Kelsea Ballerini Honored With Song Suffragettes Yellow Rose Of Inspiration Award
Pictured (L-R): Song Suffragettes founder Todd Cassetty, Kelsea Ballerini, Nicolle Galyon, Song Suffragettes’ Maddie Lenhart. Photo: Libby Danforth
The Listening Room Café hosted Nashville’s all-female, singer-songwriter collective, the Song Suffragettes, on Monday (March 28) as it celebrated its eighth anniversary.
The sold-out show honored Kelsea Ballerini with the Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award, an honor bestowed on a female songwriter who has inspired the Song Suffragette women who one day hope to follow in Ballerini’s successful footsteps.
Singer-songwriter and publisher Nicolle Galyon interviewed Ballerini onstage, discussing her success, songwriting process, and personal journey. Song Suffragettes’ Founder Todd Cassetty and Event Director Maddie Lenhart presented Ballerini with the award.
Pictured (L-R, back row): Song Suffragettes founder Todd Cassetty, Peytan Porter, Nicolle Galyon, Autumn Nicholas, Kelsea Ballerini, Kalie Shorr, Ava Suppelsa, Mia Morris, Song Suffragettes’ Maddie Lenhart; (L-R, front row): Caroline Watkins, Lauren Hungate, Madeline Merlo, Lanie Gardner, Emily Brooke, Ava Paige. Photo: Libby Danforth
Ballerini also performed her recent No. 1 hit “Half Of My Hometown” along with “I Quit Drinking” to a standing ovation, with Galyon accompanying her on keyboard and vocals.
“Thank you guys for letting me be here and be a part of this amazing event,” Ballerini shared. “It’s a big full circle being here 8 years later. Thank you, Song Suffragettes.”
The evening’s first songwriting round was hosted by original Song Suffragette and TMWRK Records recording artist Kalie Shorr performing with Ava Suppelsa, Autumn Nicholas, Ava Paige and first-time Song Suffragette and Republic Records recording artist Lanie Gardner. Multi-instrumentalist and resident cajon player Mia Morris backed all performances in addition to performing an original song of her own.
The second writers’ round was hosted by Song Suffragettes alumna Lauren Hungate, and featured Caroline Watkins, Emily Brooke, first-time performer Peytan Porter and BMG recording artist Madeline Merlo along with Morris. The women ended the show with a cover “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” by last year’s Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award honoree, Ashley McBryde.
The entire sold-out show and livestream is available for viewing here.
