Kelsea Ballerini: Making her mark in history
Kelsea Ballerini did something bold – and unthinkable: she created an intimate, songwriter EP to capture a jagged moment in her life. It was intimate, small and a document of a moment of strength and chaos in her own life; she didn’t do it for awards or acclaim, but to share with anyone who might need a steadying hand facing similar circumstances and not sure where to turn. Today, Kelsea’s Rolling Up The Welcome Mat becomes her fourth GRAMMY nomination – and it is in the prestigious, wildly competitive Country Album category. At her most deeply personal, she joins everyman populist sensation Zach Bryan, critically acclaimed hard country songwriter Tyler Childers, progressive rock-country firebrands Brothers Osborne and working woman country force Lainey Wilson to create a sense of what country music’s future offers. “Making this record was simply my way of making sense of a really emotionally complicated place in my life,” says the woman who’s recently graced the cover of TIME100’s Next and NYLON, as well as performing on the MTV Video Music Awards. “I went to one of my best friends and collaborators, Alysa Vanderheym, and she quietly and diligently helped me write my truth. I really don’t have the words for the pride I feel for this music and the way that it’s connected with people. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’m deeply grateful to the Recording Academy for this honor. I am truly beaming.” This NMA award winner icon closes her essay with this final assessment of the artist and woman Kelsea has become, “She has a powerful sense of self in those moments: she knows exactly where her heart is, and she always leads with love and inclusivity.”
Kelsea Ballerini did something bold – and unthinkable: she created an intimate, songwriter EP to capture a jagged moment in her life. It was intimate, small and a document of a moment of strength and chaos in her own life; she didn’t do it for awards or acclaim, but to share with anyone who might need a steadying hand facing similar circumstances and not sure where to turn. Today, Kelsea’s Rolling Up The Welcome Mat becomes her fourth GRAMMY nomination – and it is in the prestigious, wildly competitive Country Album category. At her most deeply personal, she joins everyman populist sensation Zach Bryan, critically acclaimed hard country songwriter Tyler Childers, progressive rock-country firebrands Brothers Osborne and working woman country force Lainey Wilson to create a sense of what country music’s future offers. “Making this record was simply my way of making sense of a really emotionally complicated place in my life,” says the woman who’s recently graced the cover of TIME100’s Next and NYLON, as well as performing on the MTV Video Music Awards. “I went to one of my best friends and collaborators, Alysa Vanderheym, and she quietly and diligently helped me write my truth. I really don’t have the words for the pride I feel for this music and the way that it’s connected with people. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’m deeply grateful to the Recording Academy for this honor. I am truly beaming.” This NMA award winner icon closes her essay with this final assessment of the artist and woman Kelsea has become, “She has a powerful sense of self in those moments: she knows exactly where her heart is, and she always leads with love and inclusivity.”
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COUNTRY
T I M E
Carrie Underwood is no stranger to the word “reality.” After all, as the winner of the 2005 season of
“American Idol,” she won the hearts of millions of viewers across the world. Now, the singer has entered into
a promotion that is sure to please her fan following.
Sony Music Nashville and Aurasma, the world’s leading augmented reality platform, have partnered
to launch an augmented reality promotional campaign for Underwood’s No. 1 album, “Blown Away,” which
was released in May.
U
Using the free Aurasma Lite app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices available from the iTunes App
Store and Google Play, fans can launch exclusive video of Underwood that is triggered by aiming the device
at the cover image of Blown Away. The video leaps from the Blown Away image on the mobile device or
tablet and provides a click-through gateway to the album at the iTunes store. The promotion was launched
in Nashville recently at the CMA Music Festival.
“Carrie Underwood is always looking for ways to connect with her fans,” said Gary Overton, Sony
Music Nashville chairman and chief executive officer. “We are excited to embrace a cutting-edge technology like augmented reality to help give fans
something special and provide a cool, unique connection between the artist and audience. Sony Music Nashville is excited to watch this fun idea unfold
and is eager to partner with Aurasma on other future campaigns.”
Upon its release on May 1, “Blown Away” made history by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country albums sales chart making Underwood
only the second country artist in the 47 year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at No. 1. “Blown Away” also debuted at
No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart making Underwood only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No.
1. “Blown Away” became country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010.
“Carrie Underwood is a proven superstar. We are thrilled to partner with Sony Music Nashville to help increase the momentum of her smash
album Blown Away,” said Jennifer Rapp, general manager of Aurasma. “By leveraging augmented reality to bridge the physical and virtual worlds, Sony
gives the fans something exclusive and special, helping to keep fans connected and Carrie in the spotlight.”
The free Aurasma app runs on iPhone 3GS (and above), iPad2 (and above), and high-powered Android devices.
Y
Yesterday, Underwood performed the first of four concerts on the Australian leg of her tour to promote “Blown Away.” She kicked things off in
Melbourne, and will perform in Tamworth and Brisbane on Friday and Saturday, before finishing things in Sydney on Sunday. Also, Underwood has just
released the title cut as the second single -- to follow up the chart-topping success of “Good Girl,” which became her fifteenth number one record.
Country Date To Remember:
February 11, 1962
Somewhere, around Fenton, Mo, there are some students who
can say that they had one of music’s sexiest performers as a
teacher. Sheryl Crow - long before she hit it big in 1993 with
“All I Wanna Do,” was actually a music teacher at Kellison
Elementary School. Though her teaching days in school are
long over, Crow - who turns an amazing 50 years old today -
has educated many of her fans about some of Country Music’s
greatest performers, such as Loretta, Hank, and Johnny Cash.
Happy Birthday to one of Rock’s top women!
NMW - MARCH 1, 2024 Vol. 26 Issue 1
35
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