There are artists who are traditional and artists who are experimental – and then you have it Kelsea Balleriniwho is both.
An East Tennessee native who was raised on Keith Urban and Kenny ChesneyBallerini entered the country music world as a devotee of the genre.
She even once stood in line to meet Urban at CMA Fest when she was 14 years old…and then toured with him 10 years later!
But Ballerini has also never been shy about expanding the boundaries of country music. It’s a big part of the reason why she qualifies as one of country music’s most important modern hitmakers.
We’ve seen her publish a book of poetry, appear on screen, and even star in a short film music video, all while releasing some of the most lyrically-focused, honest music in the genre today.
READ MORE: Top 10 Riley Green Songs — Country Music’s Most Imported Modern Artists (#25)
This Top 10 Kelsea Ballerini Songs is #24 in Taste of Country’s daily release of the 25 most important contemporary artists working in the genre today. This placement began Saturday (June 13) with Top 10 Riley Green Songs.
Who is Kelsea Ballerini?
Ballerini’s debut single and first No. 1 hit was “Love Me Like You Mean It”, released in 2015. She became the first female solo artist since Carrie Underwood to achieve the top position with a debut.
She first entered the country genre as a fan, and even well on her way to superstardom, Ballerini made it clear how much she reveres institutions like Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
But even as a faithful student of the genre’s history, she never stopped looking toward its future. With each album, Ballerini has become more and more confident in stepping outside the boxes of the genre. She did things that weren’t part of the normal country star career path, like publishing a book of poetry in 2021.
READ MORE: 8 Brutally Honest Divorce Lyrics From Kelsea Ballerini’s ‘Rolling Up the Welcome Mat’
In 2023, her Rolling up the welcome mat album — a project heavily inspired by her divorce from Morgan Evans — leveled Ballerini’s superstar status again, in a whole new way.
At a time when a couple of career-changing, fourth-wall-breaking divorce albums from female artists had recently come out (Carly Pearce’s 29 and Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed, for two), Ballerini’s was notable for the ways in which it expanded her artistic reach in all directions.
She made a short film, which she starred in and co-directed, for her album that served as linked music videos spanning all six tracks.
Ballerini tried acting in 2024 (with a guest role on ABC’s Doctor Odyssey) and coached The voice in 2025; she hosted award shows, collaborated with Cover Girl, and eventually moved to New York City.
She has also become one of the country’s most artful and intentional singers when it comes to cover art and stage visuals.
And she’s embraced all those experimental callings without faltering on the brand of country music she established early in her career.
Kelsea Ballerini’s Best Songs
Kelsea Ballerini may not be a traditionalist, but she’s been deeply country-centric from the start, always finding new ways to mix and match experimentation with a simple three-chords-and-the-truth foundation.
She started with three big radio hits — “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs” and “Peter Pan” — that were songs. Bops are key to Ballerini’s discography, but ballads have proven even more essential.
As her career has progressed, we’ve had incredible, heartfelt sad songs from her, including “Homecoming Queen?”, “Mountain With a View” and “Half of My Hometown.”
Ballerini checks in at No. 2 on Taste of Country’s countdown of country music’s most important artists. Keep scrolling for our roundup of her best songs.
Criteria: This list of the 25 most important modern country artists was curated by Taste of Country staff, who considered hard data (charts, streaming numbers, ticket sales, etc…), perceived influence, awards and recognition, and (most importantly) recent releases. We zoomed in on who’s shaping country music with popular releases today.
Artists who haven’t released an album or notched a hit on the airplay or streaming charts in the last three years have to show their impact in other ways. One example is Carrie Underwood, who hasn’t released a new album in four years, but is the most influential voice on America’s most popular singing reality show.
Number: 25 Riley Green’s best songs | No. 24 Kelsea Ballerini’s Best Songs | No. 23 June 15 | No. 22 June 16 | No. 21 June 17 | No. 20 18 June | No. 19 June 19 | No. 18 June 20 | No. 17 June 21 | No. 16 22 June | No. 15 23 June | No. 14 June 24 | No. 13 June 25 | No. 12 June 26 | No. 11 June 27 | No. 10 June 28 | No. 9 June 29 | No. 8 30 June | No. 7 1 July | No. 6 2 July | No. 5 3 July | No. 4 July 4 | No. 3 5 July | No. 2 July 6 | No. 1 July 7
Top 10 Kelsea Ballerini Songs: Ballads + Bops That Showcase Her Versatility
There are country artists who are traditional and country artists who are experimental, but it’s Kelsea Ballerini both.
These 10 songs showcase the range Ballerini has grown into over her decades-plus long career. During that time, she’s released serious, pop-friendly earworms, and she’s also penned some of the sharpest lyrics out there in the genre today. Keep reading for a look back at 10 songs that show how Kelsea Ballerini shaped the country genre.
Gallery credit: Carena Liptak
Top 10 Riley Green Songs: Hits and Deep Cuts Every Country Fan Should Know
Gallery credit: Billy Dukes
