Kelsea Ballerini nominated for best NEW ARTIST at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards

KELSEA BALLERINI NOMINATED FOR BEST NEW

ARTIST AT THE 59th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

“Peter Pan” Soars To Platinum Success;

Fantasy-Themed Single Is Her Second 1-Million Seller
“Yeah Boy” Quickly Climbing The Country Radio Charts

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.

Congrats #GRAMMYs Best New Artist nominees! pic.twitter.com/xwq9Dd1OTm

— Recording Academy (@RecordingAcad) 6 December 2016

She also took a moment to record a special video message to her fans: 

Today is the best day. pic.twitter.com/ygiAioMubS

— Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) 6 December 2016

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.

For updated tour dates and information:

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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.