The Headlines and History of Kelsea Ballerini

ACM Reveals Talent Lineup For April 5th ‘Our Country’ Special

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ACM® PRESENTS: OUR COUNTRY

STAR-STUDDED LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR “ACM® PRESENTS: OUR COUNTRY,” A NEW TWO-HOUR SPECIAL AIRING SUNDAY, APRIL 5 AT 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT ON CBS   Special to feature At-Home Performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown & John Legend, Luke Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban   Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker to Honor Kenny Rogers

CMA Foundation Honors 30 Music Teachers with Music Teachers of Excellence Awards

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NASHVILLE—The CMA Foundation, a national music education nonprofit and the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, is honoring 30 music teachers from across the country as Music Teachers of Excellence. Now in its fifth year, the annual program was created in an effort to recognize those educators who are having the greatest impact on their students, using music as a vehicle for change.

Tune In Alert: 2018 CMA Fest on ABC!

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CMA Fest 2018 on ABC

Mark your calendar and clear your schedule this Wednesday night at 8/7c as ABC brings us the hottest party of the summer with great performances from the 2018 CMA Music Festival, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett! Performers this year include Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, The Brothers Osborne, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean and SO MANY MORE! For a full line-up visit our friends at the CMA website!

Watch Now: Kelsea Ballerini – I Hate Love Songs Official Video

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Kelsea Ballerini - I Hate Love Songs

Black River Entertainment’s KELSEA BALLERINI is steering clear of romantic clichés in her playful new music video for chart-climbing single “I Hate Love Songs.” Slated to make its sneak peek debut on the big screens of CMA Fest 2018 during tonight’s concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, the full video will be available to watch on Vevo immediately following the world premiere. Filmed on a local soundstage, director Traci Goudie captured Ballerini pulling out all the stops to avoid the trappings of love from an interrupted proposal and failed kiss in the rain, to a Matrix-moment to narrowly escape a tossed bouquet from a bride. Leading up to the premiere, fans can get an inside first look at the behind-the-scenes making of the video exclusively on People.com and iHeartRadio.com. Returning to host the 3-hour CMA Fest special on ABC (airing 8/8 at 8/7c) for her second year alongside former tourmate Thomas Rhett, the showstopper will take the stage tomorrow night (6/9), for a vibrant set of fan-favorites from her acclaimed sophomore album, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, including “I Hate Love Songs” – which Billboard claims “has all the makings of a career hit for Ballerini” – plus the history-making GOLD-certified, #1 “Legends.” On Sunday (6/10), Ballerini will participate in Xfinity Fan Fair X as the Artist of the Day from the CMA Close Up Stage before wrapping a jam-packed festival week of epic appearances. The bona fide trailblazer will then gear up to hit the road as Keith Urban’s special guest on the GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR, following her sold-out headlining THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR. Beginning on June 15 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO, the anticipated trek runs through November 3 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. After a stirring stripped-down performance of the cheeky ode (penned by Ballerini, Shane McAnally, and Trevor Rosen), which Rolling Stone praised as “marvelous” during the 2018 CMT Music Awards on Wednesday (6/6), she is next up for three nods at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards: The Bestest – Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist, Play It Again! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Song(“Legends”), and all-genre XOXO – Best Crush Song (“Legends”). The sixth annual event will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, and air on the Disney Channel, as well as additional Disney-branded platforms, on June 23. For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tune In Alert: KELSEA BALLERINI “UNAPOLOGETICALLY” CONCERT SPECIAL TONIGHT

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Kelsea Ballerini on Country Music News BLog

KELSEA BALLERINI UNAPOLOGETICALLY CAPS STAR-DEFINING YEAR WITH  AT&T AUDIENCE NETWORK TELEVISION CONCERT SPECIAL TONIGHT Before ringing in 2018, Black River Entertainment recording artist KELSEA BALLERINI is topping off a “mountaintop” year with an exclusive one-hour television concert special, Kelsea Ballerini, presented by AT&T AUDIENCE Network tonight. Filmed live from Nashville, Ballerini is offering at-home viewers a front-row seat to her milestone performance at Bridgestone Arena. Airing at 9 p.m. ET/PT on DIRECTV channel 239, AT&T U-verse channel 1114, and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW, the high-caliber footage was captured in front of a sold-out audience during the final U.S. date of her fall run on Lady Antebellum’s YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR. “Some of my biggest concert memories have been at this venue and Nashville shows are always super special,” Ballerini shares. “To be able to bring fans into my tour world and share this epic night with them is really cool.” Mixing her history-making #1s from her GOLD-certified debut THE FIRST TIME – PLATINUM-certified “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Peter Pan,” and “Dibs” – with breakout tracks from her acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY, such as the anthemic title track, “I Hate Love Songs,” and Top 15 and rising lead single, “Legends,” Ballerini’s top-tier set further cements her Country music stardom. Click here to see a standout first look of Ballerini’s “Legends” performance, as revealed by Rolling Stone Country. A trailer and preview of Ballerini’s post-show interview with AUDIENCE Music series host Ted Stryker is also now available. As UNAPOLOGETICALLY continues to garner overwhelming support, illustrious outlets are including the poignant project on their reputable year-end lists. Spotlighted in The New York Times’ “The Best Albums of 2017” and Rolling Stone Country’s “40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2017,” UNAPOLOGETICALLY has also received a genre-blurring nod by BuzzFeed’s “The Top 50 Pop Songs Of 2017” for the self-assured knockout “Get Over Yourself.” Beginning in February, Ballerini will welcome fans inside her whirlwind world of loss, life, and love, as she introduces UNAPOLOGETICALLY nationwide on THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR. From the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL, on February 8, to the annual Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA, on April 27 – with big city stops in Nashville, TN, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA in-between – she will be supported by special guest and breakout artist Walker Hayes. Rising star Bailey Bryan will also join for a special one-night-only appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Valentine’s Day. For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI and VIP Experiences for THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow along the tour with #KB2TOUR.

Kelsea Ballerini To Turn The Opry Pink

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The Grand Ole Opry News on Country Music News Blog

Kelsea Ballerini to “Flip The Switch” On The Opry’s Signature Barn,  Trisha Yearwood to Introduce the Year’s Honorary Survivor  as Part of the Ninth Annual “Opry Goes Pink” in Support of the Fight Against Breast Cancer  The Grand Ole Opry® is joining Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer on Tues., Oct. 24 with its ninth annual “Opry Goes Pink” show. Black River Entertainment’s Kelsea Ballerini will flip the switch on the Opry’s signature barn backdrop, turning it pink for the night as the “Legends” singer takes the stage to perform to raise awareness and funds for Women Rock for the CureTM, a Nashville-based non-profit committed to connecting and supporting young women facing breast cancer. Opry member Trisha Yearwood will also take the stage to perform and introduce this year’s Women Rock for the Cure honorary survivor, symbolizing individual battles being won against the disease. Arista Nashville’s LANCO will make their Opry debut, Easton Corbin, Runaway June, and others will perform, and CMT’s Cody Alan will appear as a guest announcer for the night, joining the ranks of other personalities who have appeared in the role including Garrison Keillor, Dan Rather, and Robin Roberts, among many others. Beginning today, when fans order tickets, $5 from every ticket sold will be donated to Women Rock For The Cure™.  Tickets are available at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com. The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday Night Opry shows through December 12. About the Grand Ole Opry The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday Night Opry shows through December 12 and Wednesday shows returning September 13.  To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).  For more information, visit opry.com. About Women Rock For The Cure Women Rock For The Cure™ is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) organization committed to connecting and supporting young women facing breast cancer. Founded in 2007, the organization works to build awareness and provide outreach programs through the power of the entertainment industry. Fueled by the annual Opry Goes Pink concert, the signature event has featured performances by Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, The Judds, Carrie Underwood and more. All proceeds benefit the organization’s outreach efforts, including the impactful Young Survivors Retreat, which brings together young women diagnosed with breast cancer. For additional information on Women Rock For The Cure, upcoming events and how to get involved, please visit www.WomenRockForTheCure.org.

Music Choice App Adds CMA Fest Content To Platform

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Music Choice extends its strategic partnership for the fourth year with The Country Music Association for 2017. The promotion kicks off July 31st with CMA Music Festival content across all Music Choice properties including Music Choice On Demand, Music Channels, the Music Choice App and digital properties. As part of the collaboration, Music Choice will continue to feature CMA content through 2017 for marquee events including “The 51st Annual CMA Awards” and “CMA Country Christmas.” “CMA Fest” airs August 16th (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Starting today, Music Choice On Demand will highlight interviews, music videos and playlists from “CMA Fest” hosts Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini, plus many more artists appearing on The Music Event of Summer. (Directional: MC Music Choice > Country Hits) “CMA Fest” artist facts and images will appear across Music Choice’s Today’s Country, Pop & Country, and Country Hits Music Channels.  “CMA Fest” programming will also take over the Today’s Country Video Channel (available via the app or MusicChoice.com) featuring music videos and original content from “CMA Fest” artists. Get Music Choice on all your devices, and find out more at app.musicchoice.com. About CMA Music Festival: The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, bringing 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now 46 years later, the legendary Festival has become the city’s signature music event hosting tens of thousands of fans from every state and two dozen foreign countries. The 2017 CMA Music Festival featured 11 stages with more than 300 acts and 100 hours of music, all to benefit music education. CMA Music Festival was filmed for a national television special that airs on the ABC Television Network. This is the 14th consecutive year the event will be broadcast on national television, a feat no other music festival has achieved. “CMA Fest” is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and co-hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini. About Music Choice: Music Choice, the multi-platform video and music network, delivers its music programming to millions of consumers nationwide through their televisions, online, and mobile devices. Music Choice programs dozens of uninterrupted music channels; produces originals that feature today’s hottest established and emerging artists; offers thousands of music videos; and launched Music Choice Play, the music video, lifestyle, and entertainment network for Millennials. For additional information log on to MusicChoice.com | Twitter: @MusicChoice | Facebook: facebook.com/MusicChoice.

Kelsea Ballerini Announces Album “Unapologetically” Due on November 3rd!

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Kelsea Ballerini News on Country Music News Blog

Ballerini To Appear On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Tonight! KELSEA BALLERINI has just revealed the title and release date for her highly anticipated sophomore album, sharing the news with fans across the nation during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America. Ballerini’s new album is titled UNAPOLOGETICALLY and will be officially released on November 3. “I feel like I’ve been keeping a secret for two years that I finally get to tell,” Ballerini admits. “I’ve never been more proud as I am of this record, the story it tells, and the heart my friends and I put into it. So, November 3, we get to start the next chapter! Unapologetically…” Additional details about UNAPOLOGETICALLY, including its track listing and cover artwork, will be unveiled soon. Complementing her big announcement, Ballerini was on Good Morning America to perform her new single, “Legends,” a heart-melting tale of “crazy, tragic, epic” love which already has fans and critics swooning as it begins to climb the Country radio charts. In case you missed it, watch Ballerini’s “Legends” performance here: http://abcn.ws/2utUWKF Co-written by Ballerini, Hillary Lindsey and Forest Glen Whitehead (who also serves as producer alongside Jason Massey), the single – and stunning music video directed by Jeff Venable – is the first tease of UNAPOLOGETICALLY and Ballerini’s sophisticated new sound. Later tonight (7/25), the young singer-songwriter will give TV viewers another look at “Legends,” as she’s set to appear on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Next month, Ballerini will be at the center of another high-profile TV appearance as she and Thomas Rhett co-host CMA Fest: The Music Event of Summer. Airing August 16 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET, the two will be introducing show-stopping performances by Garth Brooks, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert and more, all taped during the 2017 CMA Music Festival at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium in June. UNAPOLOGETICALLY is the long-awaited second chapter of Ballerini’s remarkable artistic story, a still-unfolding saga that has seen the Knoxville, Tennessee, native break all-time records. After the Top 5 release of her 2015 debut, THE FIRST TIME on Black River Entertainment, Ballerini placed her first three singles at #1 – the PLATINUM-certified “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan,” and the GOLD-certified “Dibs” – a feat never achieved by a female (including duos or groups) in Country music history. Her fourth single, “Yeah Boy,” also achieved GOLD status and rose to the lofty perch of #3 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Ballerini is currently bringing those record-breaking hits and “Legends” to fans all over the world, as she crisscrosses the country this summer on Lady Antebellum’s YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR and visits fans in the U.K., Ireland, and Europe in October. For more information visit KelseaBallerini.com, and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

Tune In Alert: Kelsea Ballerini on Good Morning America AND The Tonight Show July 25th

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Kelsea Ballerini on Country Music News BLog

Kelsea Ballerini is Scheduled For Two Can’t-Miss Spots On Good Morning America  And The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Powerful New Single “Legends” Begins Its Climb At Country Radio Kelsea Ballerini is set for back-to-back TV performances of her new single “Legends” next week, as “Country’s next big thing” (Idolator) continues to bring her heart-melting hit-in-the-making to fans all across the country. Prepping for a whirlwind day on Tuesday (7/25), Ballerini will sing her “crazy, tragic, epic” anthem of love and loss on both ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA and NBC’s THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON. Rooted in Ballerini’s own romantic life story, the powerful song – co-written by Ballerini, Hillary Lindsey and Forest Glen Whitehead (also serves as producer alongside Jason Massey) – offers the first look at her highly-anticipated second album. Its stunning music video, directed by Jeff Venable, puts an unforgettable face to the “Legends” story, and has already gathered over half a million views on Vevo. Meanwhile, the track has begun climbing steadily at Country radio and critics (as well as fans) are officially in love. People Magazine says the track shows Ballerini is “well on her way to becoming a Country legend,” while Perez Hilton raves that the young singer-songwriter has “filled the void Taylor Swift left behind when she transitioned from Country over to Pop.” Country Common says “Legends” is “the next chapter in this legendary young artist’s career,” as LA Music Blog predicts the song is “bound to become one of this summer’s Country radio hits,” and Taste of Country gushes about its emotional weight, saying “the song hurts, even as you’re smiling.” More details about Ballerini’s upcoming second album are coming soon. It will follow the unprecedented success of her debut album, THE FIRST TIME, which landed inside the Top 5 of Billboard’s Country Albums chart and spawned three consecutive PLATINUM and GOLD #1 singles with “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Peter Pan” – marking the only time in Country history a female artist has hit #1 with her first three singles. Her fourth release from THE FIRST TIME – the fun and flirty, GOLD-certified “Yeah Boy” – rose to the lofty height of #3 on the Country radio airplay charts. Ballerini is currently bringing those record-breaking hits and “Legends” to fans all over the world, as she crisscrosses the country this summer on Lady Antebellum’s YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR and visits fans in the U.K., Ireland, and Europe in October. For more information visit KelseaBallerini.com, and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Your 2017 ACM Awards Kelsea Ballerini Watch Guide!

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Kelsea Ballerini on Country Music News Blog

The 2017 ACM’s are upon us and this year it’s all about Kelsea Ballerini, including a  special encore performance from “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Video of the Year” nominee Kelsea Ballerini airing exclusively on Xfinity right after the ACMs, check out the details below. Before the ACM Awards: Brush Up On This Year’s Nominees: Check out the official list of 2017 nominations at ACMawards.com/nominees to brush up on your country knowledge prior to the ACMs. Behind the Performance: If you have Xfinity TV, you can indulge in your passion for country music by accessing exclusive ACM content, including a behind the scenes look at preparations for Kelsea Ballerini’s encore performance, as well as archival clips from prior ACM Awards shows. You can also check it all out online at Xfinity.com/ACMawards. Watching the ACM Awards – Sunday, April 2nd: Red Carpet Pre-Show: The exclusive red carpet coverage will live stream exclusively on Twitter @ACMawards, beginning at 3pm PT/6pm ET. LIVE Television Broadcast: Tune into CBS on Sunday, April 2nd at 8pm ET/delayed PT to watch the ACM Awards broadcasted live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley returning to co-host. NASCAR on Stage: NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Darrell Wallace, Jr. and Elliott Sadler will trade in their driving gloves for an official results envelope as they will take the stage to present the Video of the Year Award presented by XFINITY. Fans can follow @XFINITY on Twitter as Sadler and Wallace, Jr. will take over the handle on Sunday afternoon to provide behind the scenes content from their view on the Red Carpet and leading up to the presentation. After the ACM Awards: Exclusive Encore Performance: Immediately following the television broadcast, don’t miss an encore performance by “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Video of the Year” nominee Kelsea Ballerini, available exclusively On Demand for Xfinity TV subscribers. She’ll be performing her new song “High School” off her upcoming album, so don’t miss this preview of Kelsea’s next hit!