Kelsea Ballerini Accepts Rising Star Award At ‘Billboard’s’ Women In Music Event

Kelsea Ballerini was honored with the Rising Star Award at Billboard’s Women In Music Event, which taped earlier this month and aired over the weekend on Lifetime.

The “Dibs” singer, who accepted the award from Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, used her acceptance speech to thank other female artists for inspiring her to do what she does.

“Before I was a songwriter, and before I was an artist, I was a fan,” Ballerini shared. “I stood in like to meet Hillary, and I stood in line to meet Taylor Swift, and I remember going to Walmart to buy [Lady Gaga‘s] Born This Way record, and I remember saving up to go see Demi Lovato in Nashville. And I learned by watching strong, empowering, bold women how to become one.”

After thanking Billboard for the honor, Ballerini, 22, performed her No.1 smash, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

Watch her acceptance speech and performance below.