Kelsea Ballerini joins Kelleigh Bannen on Today’s Country Radio on Apple Music Country to talk about her new track ‘I Quit Drinking’ with LANY, the CMT awards, collaborating with Kenny Chesney and touring with the Jonas Brothers. Tune into the full interview with Kelsea Ballerini tomorrow at 5am LA / 7am Nashville / 8am NYC or anytime on-demand here.
Kelsea on hosting the CMT Awards
It’s so interesting because for me, hosting lets me wear the fan girl hat, because it lets you be all up in it. And not only performing like do what I do, but then also stand there beside my friends and introduce them and then watch them and get to cheer them on and get to be a fan. And that’s the part of me that I’ve really tried to keep nurtured and keep watered because I want to… I don’t know. I always want to have that like, “My gosh, Garth Brooks is about to perform,” I’m like, “My gosh, Carrie Underwood is right there,” I never want to lose that.
So I think hosting just allows me to wear both hats. And I remember when I was doing “Greatest Hits,” that show with Arsenio years ago, I was so nervous about reading a teleprompter. And I was so nervous about what if I mispronounced something? Or what if I stutter? He was just like, “Honey, as long as you know who you’re introducing and what they’re singing, the prompter doesn’t matter. Just roll with it. People want to see you be human. They don’t want to see you be a robot.” So, that’s really helped me. I just try to roll with it and be human. That’s all people want.
Kelsea on the video concept for “Half Of My Hometown”
It was such an interesting story to play out because I wanted it to look beautiful because it’s a beautiful life and it’s a life that a lot of my closest friends are living in that town. So I wanted to make sure that I told that story well, and kind of carefully, it’s interesting because we really did have the conversations of like, “Okay. Well, what would it look like?” I probably would have kids and I probably would be in hair and makeup. And I probably would like, you know what I mean? We had the conversation at the hypothetical life I probably would be having right now, had I stayed.
And that in itself is like such an emotional place to go to. But to be honest with you, after we wrapped the video, I was even more grateful that I’m here and even more grateful that I’m getting to live this life and dig in and grow and make a fourth record. Not a lot of people get to do that. And that is not lost. So I think it really… I’ve sobbed every day. It was a three-day video shoot. I sobbed every single day. And yeah. I think it’s like a story that is very possible, but it’s just not mine.
Kelsea on touring with The Jonas Brothers
The truth is there have been so many little, not little, big full circles that have happened in the last year I guess? That have reminded me that I’m on the right path and doing a song with Kenny is one of them, you know what I mean? Those full circle moments where I really think where God is just kind of like, “Keep going. This is right. I’m letting you know that you’re in the right place at the right time. Keep going.”
And Kenny was one of them and this Jonas tour is one of them, I was obsessed with them, fully had my walls coated in their posters. And I’ve gotten to know them over the years specifically, Nick and I really adore them as people. And yeah. And when that ask happened, I was just like, “This is another full circle moment I have to say, yes, this is where I’m supposed to be.” So it’s going to be really exciting and what a cool way to get back on the road. I get to see my fans when I also get to make a whole new group. I meet new people which is going to be amazing.
