Kelsea Ballerini Talks Fans, First Album in Bangor, Maine [VIDEO]

Kelsea Ballerini has her fingers crossed.

That's because the singer-songwriter could make some major waves in country music in the coming weeks, with her debut single "Love Me Like You Mean It," climbing toward the top spot on the country charts. If that happens, she would be the first female artist since Carrie Underwood in 2006 to have her debut reach No.1.

Before she took the stage at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor Thursday night, Ballerini sat down with us to talk about her debut album, "The First Time," and her infectious hit single, which interestingly enough, was inspired by a Rihanna song. You can learn more about that in the video above.

It's been a whirlwind for Ballerini since she and her friends sat down to write "Love Me Like You Mean It," which sits at No. 8 on the Billboard country airplay chart. The 21-year-old now finds herself opening for Lady Antebellum and Hunter Hayes on the Wheels Up Tour stop in Bangor (which she knows how to pronounce correctly, by the way.)

Ballerini is no stranger to songwriting. She's been doing it since she was 12. But now as an artist, Ballerni said she likes to make sure that some of her personal experience is on display in her songs.

"I want to put out stuff that's me," Ballerini said. "I want people to listen to my record and know who I am by the end of it."

Anyways, check out the video above for more from Kelsea about her songwriting, her favorite song on the new album, and why she likes to hang out with her fans.