Kelsea Ballerini: What Beauty Means To Her Now
Kelsea Ballerini is among the celebrities in People magazine’s new 2023 “Beautiful Issue.” She told the publication how much her perception of beauty has changed. Kelsea said, “Beautiful to me…
Kelsea Ballerini is among the celebrities in People magazine's new 2023 "Beautiful Issue." She told the publication how much her perception of beauty has changed.
Kelsea said, "Beautiful to me is happy right now, and that is very subject to change. I used to think it was very aesthetic, and I think it's much more internal now."
Ballerini admitted that she was a "pretty insecure" kid growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. She struggled with an eating disorder as a teen until she finally got help at age 18. She told People, "I've learned that conversation is key. Whether it's an eating disorder or something else you feel shame around, as soon as you say it out loud to someone you trust, it creates conversation, and conversation creates community. When you have community, it's much easier for people to hold you accountable and guide you through the next season of whatever that trauma is."
While she struggled with self-image, she never doubted that she would make it in music. She said, "I'm very lucky because I had parents who let me try gymnastics, dance, all these different things. When I found music, I knew it felt different. My mom, specifically, watched it go from a hobby to a passion to a knowingness. Then she uprooted her life and moved me to Nashville when I was 15. I think since the day that we left Knoxville, that knowingness has been a driving force through every season of uncertainty."
Kelsea added, "I think I would tell 15-year-old me, 'You think control is the most important thing in the world because you think if you have control, people can't hurt you. People are going to hurt you. And it's the times in your life where you stop holding things that you will find happiness.'"
RELATED: Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates ACM Noms With a 'Chicky Dickey'
Ballerini was recently caught by tourmate Kenny Chesney catching up on some sleep during a flight after a show in Little Rock on Kenny's private plane over the weekend. Chesney posted a photo of Ballerini sleeping in his seat sitting up, he and some of his band members were behind, and they snapped a picture.
He captioned the image on Instagram, "Another late night flight home on the #IGOBACKTOUR. Sorry, Kelsea! We love ya. And Little Rock, Arkansas, we love you too. Last night was so much fun."
Kelsea posted the post to her Insta stories, writing, "Tell me you're the little sister on the tour without telling me...hahaha."
See that post here.
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.
