01/29/2018
KELSEA BALLERINI BRINGS SOPHOMORE ALBUM TO LIFE ON HEADLINING THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR
Using pure intuition and heart, while following a bold beat that is all her own, Black River Entertainment’s KELSEA BALLERINI is beginning her next chapter on opening night of THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR next Thursday (2/8) at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL.
Taking her critically acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY to the next level, Ballerini will deliver her intimate sonic diary of loss, life, and love, onstage each night from start to finish, just as the thematic 12-track collection was personally handcrafted. From being buried in an all-consuming heartbreak from the depths of "six feet down” in “Graveyard,” to learning to thrive and embrace the uncertain “In Between,” and ultimately not only discovering herself but true love in the “tragic and epic and so amazing” journey of “Legends,” the chronological tale of Ballerini’s whirlwind world will be personified live in three high-caliber parts while incorporating a visually-immersive experience for fans.
“I’ve never performed an entire album during a show before, but it was the only way to truly open my heart to loss, life, and love,” admits Ballerini. “This new album and tour is every little piece of me,unapologetically, and I am so ready to embrace all the messy and beautiful, plus relive the hits with you.”
Echoing the overwhelming demand surrounding her first sold-out headlining tour, THE FIRST TIME TOUR (2016), THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR – as spotted on Rolling Stone Country’s “30 Most Anticipated Albums and Tours” – has already sold out almost all stops including Birmingham, AL; Chattanooga, TN; Augusta, GA; Des Moines, IA; New York, NY; Sayreville, NJ; Richmond, VA; Portland, OR; Spokane, WA; and Seattle, WA – with limited tickets remaining in Clearwater, FL (2/16); Columbus, OH (2/22); Milwaukee, WI (2/23); and Santa Barbara, CA (4/25). Supported by special guest and breakout artist Walker Hayes during the run, Ballerini’s one-night-only Valentine’s Day appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium has also reached capacity and adds rising star Bailey Bryan to the lineup.
As her Top 5-and-rising lead single “Legends” continues to charge charts, Ballerini has shared her summer-fall venture as part of KEITH URBAN’s GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR kicking off June 15 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO, through November 3 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Recently offering fans a taste of what’s to come during a surprise pop-up show at Nashville’s club Exit/In on January 17, Urban and Ballerini jumped genre lines with a cover of CAMILA CABELLO’s sultry single “Never Be the Same” (CAMILA), to which the pop star hailed on Twitter: “OH MY GOD!!!! @KeithUrban AND @KelseaBallerini THIS. IS. MAGICAL. #NeverBeTheSame.”
With her name penned on all 12 songs under producers Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, plus Shane McAnally, Lindsay Rimes, and Jimmy Robbins on select tracks, Ballerini continues to be commended by critics for her daring evolution as both a songwriter and artist alike. UNAPOLOGETICALLYwas praised on several 2017 year-end lists: The New York Times’ “The Best Albums of 2017,” Billboard Magazine’s “The 10 Best Country Albums of 2017: Critics’ Picks,” Rolling Stone Country’s “40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2017,” and BuzzFeed’s “The Top 50 Pop Songs Of 2017” (“Get Over Yourself”) – with media applauding:
“Her voice is winningly sweet, and also durably strong — it suggests a carefully withheld tenderness. And she is an elegant songwriter…”
– The New York Times
– The New York Times
“Kelsea Ballerini’s grown-up statement”
– Rolling Stone
– Rolling Stone
“… the most daring female artists in the genre these days are those that are singing songs of empowerment and self-reliance…And right now no one is doing that better than Kelsea Ballerini.”
– Paste Magazine
– Paste Magazine
“Kelsea Ballerini is well on her way to becoming a country legend.”
– People
– People
For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI’s VIP Experiences for THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR, plus additional details on KEITH URBAN’s GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow along THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR with #KB2TOUR.
Announced dates, cities, and venues of THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR to date:
2/8 - Birmingham, AL - Alabama Theatre+
2/9 - Chattanooga, TN - Tivoli Theatre+
2/10 - Augusta, GA - William G. Bell Auditorium+
2/14 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium++
2/16 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall+
2/22 - Columbus, OH - Express Live!+
2/23 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater+
2/24 - Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Place+
4/5 - New York, NY - PlayStation Theater+
4/6 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom+
4/7 - Richmond, VA - The National+
4/19 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom+
4/20 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory+
4/21 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo+
4/25 - Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theatre+
4/27 - Indio, CA - Stagecoach Festival
+ Special guest Walker Hayes
++ Special guests Walker Hayes and Bailey Bryan
++ Special guests Walker Hayes and Bailey Bryan
About Kelsea Ballerini:
Applauded as GRAMMY nominee Kelsea Ballerini’s “grown-up statement” (Rolling Stone), the Black River Entertainment artist’s acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY takes listeners on an intimate journey of loss, life, and love. Top 5-and-rising “Legends” is the lead single off the 12-track compilation – all written or co-written by Ballerini. Following a sold-out first headlining tour, THE FIRST TIME TOUR (2016), she kicks off THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR this winter. The record-breaker skyrocketed to stardom after releasing PLATINUM-certified, #1 smashes – “Love Me Like You Mean It," “Peter Pan,” “Dibs” – from her critically acclaimed, GOLD-certified breakout THE FIRST TIME. Ballerini is the only female artist in Country music history, including female duos and groups, to go #1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album. In 2017, she appeared on the cover of Billboard Magazine’s GRAMMY preview issue, was included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” class, and featured in People Magazine’s “Beauty at Every Age” list in their iconic World’s Most Beautiful issue. Praised by The New York Times as an “elegant songwriter," Ballerini has received the esteemed ASCAP Vanguard Award, CMT’s Impact Award after being chosen to be a part of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Nashville Business Journal’s Artist of The Year, ACM Honor’sGene Weed Milestone Award, iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Country Artist, ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year (2016), ACCA Award for Breakthrough Female of the Year (2016), multiple Radio Disney Music Awards, and Billboard’s Rising Star title at the prestigious 2015 Women in Music event.
Applauded as GRAMMY nominee Kelsea Ballerini’s “grown-up statement” (Rolling Stone), the Black River Entertainment artist’s acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY takes listeners on an intimate journey of loss, life, and love. Top 5-and-rising “Legends” is the lead single off the 12-track compilation – all written or co-written by Ballerini. Following a sold-out first headlining tour, THE FIRST TIME TOUR (2016), she kicks off THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR this winter. The record-breaker skyrocketed to stardom after releasing PLATINUM-certified, #1 smashes – “Love Me Like You Mean It," “Peter Pan,” “Dibs” – from her critically acclaimed, GOLD-certified breakout THE FIRST TIME. Ballerini is the only female artist in Country music history, including female duos and groups, to go #1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album. In 2017, she appeared on the cover of Billboard Magazine’s GRAMMY preview issue, was included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” class, and featured in People Magazine’s “Beauty at Every Age” list in their iconic World’s Most Beautiful issue. Praised by The New York Times as an “elegant songwriter," Ballerini has received the esteemed ASCAP Vanguard Award, CMT’s Impact Award after being chosen to be a part of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Nashville Business Journal’s Artist of The Year, ACM Honor’sGene Weed Milestone Award, iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Country Artist, ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year (2016), ACCA Award for Breakthrough Female of the Year (2016), multiple Radio Disney Music Awards, and Billboard’s Rising Star title at the prestigious 2015 Women in Music event.