Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini Announces New Album Patterns

Country music star Kelsea Ballerini is set to release her highly anticipated fifth studio album, Patterns, on October 25. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter announced the news on August 8, unveiling the album cover art, which features Ballerini sitting atop a stack of luggage on the beach, accompanied by the caption, “Let’s start unpacking.”

Ballerini gave fans a taste of Patterns with the release of her latest single, “Sorry, Mom,” on August 9. The deeply personal song reflects on her past mistakes, showcasing her confessional songwriting style. The album will also include the already released “Cowboys Cry Too,” a collaboration with Noah Kahan.

Patterns follows Ballerini’s 2023 EP, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, which was inspired by her divorce from fellow country artist Morgan Evans. The EP received critical acclaim and earned a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. In the time since, Ballerini has found new love with actor Chase Stokes.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Ballerini shared that Patterns offers an “accurate snapshot” of her current life. “People probably expect this really happy-go-lucky, love, mushy, gushy record from me. That’s not the case,” she said. “I’m really proud of that. It would have been easy to just collect the beautiful parts of my life, but that’s not the fullness of my experience.”

Patterns promises to be a deeply reflective album, showcasing Ballerini’s evolution both personally and artistically.

Who Is Kelsea Ballerini?

Kelsea Ballerini is a Grammy-nominated country music artist celebrated for hit singles such as “Peter Pan,” “Love Me Like You Mean It,” and “Dibs.” Hailing from Tennessee, a state synonymous with country music, Ballerini moved to Nashville as a teenager to pursue her musical ambitions. At the age of 19, she secured a record deal with Black River Entertainment, and her debut album, The First Time (2015), quickly propelled her into the spotlight. Known for her heartfelt lyrics and a distinctive blend of country and pop influences, Ballerini is set to release her seventh studio album, Patterns, in October 2024.

Where Is Kelsea Ballerini From?

Kelsea Nicole Ballerini was born on September 12, 1993, in Mascot, Tennessee, and grew up in the nearby city of Knoxville. She is the only child of Ed Ballerini, a sales manager at a local radio station, and Carla Denham, a marketing executive in the publishing industry.

Ballerini recalls her childhood as quintessentially Southern, filled with family gatherings, Sunday church services, and country living. Her family shared a rural property with other relatives, alongside three cows and a goat, embracing a close-knit, pastoral lifestyle.

Her interest in the arts emerged early. She trained as a dancer for 10 years, earning her the affectionate nickname “Ballerini the Ballerina.” She also competed on a local hip-hop dance team and sang in her church choir. At just 12 years old, she penned her first song as a Mother’s Day gift for her mom.

However, at the same age, Ballerini faced a significant personal challenge as her parents divorced. She developed an eating disorder, struggling with bulimia and an obsession with diet pills and excessive exercise. After fainting on several occasions, she sought help at age 18, eventually overcoming the disorder. Reflecting on this period, she acknowledged the ongoing effort to maintain a healthy relationship with food, stating in a 2021 interview, “There are still days where I revert back to being that 12-year-old, and I have to catch myself.”

Professionally, Ballerini’s ambitions began early. At 14, she had her first meeting with a Nashville record label but was rejected for sounding too similar to Taylor Swift. Shortly after, she and her mother relocated to Nashville, where Ballerini attended Centennial High School in Franklin, Tennessee. In 2011, she enrolled at Lipscomb University, further pursuing her career in country music.

Music Career

Kelsea Ballerini grew up in the heart of country music, yet her early inspirations predominantly stemmed from pop artists. Icons such as Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Shania Twain, and Kelly Clarkson played a significant role in shaping her musical aspirations. Ballerini has expressed a particular admiration for Clarkson, citing her as her all-time favorite artist: “I think that she’s the best vocalist in the whole world, but my favorite is watching her interviews because she’s so 200 percent herself,” she remarked in a 2016 interview with Billboard.

With aspirations to achieve similar success, Ballerini actively pursued her music career while attending Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she participated in various performance showcases. She and her mother reached a pivotal agreement: Ballerini would leave college should she receive a significant opportunity in music. This moment arrived in 2013 when Black River Entertainment signed the then 19-year-old artist, marking the beginning of her professional career and the development of her breakout debut album.

Early Albums: The First Time and Unapologetically

Kelsea Ballerini established her presence in the music industry with her debut studio album, The First Time, released in May 2015. This record marked a significant milestone as she became the first female country artist to achieve No. 1 status on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with her first three singles: “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Peter Pan.” Notably, “Peter Pan” remains her only single to reach No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

The success of The First Time, which has since been certified platinum, earned Ballerini the accolade of New Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2016 ACM Awards. She also embarked on her inaugural headlining tour later that year and received a nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, where she was ultimately surpassed by Chance the Rapper.

Ballerini’s follow-up album, Unapologetically, was released in November 2017, featuring successful singles such as “Miss Me More” and “Legends.” The latter became her fourth No. 1 hit on the Country Airplay chart, and the album itself peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, further demonstrating her crossover appeal.

In recognition of her contributions to country music, Ballerini received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album. Her achievements culminated in April 2019 when she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, becoming the youngest member in the organization’s history at age 25, with Carrie Underwood presiding over the ceremony. At this point, Ballerini had firmly established herself as a leading figure in the country music scene.

Recent Work: Rolling Up the Welcome Mat

Kelsea Ballerini has seen a surge of collaboration opportunities following her impactful releases. Notably, she teamed up with Kenny Chesney and Halsey for her 2020 self-titled album, Kelsea, which was accompanied by Ballerini, an album featuring alternate versions of its songs. In 2021, fulfilling a long-held aspiration as a devoted Jonas Brothers fan, Ballerini opened for the group during their Remember This Tour.

In September 2022, she released Subject to Change, which included the hit single “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too).” This track, inspired by the classic film Thelma & Louise and reflecting Ballerini’s own experiences during her divorce from Morgan Evans, highlights the importance of close female friendships. As she shared with Billboard, “Sometimes, you put out a single because you think it’s the most radio-friendly, and sometimes you put out a single because it’s actually reflective of where you’re at in your life. And then sometimes, both things can be true.”

Her breakup with Evans served as a central theme for her February 2023 EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, which marked her sixth album to enter the Top 20 on the Top Country Albums chart. The lead single, “Blindsided,” helped the EP garner nominations for Album of the Year at both the CMA Awards and ACM Awards in 2023, as well as earning Ballerini her fourth Grammy nomination for Best Country Album the following year.

Beyond her recording endeavors, Ballerini has remained active on tour. She launched her multi-leg Heartfirst Tour in 2022 and achieved a significant milestone by selling out her first major arena headlining show in Knoxville the following year. Additionally, she joined Kenny Chesney for his I Go Back 2023 Tour, further solidifying her presence in the country music landscape.

New Album Announcement

The singer has officially announced the release of her new album, Patterns, scheduled for October 25. In an interview with the Associated Press, Ballerini described the upcoming album as an “accurate snapshot” of her life. She elaborated, stating, “I think that people probably expect this really happy-go-lucky, love, mushy, gushy record from me. That’s not the case.” This insight suggests a more nuanced exploration of her experiences and emotions in this latest work.

Hit Songs

Kelsea Ballerini’s music has enjoyed considerable success on country music charts, although it has not resonated as strongly in the mainstream. Her most notable achievement on the Billboard Hot 100 is “Peter Pan,” which peaked at No. 35. Ballerini’s ascent began with her debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which reached the top of the Hot Country Songs chart in June 2015. This track marked the first of her seven singles to enter the Top 10, including:

• “Love Me Like You Mean It”
• “Peter Pan”
• “Dibs”
• “Legends”
• “Yeah Boy”
• “Miss Me More”
• “Hole in the Bottle”

In addition, Ballerini has achieved five No. 1 songs on the Country Airplay chart. Among these is “Half of My Hometown,” a 2020 collaboration with Kenny Chesney, as well as the aforementioned singles. Notably, when “Love Me Like You Mean It” topped the charts in July 2015, Ballerini became the first female artist since Carrie Underwood to achieve this milestone with her debut single.

Reflecting on her career, Ballerini expressed the significance of Underwood’s influence, stating, “The coolest thing about that is I remember when ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ came out, and how impactful that was not only to country music but to me. To watch her career since then… makes me just want to keep going.”

TV Shows: The Voice and More

Kelsea Ballerini has made notable guest appearances on various television programs, including the acclaimed drama series Nashville in 2016, the innovative songwriting competition Songland in 2019, and the beloved children’s show Sesame Street in 2021. Additionally, she showcased her singles “Blindsided” and “Penthouse” during a March 2023 episode of Saturday Night Live.

From 2021 to 2024, Ballerini served as the host of the CMT Music Awards, co-emceeing alongside Kane Brown for three ceremonies and hosting one event solo. During her tenure, she utilized the platform to express her support for the LGBTQ community, performing with drag queens from the reality series RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2023. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she emphasized her passion for performance, self-expression, and inclusivity.

Starting in spring 2025, Ballerini will join the panel of celebrity coaches on the NBC reality competition The Voice, alongside John Legend, Michael Bublé, and Adam Levine.

In addition to her musical accomplishments, Ballerini is also a published author. Her poetry book, Feel Your Way Through, was released in 2021.

Boyfriend Chase Stokes and Ex-Husband

Ballerini is currently dating actor Chase Stokes, known for his role as John Booker Routledge, or simply John B., on the Netflix drama Outer Banks. Stokes first confirmed their relationship during a March 2023 appearance on Today.

The pair were first spotted together earlier that year in January. Ballerini revealed during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast that she reached out to Stokes through an Instagram message. “I was ready to open back up [after my divorce]… I just felt, why not? I’ve never really dated; I don’t know how it works,” she said. “I’ve never seen his show, but I just knew of him, and I just swan dove right on in.”

Ballerini and Stokes made their red carpet debut at the CMT Music Awards in April 2023 and have attended multiple events together, most recently the 2024 Met Gala in New York City. They frequently post updates from their life on social media.Prior to connecting with Stokes, Ballerini was married to Australian singer Morgan Evans. They wed in December 2017 but announced their separation in August 2022. The couple officially divorced that November.

Ballerini later said their relationship fractured over their opposing views on starting a family. “He was like, ‘I don’t want to be an old dad,’ is what he kept saying. And I was like, ‘I’m not there yet, and I can’t do that to save this and give you something that I’m not ready for,’” Ballerini said.Prior to connecting with Stokes, Ballerini was married to Australian singer Morgan Evans. They wed in December 2017 but announced their separation in August 2022. The couple officially divorced that November.

Ballerini later said their relationship fractured over their opposing views on starting a family. “He was like, ‘I don’t want to be an old dad,’ is what he kept saying. And I was like, ‘I’m not there yet, and I can’t do that to save this and give you something that I’m not ready for,’” Ballerini said.

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kelsea Ballerini’s estimated total fortune is approximately $6 million.