Kelsea Ballerini Makes History With No. 1 Single ‘Peter Pan’
Kelsea Ballerini's 23rd birthday (Sept. 12) was one to remember: The singer had her third No. 1 single, "Peter Pan," to celebrate -- and it was a history-making moment.
"Peter Pan" makes Ballerini the first female artist (including duos and groups) in country music history to hit No. 1 with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album, a press release reports. Billboard adds that the rising star is also the first solo female artist in history to top both the Country Airplay and Hot Country Singles chart simultaneously; the two have been separate charts -- the former tracking radio-based airplay, the latter noting airplay, sales and streaming -- in October of 2012.
"To finally release my favorite song off my album was already enough for me. But to know that we just made history with it is bigger than I could have ever dreamed," Ballerini says. "Honestly, being the first woman to do this just inspires me to work hard and to make the best music I can."
Ballerini is used to breaking records with her music already: "Love Me Like You Mean It," her debut single, gave her the first debut single from a solo female artist to top the Mediabase country radio singles chart since Carrie Underwood‘s “Jesus, Take the Wheel” landed at No. 1 in 2006. Underwood was also the last woman to top the Country Airplay chart with three singles from her debut project (however, they were not consecutive No. 1s; Underwood's third single, "Don't Forget to Remember Me," peaked at No. 2).
After spending the last few months opening up for Rascal Flatts on their summer Rhythm & Roots Tour, Ballerini will spend her fall on her own headlining tour, The First Time Tour. She is working on her sophomore album.