Kelsea Ballerini on ‘Milestone’ ACM Win: The Ram Report
Four months after winning Billboard’s Rising Star award, Kelsea Ballerini has another major trophy to add to her mantle: ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year. The “Dibs” singer was announced as the winner Wednesday, as the Academy revealed its three new artist victors ahead of the April 3rd broadcast.
“This is a moment and a milestone that is making me stop and reflect on the last year and a half,” Ballerini tells Rolling Stone Country. “I’m so humbled and thankful for the support and ways that radio/people have embraced me and my music this far. Never thought I’d have an ACM award sitting on my shelf. . . crazy.”
Chris Stapleton has another award to join his burgeoning shelf. The recent double Grammy winner was crowned ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year. And Old Dominion won in what was one of the toughest categories to predict — New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year — besting Brothers Osborne, Maddie and Tae, Parmalee and A Thousand Horses.
“Everyone we are nominated with has had the kind of year that deserves winning this award,” says OD’s lead singer Matthew Ramsey. “We are honored to be in the same category as all of them and beyond humbled to have won. We plan to do our absolute best to live up to everything this award comes with.”
Stapleton and Eric Church lead the pack of nominees at the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The show airs live from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3rd, at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.