![Kelsea Ballerini Wins Breakthrough Female Artist of the Year at ACCAs](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2016/05/Kelsea-Ballerini-ACCAs.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Kelsea Ballerini Wins Breakthrough Female Artist of the Year at ACCAs
Kelsea Ballerini won one of the major awards at the American Country Countdown Awards on Sunday night (May 1), taking home the statue for Breakthrough Female Artist of the Year.
The fast-rising star was practically unknown two years ago, but shot to instant success with the release of her debut single "Love Me Like You Mean It," which reached No. 1. She followed that up with a second No. 1 single in "Dibs," which she performed on the live broadcast Sunday evening in a fun, flirty version, working the stage in a dangerously short black dress and high black boots.
"This is amazing!" she exclaimed in her acceptance speech after performing. "Since I was a little girl, I always wondered what it would be like to hear my song on the radio, and in the last two years country radio has given me the gift of knowing. So thank you country radio. To the fans to the people that have supported my music and made me feel so much love in the last two years, thank you so much, and to the country community for being as incredible as I always imagined, thank you."
She went on to thank her professional team that helps her bring her music to the fans.
Ballerini took a turn in a more serious lyrical direction with her latest single, "Peter Pan," which is the third single from her smash hit debut album, The First Time.
See Red Carpet Pics From the 2016 ACCAs
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