Part of the squad! Kelsea Ballerini says pal Taylor Swift taught her how to deal with fame as she covers Billboard magazine

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 20:55 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 21:05 EST, 2 February 2017

2017 is already shaping up to be Kelsea Ballerini's year.

Not only does the up-and-coming country music singer appear on the February cover of Billboard magazine - stunning in a shiny pink gown - she's also been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Oh, and she also happens to be tight with Taylor Swift.

Cover girl: Up-and-coming country music star Kelsea Ballerini looks gorgeous on the cover of the February issue of Billboard magazine

Supporting act: The 23-year-old performed onstage alongside pop superstar Taylor Swift last year

Friends in high places: The blonde beauty (left) counts Taylor Swift (right) among her best friends, seen here with actress Haven Burton (center) at the musical, Kinky Boots 

'I have been super cool with things being public. I think that’s part of being relatable,' she told the magazine when asked what she's learned from Taylor, 27. 'But I think I’ve had to learn to be OK with not being polished all the time. I don’t get to just share the pretty things.' 

After confessing she 'popped out of nowhere', the 23-year-old Peter Pan singer admits she still doesn't feel like she's made it.

'I still get in the room with people and feel nervous,' she confessed. 'I still feel like I need to get better.'

Reluctant star: 'I still get in the room with people and feel nervous,' she confessed. 'I still feel like I need to get better'

Pinching herself: After a rapid ascent to fame, even the stunning singer admits she 'popped out of nowhere'

It's not just Kelsea's career that's going great at the moment - she also got engaged to her boyfriend, Australian country singer Morgan Evans on Christmas Day.

Her newfound fame however created some problems in when she could announce the exciting news.

'I got engaged Christmas morning and had to wait until the night to post about it. Waiting almost killed me,' she said. 'We had to tell his parents! They weren’t up yet because they were in Australia.' 

Getting married: Kelsea is set to tie the knot with Aussie musician Morgan Evans. 'He got down on one knee in the kitchen while I was burning pancakes,' she wrote on Instagram

Mad about the boy: 'Loving him has been the greatest gift of my life. And now I get to do it for life,' she wrote on Instagram following their engagement

Despite her recent engagement though, Kelsea says it won't be Morgan, 30, on her arm at this month's Grammys.

'I think I’m going to take my mom,' she revealed. 'Leave the fiance at home for this one.'

With three number one singles already under her belt though, it's safe to say the pretty blonde will have plenty of other opportunities to take her fiance along. 

Stage beauty: Despite claiming she feels like she still needs to get better, Kelsea seems right at home when she's performing

Shining star: With three number one singles, the effervescent blonde has all the markings of the next big thing

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