Kelsea Ballerini has been tapped as the newest face of Covergirl cosmetics.

Ballerini will be the face of a yet-to-be-announced collection from Covergirl out this spring, and has signed on in a multi-year partnership with the brand.

“I’ve been a fan of Covergirl for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had an iconic tube of Covergirl mascara in my makeup bag, and I even wrote in my journal at age 14 that one day I dreamed of being a Covergirl,” Ballerini recalls. “Makeup is another creative outlet for me, and I’ve always said if I wasn’t doing music, I would probably be a makeup artist! I’m excited and honored to partner with Covergirl, and I can’t wait to share more about my favorite products from the brand.”

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Ballerini began writing songs as a child and released her first studio album in 2015. She has since gone on to have major chart-topping success with seven No. 1s at country radio; 25 Gold and Platinum certifications; multiple Grammy nominations and ACM and CMA awards, (including most recently two CMA Awards in 2021;) and more than four billion total streams.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kelsea Ballerini into the Covergirl family,” says Stefano Curti, Chief Brands Officer, Consumer Beauty, at Coty, home to Covergirl. “She is a lover of beauty, constantly experimenting with fun makeup looks as part of her creativity. Kelsea expresses her true self on and off the stage and lends her voice to causes that are important to her, like using cruelty-free beauty products, a value we at Covergirl hold close as a Leaping Bunny certified brand. We’re so excited to have Kelsea join an iconic line up Covergirls who share the same passion for accessibility, inclusivity and individuality.”

The Nashville Chapter of the AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) held its seventh annual AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series this week at the Listening Room Cafe.

The event, sponsored by Endurance Music Group, featured two rounds of up-and-coming songwriters invited to join the prestigious class, including Rocky Block, Ben Chapman, Jonathan Hutcherson, Jenna LaMaster, Jared Scott, and Dan Wilson. Hosted by hit songwriters Corey Crowder and Matt Jenkins, the round allowed for each of the class members to perform two songs and share the stories behind them with the audience.

Past performers in the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series have gone on to achieve great success as both songwriters and artists. In order to qualify for the class, each of the songwriters must not have had a song charting higher than a top 20 on the Billboard or Mediabase country charts. They are selected by a special committee made up of music industry professionals, based on submissions from current AIMP Nashville members.

Since its inception in 2015, the AIMP Nashville Songwriter Series has established itself as an indicator of what’s to come from the thriving independent music publishing community.

Past classes include:

2020: Ryan Beaver, Dillon Carmichael, Ian Christian, Colin Elmore, Jeff Garrison, LJ, Tiera

2019: Claire Douglas, Emily Falvey, Ben Goldsmith, Griffen Palmer, Dave Pittenger, Jake Rose

2018: Kassi Ashton, Jordan Brooker, Nicolette Hayford, Kylie Morgan, Mike Walker, Anna Vaus

2017: Hannah Ellis, Ross Ellis, Michael Hardy, Ashley McBryde, Daniel Ross, Sarah Allison Turner

2016: Brinley Addington, Ash Bowers, Dustin Christensen, Erik Dylan, Jeffrey East, Josh Jenkins

2015: Maggie Chapman, Luke Dick, Jameson Rodgers, Matt Rogers, Hailey Whitters, J.P. Williams

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.

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.

Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes is the next headliner on an upcoming installment of CMT Crossroads.

CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends will feature a powerhouse lineup of Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Carly Pearce and Mickey Guyton, and will premiere Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. CT exclusively on CMT.

The all-female concert event celebrates Rimes’ 25th career anniversary. From her biggest chart-topping hits alongside new songs, the 90-minute special brings the Grammy award-winning vocalist together with the next generation of female artists who have been inspired and influenced by her music.

“It was such a magical and surreal experience, celebrating the past 25 years of my music as a full installment of CMT Crossroads. And to share the stage with women who are each, so unique and truly standing in their own magnificence, to get to hear firsthand how I have, in some special way, influenced their artistry… it was humbling and special,” shares Rimes, who recently announced her upcoming “The Story…So Far Tour.” “This is such an expansive year for me, from my new album release later this year to my upcoming tour, and I could not think of a better way to kick it all off than to celebrate the past, present and future with this memorable show.”

“What better way to celebrate LeAnn’s music and legacy than to bring together those who credit LeAnn for inspiring their own careers,” adds Margaret Comeaux, Executive Producer & Senior Vice President, Production, CMT. “The reciprocal admiration amongst these women is more than evident throughout filming, and makes for a truly magical connection on stage in this special extended episode of CMT Crossroads.”

A 3x CMT Music Awards nominee, Rimes took home her first trophy in 2008 for Collaborative Video of the Year with Bon Jovi. She also celebrated the world premiere of “Swingin’” and a performance of “Nothin’ Better To Do” at past CMT Music Awards. Rimes also teamed up with British soul singer Joss Stone for a special edition of CMT Crossroads.