ABC/Image Group LAKelsea Ballerini‘s received an apology from a country news site for running a poll asking fans to choose which female artist they’re most looking forward to seeing at this Sunday’s ACMs.
The Twitter poll from Next Women of Country asked fans to choose between Maren Morris, Kelly Clarkson, Kelsea and Lauren Alaina. Kelsea posted a screenshot of the poll on her Instagram, and then wrote a lengthy critical essay about it.
“This made me really bummed today,” Kelsea wrote. “Since I put out my first single over 4 years ago, every interview includes some form of question about the females in country music…or the current lack thereof.” Kelsea added that in her opinion, just when it seems female artists are really making strides, “there’s something as simple and seemingly harmless as this, that sets us back.”
She then claimed such polls “make us feel like there’s only one spot available. so then there’s tension….and this magical bond that females have when we truly, actually want each other to win…it gets compromised.”
Kelsea said this sort of competition makes her “sad,” “insecure,” “awkward” and “assume the worst,” which, she says, “is actually CRAZY.”
The singer concluded, “I just don’t want the new females in country music to be misrepresented…as the popular girls in high school that pose for photos like [they] were bffs but secretly despise the one that dates the quarterback…This isn’t mean girls, this is country music. Where you actually CAN sit with us.”
Next Women of Country replied, “Dear @KelseaBallerini and all women in music: We had no intention of [pitting] artists against each other and absolutely want to support women supporting each other. Your music continues to inspire us each and everyday and we apologize for the post. This won’t happen again!”
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