KELSEA BALLERINI AND JOEY ALEXANDER TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE “MY FAVORITE THINGS” FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Country music’s superstar sweetheart Kelsea Ballerini teams with critically acclaimed, two-time Grammy nominated pianist Joey Alexander to release their collaboration on “My Favorite Things” to all digital retailers November 25. The classic tune from Sound of Music was the title track of Alexander’s debut instrumental album in 2015, which hit #1 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. With the addition of Ballerini’s charming contemporary vocals, the two create a new Christmas standard for every generation to love for years to come.
“I got a good dose of that warm southern hospitality from the folks from Black River Records and the Nashville country music community, and performing with Kelsea Ballerini was amazing,” said Alexander. “I’m really proud of the work we’ve done and excited to share our new holiday single with the world.”
"Putting out 'Favorite Things' with Joey has been one of my proudest and most exciting projects and moments so far," beams Ballerini. "He is so incredibly talented and, more so, so humble. Being in the studio and listening to him play so effortlessly over and over really challenged me to be my best. I'm so excited for people to hear this!"
Their performance of the beloved song was a standout from 2016’s CMA Country Christmas special, with Ballerini’s bright voice taking on a smoky hue over the sophisticated stylings of Alexander’s keyboard work. The newly-recorded studio version will be serviced to country radio for the holiday season, and fans should tune in to watch these young talents make musical magic on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry when CMA Country Christmas airs November 28 and Christmas Eve on ABC.
About Kelsea Ballerini:
Kelsea Ballerini has launched to stardom with releasing three consecutive #1 smashes from her critically acclaimed, GOLD-certified debut album THE FIRST TIME; the PLATINUM-certified "Love Me Like You Mean It” and GOLD-certified hits “Dibs” and “Peter Pan,” making her the only female artist in Country music history, including female duos and groups, to achieve this accolade. The talented singer/songwriter wrote 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 continues to gain recognition with 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), the American Country Countdown Award (ACCA) for Breakthrough Female of the Year, and most recently the 2016 CMT Artists Of The Year Breakout Artist of the Year honor. Following her run on Rascal Flatts' nationwide RHYTHM & ROOTS TOUR, she is currently out on her first solo headlining tour – THE FIRST TIME TOUR. For more information, please visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Joey Alexander:
Joey Alexander has held the #1 spot at jazz radio for seven consecutive weeks with his sophomore album titled “Countdown,” produced by Grammy Award winning Jason Olaine and featuring three original compositions (“City Lights,” “Sunday Waltz” and “Soul Dreamer”). It is the highly anticipated follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, My Favorite Things, which hit #1 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and was nominated for two Grammy Awards (“Best Jazz Instrumental Album” and “Best Improvised Solo”), making Joey the youngest jazz artist ever nominated for a Grammy. He performed live on the Grammy telecast this year, introduced by Recording Academy President Neil Portnow and received a standing ovation. The 13-year-old pianist from Bali, Indonesia, who made his U.S. debut at Lincoln Center before his 11th birthday, has been interviewed by Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes; has been featured on CNN with Christiane Amanpour; has been interviewed/performed on The Today Show and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, and has appeared on the front page of the New York Times. The 2016 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll “Rising Star” winner, who has performed for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, sells out tour dates weeks in advance. Time Magazine calls him a Next Generation Leader. Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein, among the first to book him, says this kind of musical genius only comes round every 20 to 40 years. For more information, please visit JoeyAlexandermusic.com and Motema.com.