Kelsea Ballerini

Biography

Kelsea Nicole Ballerini (born September 12, 1993) is an American country singer and songwriter. A five-time Grammy Award nominee, she began having success in the 2010s, being honored with the Gene Weed Milestone Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Rising Star Award at the Billboard Women in Music.
She began songwriting as a child and signed a contract with Black River Entertainment in 2014, releasing her debut studio album, The First Time×The First Time19 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1XO2:542Peter Pan3:203Love Me Like You Mean It3:204Square Pegs3:235The First Time4:016Looking at Stars3:187Sirens3:268Secondhand Smoke3:439Dibs3:0410Stilettos3:2611Yeah Boy3:1412Underage3:13, in 2015, and her second one Unapologetically×Unapologetically3 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Graveyard3:482Miss Me More3:133Get Over Yourself3:204Roses2:585Machine Heart3:096In Between3:297High School3:558End of the World3:289I Hate Love Songs3:1110Unapologetically3:3911Music3:2312Legends4:05, followed in 2017. The two albums account for seven songs on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. She has five No. 1 singles on the latter, starting with her debut single "Love Me Like You Mean It×Love Me Like You Mean It7 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Love Me Like You Mean It3:19", which made her the first female artist to send a debut single to the top of that chart since Carrie Underwood in 2006. It was followed by "Dibs" and "Peter Pan×Peter Pan2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Peter Pan3:20", whose peaks also made her the first female country artist to send her first three singles to the top of that chart since Wynonna Judd.
Her third studio album, Kelsea×kelsea20 March 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1overshare2:502club3:023homecoming queen?2:474the other girl3:215love me like a girl2:576love and hate2:587bragger2:468hole in the bottle2:369half of my hometown3:5210the way i used to3:1511needy3:1212a country song3:1313la2:47, and a counterpart acoustic album, Ballerini×ballerini11 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1overshare2:532club2:473homecoming queen?2:574the other girl3:335love me like a girl3:536love and hate2:437bragger2:548hole in the bottle2:329half of my hometown3:5610the way i used to3:2011needy3:1612a country song3:0813la2:59, were both released in 2020. The collaboration "Half of My Hometown×half of my hometown26 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1half of my hometown3:522half of my hometown (ballerini album version)3:56" with Kenny Chesney garnered two Country Music Association Awards. Her fourth studio album, Subject to Change×SUBJECT TO CHANGE23 August 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1SUBJECT TO CHANGE3:002THE LITTLE THINGS2:583I CAN’T HELP MYSELF3:224IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)2:465LOVE IS A COWBOY2:446MUSCLE MEMORY3:327I GUESS THEY CALL IT FALLIN’4:018WEATHER2:559UNIVERSE2:5710WALK IN THE PARK3:2111HEARTFIRST3:0712YOU’RE DRUNK, GO HOME2:5513DOIN’ MY BEST2:3714MARILYN3:2715WHAT I HAVE2:59, was released in 2022. Her second EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat×Rolling Up the Welcome Mat14 February 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracksA1Mountain With a View2:58A2Just Married3:18A3Penthouse3:03A4Interlude0:46A5Blindsided2:51A6Leave Me Again2:59B1Mountain With a View2:58B2Just Married3:18B3Penthouse (Healed Version) (live)4:20B4Interlude (full length)2:20B5Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay)2:47B6Leave Me Again2:59B7How Do I Do This2:51, followed in 2023. She released her fifth album, Patterns×PATTERNS25 October 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Patterns3:412Sorry Mom3:363Baggage2:334First Rodeo3:435Nothing Really Matters2:386How Much Do You Love Me3:337Two Things3:368We Broke Up2:469WAIT!3:0210Beg for Your Love3:0711Deep2:2312Cowboys Cry Too3:5113I Would, Would You2:5214This Time Last Year3:4115Did You Make It Home? (outro)1:02, in late 2024. On November 14, 2025, Ballerini released her third EP, Mount Pleasant×Mount Pleasant14 November 2025 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1I Sit in Parks2:102People Pleaser2:123Emerald City2:1745872:495The Revisionist2:526Check on Your Friends3:08.

Early life

An only child, Kelsea Nicole Ballerini was born on September 12, 1993, in Mascot, Tennessee, to Ed and Carla Ballerini. Kelsea grew up in Knoxville. She is of Italian, German and Scottish descent. Ed Ballerini was a sales manager at a country radio station. Carla worked in marketing for the Bible publishing division of Thomas Nelson and for a sponsorship company. Kelsea started taking dance lessons at Premiere Dance Studio in Seymour, Tennessee, south of Knoxville when she was three and quit ten years later. She also sang in a church choir and the school choir. She wrote her first song at 12 for her mother and moved to Nashville three years later. Kelsea attended Central High School in Knoxville, Centennial High School in Franklin, Tennessee; and studied at Lipscomb University in Nashville for two years before pursuing a musical career.

2014–2016: Self-titled EP and The First Time

At 19, Ballerini signed a record deal with Black River Entertainment. In late 2014, she released her debut single, "Love Me Like You Mean It×Love Me Like You Mean It7 July 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Love Me Like You Mean It3:19"—which peaked atop the US Country Airplay chart—and a self-titled extended play (EP) for the label in November, being named one of Country Music Television (CMT)'s Next Women of Country for that year.
In 2015, Ballerini was a supporting act for Lady A's Wheels Up Tour. She also performed at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time on February 14, sang "Love Me Like You Mean It", and announced her debut studio album, The First Time×The First Time19 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1XO2:542Peter Pan3:203Love Me Like You Mean It3:204Square Pegs3:235The First Time4:016Looking at Stars3:187Sirens3:268Secondhand Smoke3:439Dibs3:0410Stilettos3:2611Yeah Boy3:1412Underage3:13, released through Black River on May 19. For the chart dated July 4, "Love Me Like You Mean It" reached number one on the US Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first solo female country music artist to score a number one hit with her debut single since Carrie Underwood did so with "Jesus, Take the Wheel" in 2006, and only the eleventh in history to achieve the feat. Ballerini also became only the fifth solo female country music artist to score back-to-back number one hits with her first two singles when "Dibs" reached the top of the Country Airplay chart and the first to do it since Jamie O'Neal in 2001. In October, Ballerini joined Dan + Shay as a supporting act on select dates of their Just the Right Kind of Crazy Tour.
The third single, "Peter Pan×Peter Pan2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Peter Pan3:20", was released to country radio on March 21, 2016. It reached number one on both the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts in September, making Ballerini the first solo female country music artist to top both country music charts simultaneously. The achievement also made her the first solo female to send her first three singles to number one since Wynonna Judd accomplished the same feat in 1992. Ballerini participated in Rascal Flatts's Rhythm and Roots Tour with Chris Lane as an opener, which began on June 17 and concluded on September 17. In August, Ballerini covered Alison Krauss's song "Ghost in This House" alongside him at the CMT Artists of the Year Awards. "Yeah Boy×Yeah Boy10 October 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Yeah Boy3:14", the fourth single from The First Time, was released to country radio on October 10. Ballerini embarked on the First Time Tour that began on October 21 at Houston and concluded on December 10 at Las Vegas.

2017–2018: Unapologetically and The Voice

In early 2017, Ballerini was named to Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 – Music list at number two. That year, she also received two Academy of Country Music Award nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for "Peter Pan×Peter Pan2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Peter Pan3:20". Ballerini joined Thomas Rhett's Home Team Tour which began on February 23 and concluded on April 21. She also joined Lady A's You Look Good World Tour which began in May. In June, Ballerini released "Legends×Legends7 June 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Legends3:57" as the first single from her then upcoming second studio album, Unapologetically×Unapologetically3 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Graveyard3:482Miss Me More3:133Get Over Yourself3:204Roses2:585Machine Heart3:096In Between3:297High School3:558End of the World3:289I Hate Love Songs3:1110Unapologetically3:3911Music3:2312Legends4:05, released on November 3. The album debuted at number three on the US Top Country Albums and number seven on the Billboard 200 chart, making it her highest-charting album on both charts.
Ballerini embarked on the Unapologetically Tour which began on February 8, 2018, at Birmingham and conluded on April 27 at Indio. In March, the second single from the album, "I Hate Love Songs", was released. Ballerini was a special guest for Keith Urban's Graffiti U World Tour that began on June 5 and concluded on November 3. In September, she announced that she would be releasing a deluxe edition of the album with four new tracks. On September 18, the Chainsmokers released a song titled "This Feeling" featuring Ballerini, and they later performed at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November. The third and final single from Unapologetically, "Miss Me More×Miss Me MoreOctober 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Miss Me More3:13," was released in October. That month, she provided vocals on her husband Morgan Evans's song "Dance with Me" and released a song "We Were Like×We Were Like29 October 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1We Were Like3:00". Ballerini also joined the 15th season of The Voice as the fifth coach—where she coached six contestants who did not get a chair turn during The Blinds—in a new round called The Comeback Stage, a digital companion series to the show. In December, Unapologetically received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 61st annual Grammy Awards.

2019–2021: Kelsea and Ballerini

Ballerini joined Kelly Clarkson's Meaning of Life Tour on selected days in 2019. On March 5, Ballerini was invited by Little Big Town to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. On April 16, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Underwood. In support of Unapologetically, Ballerini embarked on the Miss Me More Tour that month. In June, Ballerini was a guest on the NBC competition show Songland and released the song "Better Luck Next Time×Better Luck Next Time11 June 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Better Luck Next Time2:52". In July, Ballerini confirmed in an Instagram that work on her third studio album was complete. On September 6, Ballerini released the first single from her then upcoming third album, titled "Homecoming Queen?×homecoming queen?6 September 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1homecoming queen?2:48". The song debuted at number 22 on the Country Airplay chart. On November 8, Ballerini released the album's first promotional single, "Club".
On January 20, 2020, Ballerini confirmed that the album is self-titled as Kelsea×kelsea20 March 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1overshare2:502club3:023homecoming queen?2:474the other girl3:215love me like a girl2:576love and hate2:587bragger2:468hole in the bottle2:369half of my hometown3:5210the way i used to3:1511needy3:1212a country song3:1313la2:47 and would be released on March 20. The announcement coincided with the release of the second promotional single, "LA". On February 28, she released the third promotional single, "Hole in the Bottle×hole in the bottle28 February 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1hole in the bottle2:362la2:473club3:014homecoming queen?2:48", and announced the tracklist for Kelsea, including "Half of My Hometown×half of my hometown26 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1half of my hometown3:522half of my hometown (ballerini album version)3:56" featuring Kenny Chesney and "The Other Girl" featuring Halsey. "The Other Girl" and "Hole in the Bottle" were later serviced to country radio on April 20 and May 27, as the second and third single. On September 2, Ballerini announced a counterpart album to Kelsea, titled Ballerini×ballerini11 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1overshare2:532club2:473homecoming queen?2:574the other girl3:335love me like a girl3:536love and hate2:437bragger2:548hole in the bottle2:329half of my hometown3:5610the way i used to3:2011needy3:1612a country song3:0813la2:59, featuring stripped-down versions of the songs. It was released on September 11, 2020, and the stripped-down version of "Club" was released alongside the album announcement. She described Ballerini as "emotional, vulnerable and soft" while Kelsea showed her "bold and effervescent" side. As of October 16, Kelsea and Ballerini could be purchased physically as a double album, exclusively from Target.
On April 18, 2021, Ballerini and Chesney performed "Half of My Hometown" at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards. The song was released to country radio a day later, marking Kelsea's fourth and final single. That year, Ballerini temporarily filled in for Kelly Clarkson as a coach during Season 20 of The Voice. She also co-hosted the 2021 CMT Music Awards with Kane Brown, where she won the award for CMT Performance of the Year for "The Other Girl". In May, it was announced she would be an opening act on the Jonas Brothers's Remember This Tour which began in August. Her debut book of poetry, Feel Your Way Through, was released on November 16.

2022–2024: Subject to Change and Rolling Up the Welcome Mat

In April 2022, Ballerini released "Heartfirst×HEARTFIRST8 April 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1HEARTFIRST3:06" as the first single from her fourth studio album, Subject to Change×SUBJECT TO CHANGE23 August 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1SUBJECT TO CHANGE3:002THE LITTLE THINGS2:583I CAN’T HELP MYSELF3:224IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)2:465LOVE IS A COWBOY2:446MUSCLE MEMORY3:327I GUESS THEY CALL IT FALLIN’4:018WEATHER2:559UNIVERSE2:5710WALK IN THE PARK3:2111HEARTFIRST3:0712YOU’RE DRUNK, GO HOME2:5513DOIN’ MY BEST2:3714MARILYN3:2715WHAT I HAVE2:59. The song debuted at number 24 on the US Country Airplay chart, peaking at number 23. While co-hosting during the 2022 CMT Music Awards, she performed the song for the first time. Its music video premiered on July 7. On July 15, the first promotional single, "Love Is a Cowboy×LOVE IS A COWBOY15 July 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1LOVE IS A COWBOY2:44" was released along with the music video. Two promotional singles, "The Little Things×THE LITTLE THINGS5 August 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1THE LITTLE THINGS2:58" and "What I Have×WHAT I HAVE2 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1WHAT I HAVE2:59", followed on August 5 and September 2, respectively. Featuring a collaboration, "You're Drunk, Go Home" with Clarkson and Carly Pearce, Subject to Change was released on September 23. That day, Ballerini performed "Heartfirst" on Good Morning America, as well as "Love Is a Cowboy" on The Late Late Show with James Corden (September 27) and "What I Have" on The Kelly Clarkson Show (September 30). She also embarked on the Heartfirst Tour from September 24 at New York to October 14 at Mashantucket. In November, "Heartfirst" was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. On December 5, "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" was released as the album's second single.
In early 2023, Ballerini joined the Judds's the Final Tour on selected dates. On February 13, Ballerini announced that her short film and EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat×Rolling Up the Welcome Mat14 February 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracksA1Mountain With a View2:58A2Just Married3:18A3Penthouse3:03A4Interlude0:46A5Blindsided2:51A6Leave Me Again2:59B1Mountain With a View2:58B2Just Married3:18B3Penthouse (Healed Version) (live)4:20B4Interlude (full length)2:20B5Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay)2:47B6Leave Me Again2:59B7How Do I Do This2:51, would be released the next day. Promoting the EP, she performed "Blindsided×Blindsided3 March 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Blindsided2:50" and "Penthouse" on the March 5 episode of Saturday Night Live. Peaking at number 48 on the US Billboard 200 and number 11 on the US Top Country Albums chart, the EP was ranked at numbers 19 and 98 on Billboard's The 50 Best Albums of 2023 and Rolling Stone's The 100 Best Albums of 2023 year-end lists, respectively. From March to July, Chesney and Ballerini embarked on the I Go Back Tour.

2024–present: Patterns, The Voice and Mount Pleasant

On June 28, 2024, Ballerini released a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, called "Cowboys Cry Too", the first single from her then upcoming fifth studio album. On August 8, she announced that the album would be called Patterns×PATTERNS25 October 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Patterns3:412Sorry Mom3:363Baggage2:334First Rodeo3:435Nothing Really Matters2:386How Much Do You Love Me3:337Two Things3:368We Broke Up2:469WAIT!3:0210Beg for Your Love3:0711Deep2:2312Cowboys Cry Too3:5113I Would, Would You2:5214This Time Last Year3:4115Did You Make It Home? (outro)1:02, and the song "Sorry Mom×Sorry Mom9 August 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Sorry Mom3:362Cowboys Cry Too (with Noah Kahan)3:51" would be released the following day. The second single from the album, "Baggage×Baggage16 April 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Baggage" was released on May 5, while the album was released on October 25. She also embarked its accompanying tour, beginning on January 31 at Van Andel Arena and concluding on March 30 at Ball Arena. In September, it was announced that Ballerini would make her acting debut in a guest role on the upcoming ABC series Doctor Odyssey. She made its debut on November 7, appearing the series' official teaser.
Ballerini embarked on the Live on Tour, beginning at Grand Rapids on January 21, 2025, and concluding at Denver on March 30. In February, she debuted as a coach on the twenty-seventh season of The Voice. In November, she announced that her third EP, Mount Pleasant×Mount Pleasant14 November 2025 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1I Sit in Parks2:102People Pleaser2:123Emerald City2:1745872:495The Revisionist2:526Check on Your Friends3:08, would be released on November 14. It was supported by the lead single "I Sit in Parks×I Sit in Parks7 November 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1I Sit in Parks2:10", released on November 7.

Influences

A country pop artist, Ballerini×ballerini11 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1overshare2:532club2:473homecoming queen?2:574the other girl3:335love me like a girl3:536love and hate2:437bragger2:548hole in the bottle2:329half of my hometown3:5610the way i used to3:2011needy3:1612a country song3:0813la2:59's music combines elements of country and pop and she has been influenced by artists in both genres. Originally influenced by pop, she said: "I grew up on top 40 pop. I didn't know what country music was, which is so funny because I grew up in East Tennessee." She listed Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood , NSYNC, Faith Hill, and Hilary Duff among the early artists who inspired her. Ballerini also cited Justin Bieber as being an early pop musical inspiration.
It was not until Ballerini heard "Stupid Boy" by Keith Urban that she decided to delve deeper into country music by listening to albums by Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and the Chicks. Ballerini credited Swift's self-titled debut studio album (2006) for introducing her to country music, citing Shania Twain as her greatest influence.

Personal life

In March 2016, Ballerini began dating Australian singer Morgan Evans. They were engaged on Christmas Day in 2016, and married on December 2, 2017, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On August 29, 2022, Ballerini announced that she and Evans were divorcing. On November 3, it was revealed that Ballerini and Evans had reached a settlement, and their divorce was finalized on November 15. In February 2023, it was confirmed that Ballerini was dating Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes. The couple broke up in February 2026, after an on-and-off relationship.
Ballerini attended Central High School in Knoxville and was at the school during the 2008 shooting. She said that she has post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the experience. Ballerini is a long-time supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Headlining

The First Time Tour (2016)
The Unapologetically Tour (2018)
The Miss Me More Tour (2019)
Heartfirst Tour (2022–2023)
Live on Tour (2025)

Supporting

Wheels Up Tour (with Lady A; 2015)
Just the Right Kind of Crazy Tour (with Dan + Shay; 2015)
Rhythm and Roots Tour (with Rascal Flatts; 2016)
Home Team Tour (with Thomas Rhett; 2017)
You Look Good World Tour (with Lady A; 2017)
Graffiti U World Tour (with Keith Urban; 2018)
Meaning of Life Tour (with Kelly Clarkson; 2019)
Remember This Tour (with Jonas Brothers; 2021)
The Final Tour (with the Judds; 2023)
I Go Back Tour (with Kenny Chesney; 2023)