Kelsea Ballerini Drops Surprise EP and Short Film
At midnight (2/14), Kelsea Balleri released a surprise EP. There are six songs on Rolling Up the Welcome Mat and an accompanying short film. The project reflects the last several months in…
At midnight (2/14), Kelsea Balleri released a surprise EP. There are six songs on Rolling Up the Welcome Mat and an accompanying short film. The project reflects the last several months in Ballerini's life, including a divorce from her husband of five years, Morgan Evans.
Kelsea teamed with frequent collaborator Alysa Vanderheym, and the pair co-produced and co-wrote three songs on "Rolling Up The Welcome Mat." Ballerini wrote the other three songs alone.
Kelsea said in a statement about the project, "I wasn't worried about anything other than presenting the songs as honestly as possible. Most of them started with me and my guitar." She added, "I was writing by myself for most of the project, and it was nice to trust myself again. The only way I've been able to handle my life since I was 12 was to write about it. Ironically, I started writing music because my parents got divorced; that was my therapy. Rolling Up The Welcome Mat was how I processed everything. It's the way I got my feelings out of my body and heart and put them to music, which is the purest way I could've handled it."
Ballerini wrote and co-directed the 20-minute short film. The film sets the mood for the six songs on the EP. In one scene, Kelsea, who shows her acting skills in the movie, has dirty dishes stacking up in her arms as she describes the weight of a relationship, then feels the widening gulf in her shared bed. In the end, she's alone with a guitar in a half-packed closet, singing one more before she heads out.
Kelsea posted to Instagram, "six songs. one short film. all rolling up at midnight, valentine's day."
Many fans reacted to the post, including one who wrote, "Loved this and felt it." Another fan commented, "THIS WAS AMAZING!!!!! (heart emoji) you did not need to explain yourself! But I'm so glad you did!!! Bc I loved this so much!!!!!! Your healing is complete." One more fan said, "This EP is phenomenal, Kelsea."
Later she posted, "here's my healing journey. here's my heart. here's my truth. i've never been this open, I've never been this bold, and I've never been this proud of my art., so with love and respect, I'm rolling up the welcome mat. six-song story and short film out now. happy valentine's day."
The EP, in which each song is represented in the short film, tracklist:
1. Mountain With A View
2. Just Married
3. Penthouse
4. Interlude
5. Blindsided
6. Leave Me Again
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.
