Kelsea Ballerini is “absolutely speechless.”

The Patterns superstar learned on Thursday morning (March 27) that she’s nominated in four categories at the 60th ACM Awards, including her first-ever nomination for the coveted Entertainer of the Year honor. Ballerini is up for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year with artist and producer nominations, according to the Academy of Country Music.

Ballerini shared her reaction in a statement on her Instagram story hours after the Academy of Country Music’s announcement: “I am absolutely speechless. Being nominated for ENTERTAINER OF THE FREAKING YEAR has been one of my biggest dreams and goals from the very start of this journey. I feel so incredibly grateful, and I feel seen by the genre and community I love so dearly. This continues to feel like my ten year town year and I can’t stop crying happy tears. Wow wow wow. 😭”

Ballerini released The First Time, her debut record, in 2015. The album marked a powerful start to the singer-songwriter’s career with hit singles “Peter Pan,” “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” “Yeah Boy” and more. Most recently, Ballerini released the deluxe edition of her fifth studio album, Patterns, earlier this month. She teamed up with songwriters and producers Jessie Jo Dillon, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Hillary Lindsey and Alysa Vanderheym to bring the now-20-track project to life.

Some of the top nominees include Ella Langley (a first-time nominee and the most-nominated artist with eight nods), Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton, among others. Sixteen-time ACM winner Reba McEntire is returning to host Country Music’s Party of the Year for her 18th time, more than any other artist. Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and reigning Entertainer of the Year Wilson will perform during the star-studded show, which will return to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Other performers and presenters will be announced at a later date. See the full list of nominees here.

The 60th ACM Awards will kick off at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 8.

Scotty Davis