In the new People cover story, Kelsea Ballerini expressed gratitude for the support of women in the music community who have championed her and helped her on the road to success. Ballerini recalls an early act of kindness from Lady A’s Hillary Scott that made a significant impact on her. “Hillary really became a mentor for me early on, and I couldn’t afford a dress to an award show in Nashville,” Ballerini shared. “She let me come over and raid her closet, and she gave me a hand-me-down dress that she had worn. I felt so pretty because she took the time to dress me for this event, because she wanted me to feel seen, and she wanted me to feel good going into these moments.” Ballerini is thankful for her friendships with artists like Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Trisha Yearwood, saying, “I think one of the things that made my music work early on was the fact that women that came before me didn’t just hold space for me, but they were loud about it for me.” (People)