With her raw lyrics and catchy beats country singer Kelsea Ballerini is bringing her Tennessee flavour to the international music scene.
Ballerini touched down in Australia this month to promote her album The First Time, a mix of fun-loving catchy tunes and emotive power ballads. 
The 22-year-old said her she'd begun her journey with country music years ago when she'd fallen back on songwriting to help her through tough times.
"Life got rocky when I was 12 and this gift of songwriting just fell into my lap," Ballerini said.
"It was literally this blessing that came at the perfect time, and for me it's always been that steady thing in my life that I can always go back to."
Following in the footsteps of country pop stars such as Taylor Swift, the US singer already has a plethora of awards under her belt.
Ballerini took out the Rising Star award at the Billboards Women in Music event this year, as well as other country and Disney music awards.
While she burst into the spotlight last year, the upcoming star said her positive mindset helped to keep her grounded and she never made assumptions and took advantage of any opportunity that presented itself.
"I would meet with anyone that would meet with me," Ballerini said.
"I always approached meetings not expecting anything but just asking for advice.
"That way I never left disappointed."
On The First Time, the talented singer-songwriter explores human experience.
It was important to be real with her music, she said.
"It's about letting yourself feel whatever you need to feel, not protecting yourself from emotion. And dealing with it is what makes people, people," she said.
"That's when people relate to music best; (when) it's not sugar-coated and it's not super pretty, it's just real."
Behind the catchy beats and toe-tapping tunes, Ballerini said her lyrics were very important. 
"When I signed the record deal, in my heart I thought 'what do you want to say to the world'," she said. 
"Because now there are people who are going to help you say it.
"Dreams do come true; I'm seeing it firsthand."