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Kelsea Ballerini is having the summer of a lifetime. Though the Knoxville native released her firstsingle “Love You Like You Mean It,” in the summer of 2014, it really “gainedmomentum” at the start of this summer.“When we wrote it, I wasn’t even a signedartist yet, just a songwriter,” she tells HELLO!. “I never thought it would dowhat it did.”
And boy did it exceed her expectations. That first singleoff her first album aptly titled The First Time, which was released in May2015, hit #1 on Billboard and Mediabase Country Airplay charts. This hadn’thappened for a female country solo artist since Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away”in 2012, and even had country-turned pop superstar Taylor Swift singing herpraises.
Kelsea performed her first headlining concert in NYC on July 16 Photo: Brad Lovell
Similar to the “Bad Blood” singer, she moved to Nashville ata young age to pursue her dream. At 15 Kelsea was writing away andlanded a publishing deal at 19. “They saw that I was really serious about it,and they kind of watched me grow for a year,” she explained of her label. “Then they decidedto bring me on as an artist.”
Now 21, Kelsea’s nonstop ride doesn’t seem to be slowingdown any time soon. The Black River Entertainment recording artist justreleased her second single, “Dibs” on July 20 and performed her first solo-headliningshow at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre on July 16. Kelsea chatted with HELLO!about that experience, what the support from country music’s leading ladiesmeans to her, and how great of a party host Taylor Swift really is!
HELLO!: You recently just performed your first concert inNew York City as the headliner. What did that mean for you?Kelsea Ballerini: It was crazy! I mean, I still feel likeI’m kind of catching up to what’s happening the last few months, so for me, I’mstill worried about people showing up. New York is such a huge city, and I’mlike ‘I don’t even know if they know my songs here,’ but it was sold out.
H!: Along with songs off your album, you also surprised thecrowd with your medley of “Baby One More Time” to “Bye Bye Bye” to “Bootlycious.”Did you grow up listening to pop music?KB: Before I really knew country music, I listened to pop,and I still do. I think you can kind of hear it on my record. I also grew up ona farm in east Tennessee, so my roots are just naturally super southern so I’vealways had that southern country lifestyle.
WATCH KELSEA’S FUNMEDLEY BELOW:
H!: Speaking of pop, Taylor Swift has really been a big champion for you. Did you know her from Nashville?KB: Taylor tweeted about my EP before my album came outmonths ago. My whole team looked at each other like ‘What just happened.’ Shereached out to me personally and invited me to a party that she had inNashville, and I opened for her “1989” tour in Pittsburgh, where those videosof the jam session happened.
H!: The party you are talking about was her best friendAbigail’s birthday party. So, be honest, is Taylor the best party host ever?KB: It’s the photo booth. She has epic photo booths with allthe props and stuff. [When I went], her security stopped me before I wentinside and was like ‘Taylor wants to speak to you privately,’ and she bargedout and attacked me with the biggest hug ever, and said ‘Kelsea, I love you.’ Isaid, ‘You’re Taylor Swift, I can’t do this right now!’ She’s honestly a coolperson. She just makes everyone feel very loved and important. It’s also reallycool to be a fan of someone as an artist and become a fan of them as a persontoo.
H!: Is there a possibility you guys would ever writetogether?KB: I don’t know. I’m such a fan of hers. On her new album,“Clean” is an amazing song. I would so welcome that with open arms. It’s reallycool that she listened to my stuff and liked it.
Kelsea loves establishing herself as a "fashionista" Photo: Brad Lovell
H!: You don’t really see much bad blood (yes, we wentthere!), in country music with women. So far, you’ve been given accolades fromthe likes of Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town amongothers. Why do you think that is? KB: I think it’s because so many people are eager for womento be on country radio that there is no room for us to have competition. Ithink there’s only room for us to improve together and to help each other outas much as we can. If we got competitive like that, it would just hurt femaleson radio, and the whole point is for us to get on radio.
H!: You’ve been on the road with Lady Antebellum for their“Wheels Up Tour” and playing other fairs and festivals. Do you find it fun toshop and pick out your stage outfits?KB: I am such a girly girl, and I love not playing it safe.I’m so new to this world, so it’s fun to establish myself as a fashionista.
H!: Any splurges?KB: I really haven’t splurged on anything, but I did buy adog [last week]. He’s a labradoodle, and I named him Dibs. He’s seven weeks.
H!: Aside from your pup, are you single or have a specialsomeone?KB: I am super happy.
And we will leave it at that!