"We had it made in the middle of the madness," Ballerini rallies on her new single.

Never question Kelsea Ballerini's epic potential. Anchoring her forthcoming, yet-untitled, sophomore album, "Legends" (out today) captures the essence and unbridle heroism of Taylor Swift's similarly-themed "Long Live" (off her 2010 album Speak Now). But Ballerini is writing her own story, make no mistake, with "blood, sweat and heartbeats," a rather unconventional lyric lineup. The young starlet co-wrote the song with two of country music's biggest names: Hillary Lindsey (most known for her work with Carrie Underwood and as part of the Love Junkies songwriting trio, with Liz Rose and Lori McKenna) and Forest Glen Whitehead (who previously co-wrote Ballerini's massive hits "Dibs" and "Peter Pan" and has also written songs for Brantley Gilbert, Dylan Scott and others). "We were golden, we were fire, we were magic," she sends up like a magical Disney-like prayer. "They all knew our names all over town. We had it made in the middle of the madness. We were neon in a gray cloud."

Black River Entertainment

Despite all the shameless (but well-earned) swagger, she makes note that she and her ride-or-die loyalists "didn't do it for the fame or the glory--but we went down in history." And she certainly has. Her debut full-length, aptly called The First Time, was packed with first times: all released singles went Top 5 at radio and three hit the top spot. "Love Me Like You Mean It" kicked off the impressive sequence of chart-toppers, followed by the aforementioned "Peter Pan" (a swirling, sensitive ode to a boy who can't seem to make up his mind") and "Dibs."

"We were legends, loving you baby. It was heaven. What everyone wondered, we'd never question," she later coos on the glossy, uplifting hook, which blusters with plenty of guitar and drums. "Close our eyes and took on the world together Do you remember? We were crazy, tragic and epic and so amazing. I'll always wear the crown that you gave me. We will always stay lost in forever, and they'll remember we were legends."

Country Habit

Ballerini is expected to perform the song for the first time on a prime-time TV show on tonight's (June 7) CMT Awards. Heading into the night, the singer has two nominations, for Female Video of the Year (for "Peter Pan") and CMT Performance of the Year (for her collaborative medley with pop singer Meghan Trainor and R&B powerhouse Jill Scott at the 2016 CMT Artists of the Year showcase). Other major nominees include Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, RaeLynn, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Luke Combs, Maren Morris and Jason Aldean, among many more. Full nominees list here.

KSUX

The Swift touchpoint is not particularly surprising. Ballerini has gone on record many times stating exactly how much the global pop phenomenon has influenced her own work, particularly the songwriting.. "Taylor was one of my earliest inspirations, one of the reasons I wanted to be a singer-songwriter. And I have pictures where I waited in line to meet her. Getting to sing with her on her [1989] tour in the arena where I grew up seeing her shows, and singing my song, which had just gone number one at the time--it was one of those moments where...I still don't even think I've really processed it," she told Elite Daily last fall.

She added, "Then after that, we became really good friends, and that was even more special."

Listen to "Legends" below:

READ MORE ABOUT MUSIC...

PREMIERE | Finn Matthews shares the colorful "Julia" music video

Unit J curates impressive lineup for Northside Festival 2017

WATCH | Austin Mahone's playful and sultry "Better with You" music video

Previous Next

Previous Next

Previous Next

Previous Next

Previous Next

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5.