Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney knew they struck musical gold when they collaborated on “half of my hometown,” from Ballerini’s 2020 Kelsea album. The song, which already earned the pair two CMA Awards in 2021, both for Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year, is nominated for two iHeartRadio Music Awards, both in the all-genre category, Best Collaboration, as well as for Country Song of the Year.

Elle King and Miranda Lambert were also nominated for Best Collaboration, for their “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” duet. Other artists nominated in the category include Elton John and Dua Lipa, for “Cold Heart,” “One Right Now” by Post Malone and The Weeknd, “You Right” by Doja Cat featuring The Weeknd, and “Sweetest Pie” by Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa, among others.

“Until you leave, you don’t really understand the pull of where you’re from,” Ballerini said of the inspiration behind ‘half of my hometown.” “It’s a song that’s so much where I’m from – and as much as I’ve explored a lot of genres with so many interesting artists – I think that feeling of being torn is something people, especially ones with big dreams, know regardless of what kind of music they listen to.”

Chesney, who joins Ballerini in being an East Tennessee native, praised both the song and iHeartRadio for recognizing its power and potential.

“Post Malone? Dua Lipa? The Weeknd? Doja Cat?” Chesney reflected. “That is both amazing company and a testament to the truth a good song can contain. Remembering the way I felt driving down I-40 West, chasing the dream, I knew as soon as I heard that first chorus when Kelsea texted it to me that this song had every last drop of how much you miss where you’re from, but all the reasons you have to keep going.

“I love that iHeart recognized the power of that emotion and that song,” he added. “It makes me wonder how many of the other nominees know just how ‘half of my hometown’ feels, too.”

Ballerini will join Chesney on his I Go Back Tour, kicking off in March, where they will get to share “half of my hometown” with the crowd, ngiht after night.

“Music has taken me so many incredible places,” Ballerini said. “It’s brought so many people into my life from pop, alternative and contemporary music, but singing with Kenny is going home. I love that people could hear what I heard. He was the only voice for ‘half of my hometown,’ and when he comes in, it’s just like hitting the Knoxville city limits.”

Other nominees in the Country Song of the Year category include Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan‘s “Buy Dirt,” Cole Swindell‘s “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” “The Kind Of Love We Make” by Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen‘s “Wasted on You.”

Combs, Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Kane Brown are nominated for Country Artist of the Year, while King, Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Elvie Shane and Priscilla Block are nominated for Best New Country Artist. All of the iHeartRadio Awards nominations are available here.

Ballerini just announced the second leg of her HEARTFIRST Tour in the spring of 2023. All of her music and upcoming shows can be found at KelseaBallerini.com. All of Chesney’s music and tour dates are available at KennyChesney.com.