Kelsea Ballerini proved that the sky’s the limit for the young country singer when she received the Rising Star honor at Billboard's annual Women In Music event in New York on Friday.
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott presented Ballerini with the honor in front of a room filled with such music luminaries as Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey and the most influential executives in the industry. Scott praised Ballerini for her "poise, beautiful vocal tone and bubbly personality," expressing amazement at how much she's accomplished "in her short 22 years."
Upon taking the stage Ballerini declared, "Ooh, I'm nervous!" and admitted, "Before I was an artist, I was a fan, and I stood in line to meet Hillary" and many of the other stars in the room.