On Sept. 24, 2016, Kelsea Ballerini’s “Peter Pan” ascended to No. 1 for a two-week stay atop Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
As the single led the airplay-, sales- and streaming-based survey, it took over at No. 1 on Country Airplay the same week. It became Ballerini’s first No. 1 on Hot Country Songs and her third career-opening leader on Country Airplay, all from her debut LP, The First Time, following “Love Me Like You Mean It” in July 2015 and “Dibs” in March 2016.
Ballerini, from Knoxville, Tenn., became the first solo female to top both charts simultaneously (since Hot Country Songs transitioned to a hybrid survey in October 2012). “To finally release my favorite song off my album was already enough for me,” Ballerini told Billboard at the time. “But to know that we just made history with it is bigger than I could have ever dreamed. Honestly, being the first woman to do this just inspires me to work hard and to make the best music I can.”
Ballerini wrote “Peter Pan” with Jesse Lee and Forest Glen Whitehead.
Married to singer-songwriter Morgan Evans since December 2017, Ballerini added a fourth Country Airplay leader, “Legends,” in February 2018. She was ushered into the Grand Ole Opry in 2019.
On Sept. 16, Ballerini, Gabby Barrett Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton were named 2021 CMT artists of the year. They are set to be honored during the network’s live event Oct. 13 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.
Ballerini is currently opening for the Jonas Brothers on their Remember This tour. Her latest single, “Half of My Hometown,” featuring Kenny Chesney, ranks at No. 26 and 33 on the Sept. 25-dated Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts, respectively.
