Kelsea Ballerini, Maddie & Tae Named to Forbes ’30 Under 30′
Kelsea Ballerini and Maddie & Tae find themselves among some of the most influential musicians on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List. These three country ladies are named to the Class of 2017 with musicians Alessia Cara, Daya, Desiigner, G-Eazy, Charlie Puth, Troye Sivan and the Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart, among others.
According to Forbes, the 30 Under 30 list includes "many of the singers, songwriters, managers and entrepreneurs revolutionizing the modern music business." The list was narrowed down by this year's music judges Jason Derulo, Halsey and Anthony Saleh.
Ballerini was selected due to her three successful No. 1 singles; "Love Me Like You Mean It," "Dibs" and "Peter Pan." The multiple hits made Ballerini the first female country artist to hit the top of the charts with her first three consecutive singles from a debut album. The news came on Ballerini’s 23rd birthday (Sept. 12) when she thanked country radio, her co-writers, producers, team, band, crew and fans with a message on Instagram, saying, “all it takes is faith, trust, and a little pixie dust.”
Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye share the country spotlight with Ballerini on the 30 Under 30 List. The duo, both 21 years old, are recognized for their first single "Girl in a Country Song," which reached the top of the country charts in 2014. They also became the first artists signed to Dot Records that same year.
Much like Ballerini, Maddie & Tae also made history with their single. When "Girl in a Country Song" broke into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, the pair became the first female-driven twosome to do so in seven years.
Watch: Kelsea Ballerini Lands a Hit Inside the Top 10 Songs of 2016