Veronica Ballestrini’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Veronica Jean Ballestrini (born October 29, 1991) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She has released two studio albums. Her self-made success story has caught national attention as Jon Caramanica wrote in The New York Times, “… When someone like Ms. Ballestrini arrives essentially unannounced and begins to attract attention, it’s significant.”

Biography

Ballestrini was born in New London, CT and raised in Waterford, CT. She comes from a large family of four brothers and one sister. Her father Rosario Ballestrini and mother Carol Marandino Ballestrini are both Italian-American.

Ballestrini began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of thirteen, the same year she started her MySpace music page. With only cover songs up at the time, she still managed to attract many fans. Veronica’s popularity increased after writing and composing her song “Daddy” and posting it to her MySpace playlist. At age fourteen Ballestrini began performing around her homestate of Connecticut at local talent contests and fairs. In November 2006, Ballestrini won 1st place at the USA World Showcase in Las Vegas, performing her song “Daddy”. Her internet status caught the attention of Nashville record producers, who then contacted her about recording in Music City.

While still in high school, Ballestrini made her professional singing debut. Ballestrini created an independent label in 2009 and worked with producer Cliff Downs, with whom she has written many songs. Downs produced her debut album “What I’m All About”.

Music career

2009-2010: What I’m All About

Ballestrini went on to record her debut album What I’m All About which was released on August 21, 2009 on her own independent label. Her first single “Amazing” charted at #24 on the Music Row chart. and the music video debuted at No. 3 on CMT Pure. “Don’t Say” and “Out There Somewhere” were two other singles released off this album. Ballestrini was named one of six “Artists to Watch For” by Marie Claire Magazine.

Ballestrini’s song “Destiny” is featured in the Diary of an Ex-Child Star (formerly Leaving Hollywood) movie and on the soundtrack. “Destiny” is also on her “What I’m All About” CD.

2010: If I Can Dream

In April 2010, Ballestrini was chosen as the “Editors Pick” in the If I Can Dream MySpace contest, created by Simon Fuller. She visited the Dream House in Beverly Hills from June 4–7, 2010. Ballestrini returned to the Dream House on June 23, 2010. During her stay she recorded her song “Fascinated” and worked with top writers, vocal coaches and had a romantic link to Alex Lambert. She was at the house for two weeks. Lambert and Ballestrini broke up Winter 2010. For her audition video, Ballestrini sang “Blessed The Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts.

2010-2012: Gotta Make A Change

In 2010, Ballestrini was part of the “Mead Five Star” Music Insider nationwide sweepstake along with 9 other bands. In October 2010 it was announced Veronica was the winner of the fan voted contest, scoring $25,000. Ballestrini used that money to work on new music.

In 2011, Ballestrini began working on a project titled Gotta Make A Change, a process that set in motion her “Gotta Make A Change” tour. Throughout the summer 2011, Ballestrini performed shows at various camps, festivals, Girl Scout events and women’s correctional facilities across the U.S. to help spread the project’s motivational message.

In July 2011, Ballestrini announced to her fans her new single would be “Temporary Fix”. The music video for this single was shot in Malibu, California. “Temporary Fix” was released on iTunes on August 11, 2011 and the music video, released on September 24, 2011. In November 2011, Ballestrini charted on the Billboard Social 50 chart and #2 for Country artists.

In 2012, Ballestrini released another single “Don’t Give Up On Me”, along with a music video.

She was in a relationship with country singer Shay Mooney from Dan+Shay from New Years Eve 2011 to early March 2013. During their relationship, they would post cover and original songs on YouTube and reached over 150,000 views combined. They both co-wrote a song for Ballestrini’s sophomore album “Flip Side” entitled “Lonely Alone”. He is the subject of her song “Death of Me” and sang background on it. The album was released on June 17, 2014. Mooney and Smyers song Nothin’ Like You is about Ballestrini which is on their Where It All Began album, which drops on April 1, 2014.

2014-present: Flip Side

In 2014, Ballestrini changed her album title name from “Gotta Make A Change” to “Flip Side”. Ballestrini still continued working on her second album with producer/engineer Brandon Metcalf. While working on her album, Ballestrini went on a U.S. tour with Secondhand Serenade and Juliet Simms. The kick off show was in Lexington, KY on March 8 and ended in Hollywood, CA on April 9.

Ballestrini had three duets with Secondhand Serenade on their album titled Undefeated, which was released in October 2014. Ballestrini also sings on the Secondhand Serenade cover of “Say Something”.

In April 2013, Ballestrini was chosen by Ford to be an agent for the Ford Fiesta Movement as part of a promotion with Ford and YouTube. She received a 2014 Ford Fiesta for a year, along with free gas, insurance, and all expenses paid.

On April 24, 2015, Ballestrini became engaged to Secondhand Serenade front man John Vesely. The couple met at Destiny Records in Nashville to do a duet for his album Undefeated and acoustic video for his song “Heart Stop (By The Way)” back in February 2013. She later went on tour with him starting on March 8th in Lexington, Kentucky and ended on April 10th in West Hollywood, California. They developed a relationship on March 22, 2013. Veronica and John were married on April 1, 2017, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music videos

Filmography