Kelsea Ballerini and Shania Twain.Photo:Jason Kempin/Getty, Kate Green/Getty
Jason Kempin/Getty, Kate Green/Getty
A country music legend is singing her praises of a rising country star.
ForTIME’s annualTIME100 Nextcover story series,Shania Twainpaid tribute toKelsea Ballerini, who is among the 100 rising stars being honored.
The country-pop star, 58, reflected on meeting the “If You Go Down” singer, 30, at an award show and being impressed with the singer-songwriter even from a young age.
The “You’re Still the One” artist also mentioned how “special” their friendship is with one another, and how “rare” that feels in the music industry.
The Grammy winner concluded, “At this year’sCMT Awards, sheperformedwith a full troop of drag queens as her back-up dancers, which was fabulous. She has a powerful sense of self in those moments: she knows exactly where her heart is, and she always leads with love and inclusivity.”
Kelsea Ballerini on the Time100 Next cover of ‘TIME’.Caroline Tompkins
Caroline Tompkins
Ballerini shared the cover, which features her in an emerald green dress, onInstagramand expressed her gratitude in the caption. “for a girl that loves her words, this has me pretty speechless. what an incredible honor @time,” the country star wrote.
Several famous friends commented on the post.Reese Witherspoonreplied, “WOW!! So happy for you 🙌,” while country singerCarly Pearcewrote, “This picture!!!! 🔥.” The “Love Me Like You Mean It” artist’s boyfriend, actorChase Stokes, also commented, “Turns 30, immediately drops a Time cover,” as the performercelebrated her birthday on Tuesday.
Twain has spoken highly of Ballerini in the past, and Ballerini has shared just how much of an icon she considers the “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” artist to be.
“The fact that she even knows who I am still freaks me out,” Ballerini said of Twain. “But the fact that someone that genuinely shaped me wanting to be a woman in entertainment, a songwriter, a businesswoman, someone who pushed boundaries, someone who blazed trails. I mean, she’s it for me. You’re it for me.”
Twain added, “I just thought this is a take-charge girl. She’s writing this music. I could see the director artist behind the beautiful facade of the… I mean, she looks like a supermodel, but she delivers something deeper than that. It’s very obvious. I was proud of her. I thought, ‘Yeah, this is a star in the making.”
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Theyteamed up again in 2022when the “Miss Me More” singer wore the “That Don’t Impress Me Much” star’s 1999 Grammy Awards gown to the Country Music Honors in Nashville.
The singer-songwriter will perform atTIME’s upcoming TIME100 Next event on Oct. 24 in New York City, celebrating the honorees.
source: people.com
