KELSEA BALLERINI BEAMS WITH FIRST CMA AWARD NOMINATIONS, RACKING UP NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR AND FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR NODS

As announced earlier today (9/9), Kelsea Ballerini beams with her first ever Country Music Association (CMA) Award nominations, racking up nods in the following categories -- New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. The awards show will air LIVE from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 4 at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC.

"I am still such a new artist and this has really been my first year getting out there to share my music with people," shares Ballerini. "To have been embraced with a #1 single was insane. I still feel like I'm celebrating that, but now to be nominated for two CMA Awards makes me feel so proud to be a country music artist and makes me so incredibly thankful to everyone in the Country music industry, Country radio and the fans for making this year insanely epic. I don't think it could get any better and I'm excited to sit with the cool kids this year!"

While in New York City today, Ballerini will make a special appearance in the Third Annual Bryant Park Concert Series, “Nashville’s New Music in New York,” presented by the Grand Ole Opry, Southwest Airlines, and NASH-FM 94.7. The rising new artist will perform a free acoustic concert at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park with the Opry’s signature microphone stand, a replica of the famed circle of wood from center stage at the Opry House.

Adding to the excitement, the Black River Entertainment recording artist will make her late night TV debut performing the sassy Top 30 hit “Dibs” (Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kerr, Ryan Griffin, Jason Duke) on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 30.

Touted by BILLBOARD as “Country’s Next Queen,” praised by ROLLING STONE as one of the “10 Artists You Need To Know” from all genres and selected as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Ballerini launched to stardom with the release of her #1, GOLD-certified debut "Love Me Like You Mean It." Abuzz with shout-outs from superstars Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town, she is the first solo female artist in nine years to hit #1 with her debut country single and one of only 11 women to have ever hit the top of the charts with a debut. Both “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs” are featured on her debut album THE FIRST TIME (Black River Entertainment), co-produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, which landed Top 5 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. After spending the summer opening select shows for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, she will join Dan + Shay’s JUST THE RIGHT KIND OF CRAZY TOUR this fall.

For tour dates and more information, visit KelseaBallerini.com. Reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

THE FIRST TIME is available here.