I love pop music. I listen to it; I think you can hear it in my songwriting and my album. I'd definitely say it's country-pop music, but it's country first.
— Kelsea Ballerini
It took a while to learn to eat healthy on road. It's really hard. Really, really hard. But on the bus, I can use the stovetop in the morning to make a veggie scramble. And have lots and lots and lots of coffee. I try to have protein for dinner so I have energy for the show.
In my opinion, it's all about the song and the performance, not the gender.
I grew up loving music and being super involved in church choir and school musicals and such, but when I started writing is when I fell in love with the idea of doing it for the rest of my life.
I feel like it's been so crazy to get to open for people like Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Billy Currington.
On stage, you can get away with more, so I definitely use that to my advantage and go bolder with fashion, hair, and makeup. I love a smoky eye and long lashes.
When I was 12, I was going through an awkward time. Writing music helped me find my voice and express the things I was feeling.
I've gotten to be part of a lot of incredible tours and have learned so much from the people I've had the opportunity to open for.
I'm a talker.
Growing up, I remember thinking country music was all honky-tonks and beer and trucks - Britney Spears was my first concert.
Growing up in east Tennessee gave me my country roots, my twang, and a lot of my stories.
Sometimes, if I really just need to unwind and kind of watch something that isn't gonna stress me out or have drama in it, I watch 'Spongebob.'
It wasn't supposed to work - being a new artist, a female artist, an artist on an independent. That's what made it so much sweeter when we hit No. 1.
I try to be as honest as I can in writing. That's what ends up translating and relating to people.
I've never been scared, but I'm very naive.
I've always been drawn to the message of 'Be yourself. Love yourself.' I need to be reminded of that all time.
Women in country music have always been a staple and always been important.
There's this misconception out there that at any level of celebrity, you have someone to do hair and makeup when you're out touring, but no, it is just not the case. I do it all myself.
My first artist bus was Jason Aldean's old bus, with deer antlers over the lights and cowhide on the back of the couches. It was such an absolute dude bus.
I get travel-sized versions of all of my essentials. That way, I can stay on the same routine whether I'm home or on the road.
No matter how exhausted I am after a show, I always take my makeup off. Even if it's just with a remover wipe.
I've always wanted to dye my hair a bright color.
Always wash your face before you go to bed - skin care is key.
Songwriting was a gift that came to me when I needed it the most.
I just want to be real and who I am. That's something I'd feel comfortable with any little girl looking up to, so that's who I try to be.
I write everything. It's my favorite part of what I do. And lyrics are my favorite thing.
As a young woman, I just think there's something really confident and empowering about being able to flirt back.
My songs are my stories... good, bad, ugly, beautiful.
I love Taylor Swift, and I've always been such a fan of her.
I was living in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I didn't really know how you would become a singer. I didn't even think that I could do it. I didn't even dream about it. But when I was 12, it was that year where I got tall, boys got cute, everything was weird. Then my parents split up on top of that, so it was a big year of change for me.
It's really cool when, in every genre of music, you can listen to a song and know what era it was from.
I did ballet, jazz, and all that, but I think hip-hop is really where I learned rhythm and groove, which has helped me in music.
Honestly, I'm such a shoe girl. I like to save money, and I like to spend money on shoes.
I feel like if you just walk with a purpose, people will think you're supposed to be there. That's my life theory.
I try to exercise when I'm on road - I really do try - but I also try not to push myself too hard. I just try to move.
I'm basically always writing. Why wouldn't I? I love it.
I love getting facials. I've even started doing microdermabrasion to keep all the makeup and dirt out of my pores. And when I'm traveling, I'll always grab a moisturizing face mask.
My favorite thing ever is walking into a room and there's like, shoes and dresses and sparkles in the room. It's a good time.
My favorite festival beauty look is definitely braids and hats: a messy fishtail braid and a cute outfit, and I'm ready!
When I was 15, my mom and I packed everything up and moved to Nashville so I could pursue my dream in music.
I want to be a good person first and a good artist second.
As a young girl, there are pressures that come with any career, but I decided when I got into this I didn't want to be perfect.
I've always been drawn to strong women in every genre, people who push the boundaries because they're just epic.
It's really humbling to be acknowledged by such established names like CMT and Billboard.
I really like food. Honestly, anytime I have time off, I binge-watch Netflix and eat chicken tenders. That's my guilty pleasure. Separate or together!
Hillary Scott from Lady Antebellum is like my big sister.
It's so fun to make up stories, but I find that the songs that I'm most proud of came from a real thing in my life - 'Peter Pan' being one of those.
I share so much of my life on social media, and I love the honest connection with the people that follow me.
It's been really cool to me to watch someone like Sam Hunt, whose lyrics and roots are in country but you can hear that he listens to Drake and Justin Timberlake - and that's OK. It allows songwriters to be more honest because it's like, 'This is who I'm listening to.'
The first album is an introduction, and when people listen to it top to bottom, I want them to know me.
