KELSEA BALLERINI RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM "THE FIRST TIME"

Ballerini Celebrates With Hometown Appearance Tomorrow (5/19) 

 National TV Debut On The TODAY Show Thursday (5/21)

“Love Me Like You Mean It” Lands Inside The Top 10

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jeremy Ryan

NASHVILLE, TN (May 18, 2015) – Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini has been counting down to the release of her debut album THE FIRST TIME, today (5/18) and will celebrate this week with a national media blitz across several platforms, including performing her Top10-and-rising smash “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Kerr, Carpenter).

“I feel like I’ve been dreaming about, writing, and wishing for this day since I was twelve. To finally get these songs out to people, is really special and something that I’ve been excited about for a long time,” said Ballerini.

"This is a such special day for Kelsea and Black River," said Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr. "Over the last couple of years, we have been privileged to share in the development of Kelsea’s amazing songwriting talents and artistry. Today, the world gets to hear her heart and we couldn’t be more proud!"

To kick off release week, fans can celebrate with her when she returns to her hometown of Knoxville, TN, on Tuesday (5/19) for a special in-store appearance at Walmart (10900 Parkside Dr., Knoxville, TN) at 6PM EST. Then, she will jet off to NYC to make her national TV debut on NBC’s TODAY show on Thursday (5/21) beginning at 10AM in all time zones and take her performance to new heights at the top of The Empire State Building on Friday (5/22).

On stands now, the stunning singer-songwriter graces the cover of NASH Magazine. The story gives an inside look at Ballerini’s rise to becoming one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, her songwriting inspiration and the making of her debut album.

Produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, THE FIRST TIME highlights Ballerini’s skillful songwriting and contagious personality on all 12 songs.

Newly crowned one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, Ballerini has been abuzz with recent shout-outs from Superstars Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, Kristian Bush and TODAY’s Hoda Kotb and landing on several 2015 “Ones to Watch” lists, including Billboard, Country Weekly, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, Radio.com, Spotify, #CMChat and more. Racking up the firsts, she scored her first-ever award show nomination for the 2015 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year (“Love Me Like You Mean It”). Airing live on CMT June 10 at 8/7 CT, fans can vote now at http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/vote/breakthrough-video-of-the-year.jhtml.

Currently, Ballerini is co-headlining CMT’s NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY Tour - the network’s first-ever ladies-only tour – and will also join select dates on Lady Antebellum’s WHEELS UP Tour throughout the summer.

Hailing from Knoxville, TN, Ballerini moved to Nashville, TN at age 15 to chase the dream of becoming a songwriter.  At age 19, she signed a publishing deal with Black River Publishing in 2013 and later that year signed a record deal with Black River Entertainment.

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

KELSEA BALLERINI ANNOUNCES DIGITAL PRE-SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME

Each Pre-sale Instantly Includes Download Of The Kelsea Ballerini EP

Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini's debut album The First Time is available for digital pre-sale now. Fans that purchase the pre-order for the May 19 album release will automatically receive a free download of the five song EP "Kelsea Ballerini".

Featuring the Top 15 smash "Love Me Like You Mean It" The First Time contains 12 original songs, each written or co-written by Kelsea Ballerini.

Produced by Black River Publishing's songwriter/producer Forest Glen Whitehead along with Jason Massey, Rolling Stone Country has an exclusive look into the album's revealing, "Secondhand Smoke," and is streaming the song for a limited time on RollingStone.com.

About to embark on the inaugural CMT’s “Next Women of Country” 10-city tour on April 30, Kelsea is living up to the title as “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Kerr, Whitehead, Carpenter) continues its climb towards Top 10 and has landed her on several “ones to watch” lists for 2015 including Billboard, Country Weekly, The Huffington Post, CBS Local’s Radio.com, Spotify, #CMChat, Country Music Is Love, and more.

Official Track Listing for The First Time

01. “XO” (Ballerini, Gravitt, O’Brien)
02. “Peter Pan” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Lee)
03. “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Kerr, Carpenter)
04. “Square Pegs” (Ballerini, Osborne, Stepakoff)
05. “The First Time” (Ballerini)
06. “Lookin’ At Stars” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Stepakoff)
07. “Sirens” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Denmark)
08. “Secondhand Smoke” (Ballerini, Kerr, Shellhart) 
09. “Dibs” (Ballerini, Kerr, Griffin, Duke)
10. “Stilettos” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Savigar)
11. “Yeah Boy” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Timmer)
12. “Underage” (Ballerini, Kerr, Stepakoff)

Upcoming Tour Dates Include:

April 24 - Crawfish Music Festival | Biloxi, MS 
April 25 - Radio Disney Music Awards | Los Angeles, CA
April 30 - The Intersection | Grand Rapids, MI | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour 
May 1 - Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill | Cincinnati, OH | CMT “Next Women of Country”
May 2  - Indianapolis, IN 
May 7 - House of Blues | Cleveland, OH | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour
May 8 - Joe’s Bar | Chicago, IL | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour
May 9 - Lafayette Cajundome | Lafayette, LA | Lady Antebellum “Wheels Up” Tour 
May 10 - The Pageant | St Louis, MO | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour
May 12 - 3rd and Lindsley | Nashville, TN | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour 
May 14 - Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill | Orlando, FL | CMT “Next Women of Country”
May 15 - The Swamp | Fort Walton Beach, FL | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour 
May 17 - The Fillmore | Charlotte, NC | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour 
May 28 - House of Blues | Myrtle Beach, SC | CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour 
May 29 - Harrisburg, PA
May 30 - Philadelphia, PA
May 31 - Fort Wayne, IN 
June 4 - Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion | Bangor, ME | Lady Antebellum “Wheels Up” Tour 
June 6 - Heinz Field | Pittsburgh, PA  
June 13 - BankPlus Amphitheater | Southaven, MS | Lady Antebellum “Wheels Up” Tour 
June 14 - Walmart MP | Rogers, AR | Lady Antebellum “Wheels Up” Tour 
June 17 - Wichita, KS 
June 19 - Bands in the Backyard | Pueblo, CO 
June 26 - Chippewa Music Fest | Cadott, WI 
June 27 - Whitaker Ballpark | Lexington, KY

For full tour date schedule and info on Kelsea Ballerini please visit KelseaBallerini.com, and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Now playing on CMT, fans can watch the music video for “Love Me Like You Mean It” on CMT.com, Vevo, YouTube and purchase “Love Me Like You Mean It” anywhere digital music is sold.

#NEWARTISTNEWS - KELSEA BALLERINI RELEASES OFFICIAL ALBUM ART AND TRACK LISTING FOR THE FIRST TIME

Debut Single “Love Me Like You Mean It” at Number 21 This Week

Nashville, Tenn. (April 2, 2015) – Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini released the official album art and track listing for her 12-song debut album The First Time. Set for a May 19 release on Black River Entertainment, the lead single from the debut album nears the top 20 only inches away at #21 on the Billboard chart this week.

Fans are taking note of Kelsea’s debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It” at #19 on the Country Song Charts with 15,329 downloads this week. Furthering her name recognition, Variety announced yesterday that Kelsea Ballerini is among those presenting at the Radio Disney Music Awards, following her full schedule at the ACM awards, both coming up later this month.

Songwriting is at the cornerstone in Kelsea’s composition as an artist and it is on full display throughout The First Time as she’s the writer or co-writer on every track. Produced by Black River Publishing's songwriter/producer Forest Glen Whitehead along with Jason Masse, The First Time contains all of the tracks from the previously released digital EP and seven additional original tracks.

Named one of CMT’s “Next Women of Country” late last year, Kelsea is living up to the title as “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Kerr, Whitehead, Carpenter) continues its climb towards the Top 20, and has landed her on several “ones to watch” lists for 2015 including Billboard, Country Weekly, The Huffington Post, CBS Local’s Radio.com, Spotify, #CMChat, Country Music Is Love, and more.

Official Track Listing for The First Time

01. “XO” (Ballerini, Gravitt, O’Brien)

02. “Peter Pan” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Lee)

03. “Love Me Like You Mean It” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Kerr, Carpenter)

04. “Square Pegs” (Ballerini, Osborne, Stepakoff)

05. “The First Time” (Ballerini)

06. “Lookin’ At Stars” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Stepakoff)

07. “Sirens” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Denmark)

08. “Secondhand Smoke” (Ballerini, Kerr, Shellhart)

09. “Dibs” (Ballerini, Kerr, Griffin, Duke)

10. “Stilettos” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Savigar)

11. “Yeah Boy” (Ballerini, Whitehead, Timmer)

12. “Underage” (Ballerini, Kerr, Stepakoff)

Upcoming Tour Dates Include:

04/03 - Augusta, GA - The Country Club

04/10 - Norfolk, NE - w/ Scotty McCreery

04/12 - Green Bay, WI

4/17-19 - Dallas, TX - ACM Awards

04/25 - Los Angeles, CA - Radio Disney Music Awards

05/02 - Indianapolis, IN

06/06 - Pittsburgh, PA Heinz Field

06/17 - Wichita, KS

06/19 - Pueblo, CO - Bands in the Backyard w/ Toby Keith; Eli Young Band

06/26 - Cadott, WI - Chippewa Valley Music Fest w/ Tim McGraw


For full tour date schedule and info on Kelsea Ballerini please visit KelseaBallerini.com, and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Now playing on CMT, fans can watch the music video for “Love Me Like You Mean It” on CMT.com, Vevo, YouTube and purchase “Love Me Like You Mean It” anywhere digital music is sold.

VIDEO PREMIERE REWIND: "LOVE ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT" - KELSEA BALLERINI

Did you miss the world premiere of the new video from the big voice in a tiny package, Kelsea Ballerini, for her smash hit single, "Love Me Like You Mean It" earlier this week? Here ya go! Enjoy! We absolutely adore this girl and can't wait to see where this path leads! It's headed big places so far!

*EXCLUSIVE ARTIST INTERVIEW* - KELSEA BALLERINI

Find out what new artist Kelsea Ballerini had to say when she sat down for a quick interview before her show last weekend at The Official City Limits Saloon Raleigh

Connect with Kelsea online -

Official Website - www.kelseaballerini.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/kelseaballerini
Facebook - www.facebook.com/kelseaballerini
Instagram - www.instagram.com/kelseaballerini

SINGLE REVIEW: "LOVE ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT" - KELSEA BALLERINI

SINGLE: "Love Me Like You Mean It"

ARTIST: Kelsea Ballerini

REVIEWER: Alyse Smith

Follow Alyse on Twitter at @ASmith1300

Purchase "Love Me Like You Mean It" on iTunes

Kelsea Ballerini’s debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It” is a song about a girl who’s fine with having a boyfriend, but you’re going to have to take it seriously. This ain’t no half-ass event, this is the "all-in" poker hand right here. Not only is this song upbeat and enjoyable to sing along with, it has a great message as well as with a very talented vocalist.

 In the recent uptick of younger female vocalists, I can easily see Ballerini leading the charge. Sing it with me now “If you’re going to hold me, hold me like I’m leavin’, if you’re gonna kiss me, kiss me like you mean it…” I think we’ve all had negative people and negative experiences in our lives and to say “Look I’m looking for a specific kind of person and a specific experience and if that’s not you, keep walkin’” shows strength that is present in both the story and her voice. 

“Love Me Like You Mean It” is presented in such a fun, catchy fashion but in addition to that, when you listen, there’s a story that’s not simple fluff and one that hasn’t existed in recent country radio. I can’t think of a voice to compare Ballerini’s to, but whatever it is, I find myself drawn back for more. Not only for more of this song, but for more of her mellifluous talent.

Connect with Kelsea online:

www.kelseaballerini.com

Twitter - @kelseaballerini

Facebook - KelseaBallerini