Kelsea Ballerini is Radio Disney's Next Big Thing, and it's easy to see why with a whirlwind of awards nominations, performances and a No. 1 song with "Love Me Like You Mean It."

Taste of Country has the exclusive first look at Ballerini's Radio Disney NBT promo spot, where she fills viewers in on songwriting, her journey to Nashville and the breakthrough year she’s had.

"Songwriting was a gift that came to me when I needed it the most," she says in a behind-the-scenes video while getting her hair and makeup done for an appearance. "When I was 12, I was going through an awkward time. Writing music helped me find my voice and express the things I was feeling."

In between shots of her writing songs, driving through Nashville and a red carpet interview, viewers see a glimpse into Ballerini's life and steady rise to fame.

"When I was 15, my mom and I packed everything up and moved to Nashville so I could pursue my dream in music," she adds. "The past year has been such a crazy ride getting to share my music with so many people. I feel so lucky to have found music to connect with y'all. I'm Kelsea Ballerini and I'm so proud to be Radio Disney's Next Big Thing."

In the coming weeks, Radio Disney's NBT program will follow Ballerini as her music climbs the charts and she tours the U.S. and in Australia. For more, tune in on Radio Disney, Disney Channel, the Radio Disney app and RadioDisney.com.

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