Kelsea Ballerini has been busier than ever. After rising to fame with her hit song βLove Me Like You Mean Itβ in 2015, the singer-songwriter has made a major splash in the country music scene. Now her sophomore album is right around the corner and, judging by the first single off the new record, it sounds like Balleriniβs chart-topping music career is just getting started.
Ballerini stopped by the HuffPost office to discuss what inspired her song βLegends,β how Taylor Swift has influenced her career, her partnership with Colgate Optic White, and her major crush on Nick and Joe Jonas.
This is such an exciting time in your career with your second album coming out! What first inspired you to start singing?
I grew up singing. I grew up with my church choir and Glee Club at my high school. So I always loved music, but I didnβt know you could be a singer. I didnβt know that was something you could choose to do. But I started writing songs when I was 12 and thatβs what really tipped it over to: How do I become a singer?
Who in the music industry inspires your sound? What singers do you look up to?
Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Britney Spears. I feel like theyβre the queens!
Since youβre a songwriter, what exactly inspired your song βLegendsβ?
I wrote βLegendsβ almost two years ago. When I was writing it, that song was super therapeutic for me because I was going through a breakup at the time. I think itβs really easy to leave a relationship and always look at the bad parts and the reasons that it ended. But that song was me trying to look back on that relationship and find the good in it so I didnβt become bitter or hold a grudge. So that song was really therapeutic for me, but it was a breakup song. Fast forward to months ago when we were picking the single, I was like, βIs this still a song I relate to?β And I listening to it and I was like, βOh, my god, itβs a love song!β So now I totally sing it about the relationship that Iβm in now and itβs a complete love song for me now. Itβs a chameleon. I hope that people can either feel the heartbreak in it, or feel the love in it.
What are some future projects your fans can look forward to?
I am almost done with my record, which I have been working so hard on, and it will be out later this year.
Do we have a release date?
We do, but we donβt. Itβll come out in two phases. One phase soon, and one phase later.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Hereβs the thing. My celebrity crush is Nick Jonas. Or Joe Jonas. The Jonas Brothers. But I said that in so many interviews when I was first coming out and then I met them several times. All I could think about was βOh, my god, Iβm in a room with these guys. Theyβre going to see an interview and think Iβm the creepiest person because in every interview Iβm like, βNick Jonas is my celebrity crush!ββ And now weβre friends and itβs weird now, but itβs the truth. I literally had posters of them on my wall, like, determined to marry one of them. And, yeah, now itβs weird.
Have you ever met someone and felt truly starstruck?
I get starstruck by everyone. Iβm the biggest fangirl in the world. Like, itβs never going to be a casual thing for me to be in the same room as Carrie Underwood. Thatβs never going to be something that Iβm used to. I can keep it on lock for a while and bro out with pretty much anyone, but there are certain people, like Shania Twain. I love her. Iβve gotten to meet and sing with her and I fangirl to her face every time. And Iβll never not because itβs Shania! There are certain people that I just canβt be casual around.
Whatβs your favorite song to jam out to right now?
The new Troye Sivan song! I forget how it goes right now because Iβm thinking about it, but it has a beat ... Itβs good!
If you could have dinner with three celebrities, dead or alive, who would they be?
I would want to have dinner with interesting people. Maybe Kanye West. I wouldnβt want to say anything, I would just want to listen to him talk for a solid hour. I would love to see whatβs in his brain. Thatβs it. Just him.
Tell us about your work with Colgate Optic White.
My goal with my music is to make people feel empowered and make people feel happy. Even in the sassy songs, I want there to be something in it that makes people feel good about themselves. So partnering with Colgate makes sense because I really want people to feel happy. When they listen to the music, I want them to smile. When they come to the show, I want them to smile and sing along. I think when your inner joy comes outward itβs the most beautiful you can do, is wear a smile. So itβs a perfect fit and Iβm very excited to partner with them.
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