Kelsea Ballerini has Taylor Swift to thank, in part, for a massive career highlight.
Ballerini, 31, gushed to Us Weekly exclusively about the impressive women in country music who’ve championed her “from the very beginning” while attending the Variety Power of Women event in Nashville on Thursday, May 1.
“I think a big reason why things have worked progressively like they have is because of the women that have, not only given me advice in passing, but the women that have taken the time to stop and turn around and reach out their hand and either share their stage with me, and other newer artists,” the singer said.
Ballerini also offered a shout out to female artists who’ve sat down to have “real life conversations” with her away from the cameras.
“It’s been a part of my journey, and it started with Taylor,” Ballerini recalled. “When she tweeted about ‘Love Me Like You Mean It,’ before it went Top 40 at radio, it changed my life.”
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Swift, 35, shared a post via X about the single in 2015, following the release of Ballerini’s debut self-titled EP. The two also sang “Love Me Like You Mean It” together during Swift’s 1989 World Tour in Nashville that same year.
Ballerini also told Us about her budding friendship with Shania Twain, who “just started sharing stages with me.” She called the country music legend “a mentor and a friend” — especially as Ballerini navigated “a lot of different seasons in my life.”
There are moments she and Twain, 59, shared together that “no one has seen,” Ballerini added. “Those have been really impactful for me,” she said.
“I’m really grateful to have mentors and friends and peers that are honored today and some that are ahead of us and some that are coming up still,” Ballerini concluded. “It’s a good time to be a girl in Nashville.”
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Ballerini received an award from Variety during Thursday’s event that recognized her philanthropic work and advocacy. Recent collaborator Noah Kahan introduced Ballerini during the event, who took the stage with a speech. (Ballerini and Kahan released the song “Cowboys Cry Too” in June 2024.)
“I really do think singing ‘Cowboys Cry Too’ is the only reason that straight men that were dragged to my tour by their girlfriends and wives were able to endure my very glittery, emotional 90-minute show every night. So, I owe you forever,” Ballerini joked when kicking off her speech. “One of the reasons I’m lucky enough to call Noah a friend is because of our shared love of Guy Fieri, [but also] our belief in the value of destigmatizing mental health and helping facilitate conversations, resources and community around it. That’s the heart of our song.”
