Kelsea Ballerini Documents ‘Emotional’ Release Week
Kelsea Ballerini released her latest album, Subject To Change on September 23. She has been on a whirlwind tour promoting the new project, and she kicked off her ten-city tour to…
Kelsea Ballerini released her latest album, Subject To Change on September 23. She has been on a whirlwind tour promoting the new project, and she kicked off her ten-city tour to boot. Kelsea took to social media to recap her week.
She posted several photos on Instagram recently on stage at various shows. There were photos with friends, bandmates, and even an early morning video when she just woke up to do Good Morning America at the crack of dawn.
Kelsea captioned the lengthy post, "This release week has been one of the most emotionally rich experiences of my life. To be able to put out a body of work I'm so proud of and be met with such kindness and connection is more than I could ask for. In the exhale and reflection of putting out subject to change and starting tour, I have sobbed and celebrated and learned that two things can be true simultaneously. Thank you for showing up for me and, more so, being so very steady as I show up for myself. Happy one-week lil birthday, my dream album. BIG LOVE, Y'ALL."
Several fans responded to the post, including Oscar winner and friend Reese Witherspoon, who wrote, "You are amazing!! Love you & this album so much." Fellow country singer and friend Lindsay ell wrote, "SO PROUD OF YOU."
Over the weekend at her show in Chicago, Ballerini's friend and duet partner Carly Pearce surprised fans at the show by joining Kelsea to sing their collaboration "You're Drunk, Go Home." Carly posted on Instagram a photo from the performance, "What did I do on my first Saturday off in months? Run to @kelseaballerini #youredrunkgohome."
Kelsea responded to the post, "True friend. True artist. True wine enthusiast. I just love ya."
Kelsea Ballerini celebrates her 29th birthday today (9/12). While she is currently going through some challenging life changes (she recently filed for divorce from her husband of five years, Morgan Evans), she is also going through an exciting time in her career. She recently made headlines wearing Shania Twain's Grammy dress at the ACM Honors, where she paid tribute to Twain by singing her biggest song, "Man, I Feel Like A Woman."
Also, this month (9/23), she will be releasing a new album called 'Subject To Change' featuring her current hit single, "Heartfirst."
As we celebrate all things, Kelsea today, we look at 12 of her biggest songs that made her the budding country superstar she is today.
12. "Yeah Boy" (2016)
Black RiverDescribed as an ode to the 1990s, in the song's video, Kelsea is shown performing the song in a colorful bodysuit in front of a neon backdrop and a brick wall spray-painted with graffiti, with female backup dancers.
11. "Legends" (2017)
Black RiverThis song is a bit legendary as it topped the Hot Country Songs chart on Billboard. Ballerini performed the song at the 2017 CMA Awards with country legend Reba McEntire.
10. "I Hate Love Songs" (2018)
Black RiverThe song was originally not going to be recorded for her second album. Still, after receiving a standing ovation for her performance of it at the Grand Ole Opry in August 2017, Ballerini decided to include it on the record. She said at the time, "I called my label, I was like, 'I think we need to cut this song.'"
9. "Miss Me More" (2018)
Black RiverA critically acclaimed song for Kelsea, she performed it many times on TV, including at the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards. Thirteen days later, she performed it on Season 15 of 'The Voice,' and then in June of 2019; she performed the song at the 2019 CMT Music Awards.
8. "Homecoming Queen?" (2019)
Black RiverThe lead single from her third studio album 'Kelsea,' which was released in March of 2020. In an interview with The Tennessean, Ballerini revealed that "Homecoming Queen?" heralded "a new, more emotionally vulnerable phase of her career."
7. "Dibs" (2015)
Black RiverThe name of her dog, which she got as a puppy when this song first came out. The song's video consists of footage Kelsea took herself while on tour in York, Pennsylvania, Greenville, South Carolina, and St. Leonard, Maryland, performing in front of live crowds, celebrating her 22nd birthday, and spending time with her dog.
6. "Love Me Like You Mean It" (2014)
Black RiverHer debut single and the song that brought her to the country music dance. "Love Me Like You Mean It" peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first solo female to top that chart with her debut single since Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel" in 2006.
5. "The Other Girl" (with Halsey) (2020)
Black RiverA solid collaboration. Ballerini and Halsey performed the song live on 'CMT Crossroads' on March 25, 2020. The song won a CMT Music Award for Performance of the Year, marking both artists' first CMT award.
4. "Peter Pan" (2016)
Black RiverAnother chart-topper for Kelsea, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 672,000 copies in the US as of March 2017. Ballerini first performed the song live with Nick Jonas at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
3. "Heartfirst" (2022)
Black RiverHer new single and already a hit with fans. Kelsea co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym and Little Big Town member Karen Fairchild. She recently said it was the first song that she ever wrote where she did not come up with the title first; instead, the opening line "Met him at a party/ Accidentally brushed his body/ On the way to get a drink at the bar" was the first lyric she wrote for the song.
2. "Hole in the Bottle" (2020)
Black RiverA catchy and fun drinking song. A remix of the song featuring Shania Twain was released on November 13, 2020. An alternate song recording is also included on Ballerini's fourth studio album, 'Ballerini.'
1. "Half of My Hometown" (featuring Kenny Chesney) (2021)
Black RiverA classic sounding and much-loved country song with fellow native East Tennessean Kenny Chesney. The song won both Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year at the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards and is nominated for Single of the Year at the 56th CMA Awards.
