{"id":1308821,"date":"2019-04-16T19:25:13","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T01:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/?p=1805523"},"modified":"2019-04-16T19:25:13","modified_gmt":"2019-04-17T01:25:13","slug":"carrie-underwood-inducts-kelsea-ballerini-into-the-grand-ole-opry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/music-news\/carrie-underwood-inducts-kelsea-ballerini-into-the-grand-ole-opry\/","title":{"rendered":"Carrie Underwood Inducts Kelsea Ballerini into the Grand Ole Opry"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Lauren Tingle<\/a><\/span> 27m ago<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n

Ever since she made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Valentine\u2019s Day in 2015, Kelsea Ballerini<\/a>, 25, has been absolutely crushing it.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s released two albums, joined the CMT Next Women of Country program, won two ACM awards, become a two-time Grammy nominee and a platinum-selling artist. She\u2019s recorded with The Chainsmokers, toured with Kelly Clarkson<\/a>, rocked the 2018 Victoria\u2019s Secret Fashion Show, and she\u2019s has hosted TV shows, including the annual CMA Fest concert special.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday (April 16), Carrie Underwood<\/a> and Keith Urban<\/a> helped induct Ballerini as the Grand Ole Opry\u2019s newest and youngest member live on Nashville\u2019s Opry stage. Urban and Ballerini toured together on 2018\u2019s Graffiti U tour, and Ballerini and Underwood were among last year\u2019s CMT Artists of the Year. Ballerini\u2019s first performances as an Opry member were \u201cPeter Pan,\u201d \u201cIn Between,\u201d her current Top 10 hit, \u201cMiss Me More\u201d and Trisha Yearwood\u2019s \u201cWalk Away Joe,\u201d the latter of which was a collaboration with Underwood.<\/p>\n

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It’s OFFICIAL! The newest member of the Grand Ole #Opry<\/a> is @KelseaBallerini<\/a>, with an induction by @carrieunderwood<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/5sf5vAHzJn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Grand Ole Opry (@opry) April 17, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI want to thank [the Opry] for asking this incredible, talented, smart, sweet, beautiful, woman to be a member,\u201d Underwood said of Ballerini onstage while becoming visibly emotional. \u201cYou have accomplished so much in your career, and you will accomplish undoubtedly infinite amounts more in your career and in your life \u2014 awards, No. 1s, sales, tours, fans and just all of it \u2014 this is better than all of that. This is the heart and soul of country music. The Opry has been and always will be here \u2014 the heart and soul of country music, the family. You are in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that especially since I moved to Nashville, I had this big dream to do all these kinds of things,\u201d Ballerini said after Underwood\u2019s formal induction. \u201cI\u2019ve rarely looked up. There\u2019s rarely been a moment that\u2019s made me just stop, take a minute, be grateful and look up. One that I remember is Feb. 14, 2015, and that is when I made my Opry debut. One is right now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to say, that it\u2019s so nice and comforting to know that no matter where life takes me, and no matter if the radio stops playing me tomorrow, and whatever happens, I can always come here, and I can always play country music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ballerini also made time to thank family and friends who were there and listening at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for loving me regardless,\u201d she said, \u201cand thank you for showing up for me for my mountaintop moments and for the moments that aren\u2019t so glamorous. And Grand Ole Opry, thanks for seeing something in me and for believing that I\u2019ll always love you like I do, because I do, but I will.\u201d<\/p>\n

CMT Hot 20 Countdown<\/a><\/em> will have a full recap of Ballerini\u2019s Opry induction on Saturday and Sunday (April 20-21) at 9 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Ballerini\u2019s Opry induction follows the sold-out opening weekend of The Miss Me More tour with Brett Young and Brandon Ratcliff. The tour will visit her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday (April) for arena show at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.<\/p>\n

Enjoy a first look from The Miss More Tour\u2019s opening weekend:<\/p>\n

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