Kelsea Ballerini calls “Dibs” on the top spot for both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts this week. Landing her second consecutive #1 single off of a debut, the two-time ACM Award Nominee – Female Vocalist of the Year and New Female Vocalist of the Year – is one of only five women* – and the first in 15 years – to have achieved this feat. Ballerini follows Jamie O’Neal’s back-to-back #1’s with her debut “There is No Arizona” and subsequent “When I Think About Angels” in 2001.
“The other night I was with a bunch of my friends waiting on a phone call that came, at midnight, telling me I had my second number one,” said Ballerini. “I had foils in my hair, I was eating pizza, and it was one of the best moments of my life because in that moment I remembered having girls’ nights when I was 12 and 13, playing all my friends songs on the guitar and talking about one day having a song on the radio. It was like a flash forward. I’m so incredibly grateful to Country radio for giving me a voice this early on in my career and supporting not one, but two, singles now like they have. I’m so excited to keep working hard and to hopefully keep making good music.”
Ballerini’s debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It” hit #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart on June 22, 2015 and she holds her reign today as the only solo female artist to hit #1 on this chart since then.
“It’s amazing to be a part of this history making debut,” said Black River Record’s VP of Promotion Mike Wilson. “Kelsea’s artistry is amazing, it’s such a pleasure to work with her on a daily basis. She works so hard for her fans and she loves Country radio. We have an amazing staff at BRE that will walk through walls for our roster.”
“Dibs” going #1 is a big win for the teams at Black River Publishing and Black River Records.
“Humble, hardworking, relentless, grateful,” said Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr. “And that’s only what I think about Kelsea! Imagine my words about the Black River staff!” Kerr continued, “I’m ‘callin’ dibs’ on an incredible team effort. I’m so thankful for Country radio and all the wonderful people who have worked so hard to make this day happen for Kelsea and BRE!”
Written by Kelsea Ballerini, Josh Kerr, Jason Duke and Ryan Griffin, “Dibs” is also the second U.S. #1 for Black River Publishing’s Josh Kerr and is found on Ballerini’s critically-acclaimed debut album, THE FIRST TIME, co-produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey.
For tour dates and more information, visit KelseaBallerini.com. Reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
* Only 4 other solo females in country music have had their debut country single and follow-up single go #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Jamie O’Neal
2000 There Is No Arizona
2001 When I Think About Angels
Deana Carter
1996 Strawberry Wine
1996 We Danced Anyway
Faith Hill
1993 Wild One
1994 Piece of My heart
Wynonna
1992 She Is His Only Need
1992 I Saw The Light
1992 No One Else On Earth
The last male artist to achieve the feat was Sam Hunt, 2014-2015 with “Leave the Night On” and “Take Your Time,” also co-published by Black River Publishing.