Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS APRIL 22, 2019 | PAGE 1 OF 23 INSIDE BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] Wallen, Lewis Chart Kelsea Ballerini Keeps Perspective As High >page 4 She Moves Forward In Landmark Week Crow, Cash: Powerful “Redemption” Video Kelsea Ballerini’s tour bus smelled like a floral shop. certainly recognized the significance. She wiped away tears >page 12 Parked outside the Knoxville (Tenn.) Civic Coliseum on with an Opry napkin in the press room — and again onstage — April 18, the vehicle had a string of fresh-cut bouquets spread as she joined the Opry. And she shed more tears in a bedazzled across most of the available tabletops and Opry T-shirt as she sang “High School” and counters, about half of the arrangements “In Between,” two songs about 20-some- NFL Drafts Country sent to her by an appreciative Trisha Year- things processing their teenage past, during Stars wood. Ballerini, who makes it a point to the break-down set of her Knoxville show. >page 13 cover a legacy country title in each of her “Whenever I get overwhelmed, it’s my go- Grand Ole Opry appearances, had per- to,” she says of those crying spurts. “When formed Yearwood’s 1992 single “Walk- you have a moment like that, that means away Joe” two nights prior with Carrie you’re present, and if you’re not present for CMA Fest: Eli, Rice, Underwood as Ballerini was inducted an Opry induction, you’re doing something McBryde into the Opry. wrong. I’ll take the tears.” >page 13 The appearances in Nashville and Knox- The meaning behind her new develop- ville provided a one-two punch as Ballerini ments is not lost on Ballerini.