Kelsea Ballerini fans will be on the edge of their seats watching the 2018 CMA Awards, waiting see if she takes home the award for Female Vocalist of the Year. But not her.

The rising country star is approaching her nomination more practically. It's the young trailblazer's fourth time being nominated in the category, if you look at the ACM Awards, too, but she anticipates going home empty-handed again, and she's okay with it.

"I'm really practical with awards shows," Ballerini admits to Taste of Country. Her fellow Female Vocalist of the Year nominees are Carrie UnderwoodMiranda LambertKacey Musgraves and Maren Morris. "It's not my time yet, it's just not, and I'm really practical about it. Maybe one day if I feel like I've had a year win-worthy, I will be more hopeful."

Ballerini is going into the 2018 CMAs high from a year of successes. Her latest album Unapologetically delivered a No. 1 hit in "Legends," and the project landed inside the Top 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200. She also spent the year opening for Keith Urban on his massive Graffiti U World Tour. She was event invited to open a tour for one of her idols, Kelly Clarkson, next year. Ballerini will also headline her own Miss Me More Tour in 2019.

"If the day ever comes that I win something that major, I will pass out before I even get to the microphone anyways, so it's not going to be good if I win," she jokes, "And I'm not going to win, so it's fine."

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Ballerini will perform on Wednesday night's (Nov. 14) broadcast and feels that this is the true honor. She also hints that it will be a particularly special moment for her.

"I think that getting a performance is getting an award, and I have a performance that I'm really excited about," she preludes. "So that's the award to me."

The 2018 CMA Awards air live from Bridgestone Arena at 8PM ET on ABC. Thomas Rhett, David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney were announced as early winners, with Rhett picking up the award for Music Video of the Year for "Marry Me," while Murphy and Chesney's collaboration on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" was named Musical Event of the Year.

Remember: The best way to watch the 2018 CMAs is on TV, with ToC on your phone!

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