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Kelsea Ballerini will perform at PPG Paints Arena on Feb. 7.
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Kelsea Ballerini: Arena show will range from 'female rage' to 'warm hug'

Nyk Allen

Kelsea Ballerini: Arena show will range from 'female rage' to 'warm hug'

Having grown up on teen-pop in the late ’90s and early ’00s, Tennessee-born Kelsea Ballerini first came to country when she heard Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” as a young teenager.

By the time she was 25 in 2018, she had two albums to her credit and was opening Urban on the Graffiti U Tour. Her rise through those ranks also included tours with Lady A, Dan + Shay, Kelly Clarkson, Thomas Rhett and the Jonas Brothers.

With her fifth album, “Patterns,” released in October, Ballerini scored her first No. 1 country album (also No. 4 on the overall charts). And here in early 2025, she’s headlining arenas like PPG Paints Arena on Feb. 7, for the first time.

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Ballerini is more of a pop-country crossover than a traditionalist, and more from the Taylor Swift school (another big influence) than the Carrie Underwood belter side. When she rolled  out “Patterns,’ she told Nylon that it was “a love record,” but “probably not what people are expecting,” following the breakup EP “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.” It was more about family dynamics, she said, and an assessment of her life going into her 30s.

The one charting single from “Patterns” is “Cowboys Cry Too,” a duet with budding superstar Noah Kahan about guys being raised to suppress their emotions. It’s certain to be a standout of the live show along with such new songs as “Baggage,” “WAIT!” and “Patterns.”

The tour will run through March 15 leading into Ballerini’s turn as a coach on season 27 of “The Voice,” which begins with the pretaped portions on Feb. 3. She spoke to us in mid-January while in preparation for the tour.

So you’re getting ready for your tour?

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I am. I’ve been in nonstop rehearsals for the last week and a half. It’s so funny, I was with my best friend last night and I was like, “I’m sore, my voice is scratchy, I’ve never rehearsed so much in my life,” but it makes sense because this is the biggest show I’ve ever gotten to put on.

What does it mean to you to reach this milestone of doing arena shows?

I think every artist has a different set of goals and dreams and what they want to achieve, and for me — ever since I was a little kid, at the very top of my bucket list — I just always wanted to play arenas, headline arenas. I don’t know if it’s because when I was a kid that was where I saw my first concert, or what, but it’s always been the most impactful kind of show to me because you get to create this whole atmosphere for people to step into and share for two hours.

It’s always been my goal. But over the last 10 years. I’ve definitely had moments of questioning whether I would ever get to make that jump because, historically, especially in country music, there’s not a lot of women who have made that jump. So I knew if I ever could, I just needed to do it at the right time, when I could do it well and do it right. So, I’m giddy about it. I really am.

What can you tell us about the production?

It’s a show that encompasses all five records that I’ve put out, and so I’ve kind of divided it into three acts. The first part of the show is very upbeat and bright and girly and fun. The second part is, I would call it, the female rage section. And the third part is very musical and more emotional. I just kind of wanted to end it with the feeling of a big warm hug.

That sounds like a good progression

Yeah, a good little journey.

How would you say your sound has evolved over the years?

I don’t know if I would say my sound has evolved as much as I would say my writing has evolved, because I think I’ve always really played with keeping my heels dug into storytelling and kind of blending country music with a little pop element, a little R&B element. And that’s been consistent. But I think with songwriting, especially with “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” I feel like I’ve ripped off a Band-Aid where I wasn’t scared to say anything. So, I’ve just been able to write from this super unfiltered place now, and that to me has been the biggest win just as a songwriter.

Yeah, things have definitely changed in the country scene where you can bring all those elements.

I think just like on Top 40 you have so many variations of what that means, of what pop music is. I think it’s the same thing in country. You have the really traditional-sounding current country. And then you have Post Malone making country records, and you have Shaboozey. Everything is kind of represented, no matter what you like. If you like a new contemporary blend, or the old stuff, it’s all still on the radio. I love that it’s all represented.

What’s it like when you see a pop artist move into country? Do you feel a little protective?

I don’t know if protective is the word. I have a song right now with Noah Kahan and his first time at a country award show was last year at the ACMs. We sang together and then we did the CMAs together this year, and he has such a love for country music and the artists around the community, so it’s been such an honor to be the artist who has been his entryway into country. I think the more the merrier. If you love music and you are influenced and inspired by country or whatever other genre, there’s room for everyone.

How did you come to work with him?

You know I just have this habit of shooting my shot. So, I met him and I love his record so much and he knew my music. So we just exchanged numbers. And I had this song “Cowboys Cry Too,” and I just texted it to him. I said, ‘Hey I think this is potentially going to be the first single. I love this song so much, it’s kind of my perspective on toxic masculinity, and from the way that you write, I know that you’re not scared to really go there. If this touches you, would you write on it?” And immediately he jumped on it and he added so much in his verse, and I’m so grateful.

Where did you meet him?

I met him last year at the Grammys, and then I texted him the track and he wrote his verse on the road on tour, and then we got together in Nashville and recorded it together

What are some of the other songs from “Patterns” that you’re really excited to perform live?

It’s so funny, because the songs that I would say I’m excited about for people to listen to are probably different than the ones I’m excited to play live. Some songs really just have the best life when you are in your car and you’re listening to the record, but then there are songs like “Baggage” or “We Broke Up” or “WAIT!,” and those to me are the ones that really come to life in a live show. So, we put a lot of production behind those. Those feel like kind of the pillars of the show.

I know Taylor was a big influence on you. Are you still a big fan? And do you think you have a lot of mutual fans?

Oh my gosh, I’m a huge fan. She’s kind of like the North Star for every artist in our generation, but especially women. I think she’s always setting the bar higher and higher and just does everything with such class. She’s one of a kind. And I definitely think there’s an overlap. I think if you look at most of the female artists in music right now there is an overlap with Taylor fans because everyone is a Taylor fan, so you’re bound to get a lot of Taylor fans at any show.

Did you see her recent tour?

I was NOT able to make it to the Eras Tour. Trust me I tried!

Were you busy with your own touring?

Yeah, I’m booked and busy, baby!

How are you going to be able to juggle this tour with “The Voice”?

So, “The Voice” taped last fall, so I was able to go out there for 2 1/2 months and do most of the taping of that. We’re done until the live shows which happen right after this tour ends. It was such a fun experience and, honestly, I was so nervous going into it because it was just new, you know. Such a new thing to get into but it was nice that it was pre-taped. I called Kelly — Kelly Clarkson — beforehand and I was like, “I’m nervous, what do I need to know?” and she was like, “Kelsea, the first part is pre-taped. If you mess up or you say something stupid, or if you just need a second, you have that time built in.” And that helped me so much.

What about the live show, though? That’ll be different.

It will be different, right. Pray for me. [laughs] I think I have the hang of it now because, like I said, we filmed on and off for 2 1/2 months, so I think I have the lay of the land now.

So, do you get any value out of that experience other than just making the money off of it?

One hundred percent. I think for me, it’s twofold. One was being able to be in a seat alongside my peers and people that I more or less grew up listening to. “Song about Jane,” Maroon 5, to me, is one of the best pop records of all time. And Michael Bublé and John Legend, they’re just incredible and decorated artists and I’m definitely not on their caliber. So it was really interesting for me to be very-much-so the new kid to the show, but in comparison to them, the new kid in music, and still find my role as a coach. I think that helped sharpen me and I learned so much. I think I was able to connect with some of the artists on the show and build a really beautiful connection with them and relationship with them. I don’t wanna say too much because it’s not out yet, but I’m so proud of all the talent on the show, but specifically my team.

You got through the whole experience of building your career without doing one of the shows. Was there any pressure on you to do that?

For me, personally, I’m a songwriter before I’m an artist. Singing is secondary to songwriting for me, so I knew if I was ever going to have the opportunity to become an artist, it was because of the songs I was writing. So, for me, that wasn’t the right avenue, but for the people who have done the shows, obviously it is the right move for them.

And you also did an acting role on “Doctor Odyssey”...

Yeah, I did one episode that came out a couple months ago and it was something I wanted to try. I always said I would never try it, and then I’m in the season of my life where I’m like, “You know what, if it scares me that probably means I should try it.” So I tried it, and I loved it. And just, why not?

Can you see yourself doing more acting?

I can, I can. Obviously the priority for me is always going to be to making records and touring records, but if I have the time and a really beautiful story comes along and it’s meant for me to do, I am so open.

The concert is at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 with Sasha Alex Sloan and MaRynn Taylor. Tickets start at $57.50; ticketmaster.com.

First Published: January 29, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: January 30, 2025, 7:53 p.m.

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Kelsea Ballerini will perform at PPG Paints Arena on Feb. 7.  (Nyk Allen)
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