06/08/2018

KELSEA BALLERINI WORLD PREMIERES PLAYFUL NEW MUSIC VIDEO DURING CMA FEST 2018

Black River Entertainment’s KELSEA BALLERINI is steering clear of romantic clichés in her playful new music video for chart-climbing single “I Hate Love Songs.” Slated to make its sneak peek debut on the big screens of CMA Fest 2018 during tonight’s concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, the full video will be available to watch on Vevo immediately following the world premiere.

Filmed on a local soundstage, director Traci Goudie captured Ballerini pulling out all the stops to avoid the trappings of love from an interrupted proposal and failed kiss in the rain, to a Matrix-moment to narrowly escape a tossed bouquet from a bride. Leading up to the premiere, fans can get an inside first look at the behind-the-scenes making of the video exclusively on People.com and iHeartRadio.com.

Returning to host the 3-hour CMA Fest special on ABC (airing 8/8 at 8/7c) for her second year alongside former tourmate Thomas Rhett, the showstopper will take the stage tomorrow night (6/9), for a vibrant set of fan-favorites from her acclaimed sophomore album, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, including "I Hate Love Songs" – which Billboard claims “has all the makings of a career hit for Ballerini” – plus the history-making GOLD-certified, #1 “Legends.”

On Sunday (6/10), Ballerini will participate in Xfinity Fan Fair X as the Artist of the Day from the CMA Close Up Stage before wrapping a jam-packed festival week of epic appearances. 

The bona fide trailblazer will then gear up to hit the road as Keith Urban’s special guest on the GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR, following her sold-out headlining THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR. Beginning on June 15 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO, the anticipated trek runs through November 3 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

After a stirring stripped-down performance of the cheeky ode (penned by Ballerini, Shane McAnally, and Trevor Rosen), which Rolling Stone praised as “marvelous” during the 2018 CMT Music Awards on Wednesday (6/6), she is next up for three nods at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards: The Bestest – Radio Disney Country Favorite ArtistPlay It Again! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Song(“Legends”), and all-genre XOXO – Best Crush Song (“Legends”). The sixth annual event will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, and air on the Disney Channel, as well as additional Disney-branded platforms, on June 23.

For more information on KELSEA BALLERINI, visit KelseaBallerini.com and reach out to her on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.
 
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. The 12-track compilation – all written or co-written by Ballerini – features the GOLD-certified, #1 hit “Legends” and current chart-rising single “I Hate Love Songs.” This summer, she’ll be Keith Urban’s featured artist on the GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR, after wrapping her own sold-out headlining THE UNAPOLOGETICALLY TOUR. The record-breaker skyrocketed to stardom after releasing PLATINUM-certified, #1 smashes – “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” “Peter Pan” – from her 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. As spotted on “Best Dressed” lists, the style maven appeared in a multi-page fashion spread in Cosmopolitan’s March 2018 issue, with several other high profile looks in 2017: Billboard Magazine’s GRAMMY preview issue; Forbes’ “30 Under 30” class; and People Magazine’s “Beauty at Every Age” list in their iconic World’s Most Beautiful issue. Praised by The New York Timesas an “elegant songwriter," Ballerini has received the esteemed ASCAP Vanguard Award, CMT Next Women of Country’s Impact AwardNashville Business Journal’s Artist of the Year, ACM Honor’s Gene Weed Milestone Award, iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Country ArtistBillboard Women in Music’s Rising Star, multiple Radio Disney Music Awards plus several breakthrough female awards from ACM and CMT.