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY Tour – the
network’s first-ever ladies-only tour – and will also join select dates
on Lady Antebellum’s WHEELS UP Tour throughout the summer.
Hailing
from Knoxville, TN, Ballerini moved to Nashville, TN at age 15 to chase
the dream of becoming a songwriter. At age 19, she signed a publishing
deal with Black River Publishing in 2013 and later that year signed a
record deal with Black River Entertainment.
ABOUT BLACK RIVER ENTERTAINMENT:
Black River Entertainment is home to country music entertainers Craig
Morgan, Kellie Pickler, John King, and Kelsea Ballerini. Part of the
Pegula Sports and Entertainment family (Including: NFL’s Buffalo Bills,
NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, AHL’s The Rochester Americans, NLL’s Buffalo
Bandits, HARBORCENTER, First Niagara Center, IMPACT Sports Performance),
Black River Entertainment also owns and operates the premiere recording
studios Sound Stage and Ronnie’s Place, as well as Black River Records,
Passport Records, Black River Publishing and Black River Management.