Swift surprises with friend Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini is not only one of country music’s most promising new stars, she’s also one of Taylor Swift’s favorite singers – a fact Swift reiterated Friday night when she brought Ballerini out as her first surprise guest at Bridgestone Arena.

“The first time I met this artist was eight years ago and she was standing in line to meet me at (CMA Music Festival),” Swift told her sold out crowd. “In the last year, she got (her first) No. 1 song and she’s nominated for (two CMA awards). Please make some noise for my friend, I wish she was my sister, Kelsea Ballerini.”

Taylor Swift captivates at Bridgestone

Ballerini walked confidently on stage in a gold-fringed mini dress. The women swapped verses on Ballerini’s chart topper “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Red confetti hearts rained down as they finished the hit and Ballerini left the stage.

After the performance, Ballerini said that she had seen all of Swift’s tours at Bridgestone Arena and has “literally been one of her biggest fans since I was 12 years old.”

“To have become friends with (Swift) this year and for her to be gracious enough to share her stage with me in an arena I have dreamt about playing in for so many years, is one of my greatest memories.”

Swift has made a habit out of bringing special guests onstage at each of her The 1989 World Tour stops. Recently country singers including Dierks Bentley and The Band Perry joined Swift on stage as did Wiz Khalifa, Selena Gomez, Justin Timberlake, Lisa Kudrow, Ellen DeGeneres and John Legend. Swift’s current tour kicked off in Japan in May. Swift will return to the venue for her second sold out show on Saturday night.