A four-time Grammy Award nominee, she gained recognition in the 2010s, receiving accolades such as the Gene Weed Milestone Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Rising Star Award at the Billboard Women in Music event. Ballerini began writing songs as a child and signed with Black River Entertainment in 2014. Her debut studio album, The First Time, and her follow-up Unapologetically (2017), produced seven songs on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Her debut single, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” made her the first female artist to send a debut single to No.
Kelsea Ballerini Biography 2025
1 on the Country Airplay chart since Carrie Underwood in 2006. She followed this with “Dibs” and “Peter Pan,” making her the first female country artist to have her first three singles reach No. 1 on the chart since Wynonna Judd. In 2020, Ballerini released her third studio album, Kelsea, along with an acoustic counterpart, Ballerini. Her collaboration with Kenny Chesney on “Half of My Hometown” won two Country Music Association Awards. She released her fourth album, Subject to Change, in 2022, followed by her second EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, in 2023. Her fifth album, Patterns, was released in late 2025.
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Kelsea Ballerini Biography Details
Birth name
Kelsea Nicole Ballerini
Born
September 12, 1993 (age 31)
Mascot, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Country
country pop
pop
Occupations
Singer
songwriter
musician
Instruments
Vocals
guitar
Years active
2014–present
Labels
Black River
Spouse
Morgan Evans
(m. 2017; div. 2022)
Partner
Chase Stokes (2023–present)
Kelsea Ballerini Early Life
Kelsea Ballerini, an only child, was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, by her father, Ed, and mother, Carla. She has German and Scottish ancestry, with a quarter of her heritage being Italian. Ed worked as a sales manager at a country radio station, while Carla was involved in marketing for the Bible publishing division of Thomas Nelson and a sponsorship company. Kelsea began taking dance lessons at Premiere Dance Studio in Seymour, Tennessee, at the age of three, continuing for ten years. She also sang in both the church and school choirs. At 12, she wrote her first song for her mother, and three years later, she moved to Nashville. Kelsea attended Central High School in Knoxville, Centennial High School in Franklin, and spent two years at Lipscomb University before fully committing to her music career.
Kelsea Ballerini Career Milestones
Event
Details
Debut Single
“Love Me Like You Mean It”
First No. 1 Hit
“Love Me Like You Mean It”
First Album Release
The First Time (2015)
Back-to-Back No. 1s
“Dibs” and “Peter Pan”
Grammy Nominations
Best New Artist (2017), Best Country Solo Performance (2023)
Career Achievements
Category
Achievement
Awards Nominations
Academy of Country Music Awards (2017)
Notable Collaborations
“Half of My Hometown” with Kenny Chesney
TV Appearances
The Voice (2021)
Acting Projects
Doctor Odyssey TV series
Album Releases
Album Name
Release Year
The First Time
2015
Unapologetically
2017
Kelsea
2020
Subject to Change
2022
Patterns
2025
Personal Life and Relationships
Event
Details
First Marriage
Married Morgan Evans (2017-2022)
Current Relationship
Dating Chase Stokes (2023-present)
High School Experience
Survivor of 2008 Knoxville shooting
Influences on Kelsea Ballerini Music
Influence
Details
Pop Music
Influenced by Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC
Country Music
Inspired by Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Sugarland
Shania Twain
Greatest influence on her country music style
Early Pop Influence
Justin Bieber, Hilary Duff
Key Music Collaborations
Collaboration
Details
“Half of My Hometown”
Featuring Kenny Chesney, 2020
“The Other Girl”
Featuring Halsey, 2020
“You’re Drunk, Go Home”
Featuring Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce
Awards and Nominations
Award
Year
ACM Awards
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2017
Billboard Women in Music
Rising Star, 2015
Grammy Awards
Best Country Solo Performance, 2023
Country Music Association
Female Vocalist of the Year, 2023
Performance Highlights
Event
Performance
Grand Ole Opry
Performed “Love Me Like You Mean It” in 2015
The Voice
Guest Coach (2021)
CMT Music Awards
Host and Performer (2021)
Music Evolution
Album
Sound Style
The First Time
Country-pop
Unapologetically
Contemporary country, pop crossover
Kelsea
Country-pop with introspective tracks
Ballerini
Acoustic, vulnerable sound
Notable Achievements in Television
Show
Role/Contribution
The Voice
Filled in as a coach (Season 20)
Saturday Night Live
Performances in 2023
Doctor Odyssey
Acting debut (2025)
Kelsea Ballerini Early Life
Aspect
Details
Birthplace
Mascot, Tennessee, U.S.
Parents
Father: Ed (Sales Manager at a radio station), Mother: Carla (Marketing)
Early Music Influence
Church and school choir, early dance lessons
Early Songwriting
First song written at age 12 for her mother
Kelsea Most Popular Songs
Song Title
Chart Achievement
“Love Me Like You Mean It”
No. 1 on Country Airplay
“Dibs”
No. 1 on Country Airplay
“Peter Pan”
No. 1 on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs
“Miss Me More”
Top 10 on Country charts
Career Milestones in Awards
Award
Year
Academy of Country Music
New Female Vocalist of the Year, 2016
Billboard Women in Music
Rising Star, 2015
Country Music Association
Female Vocalist of the Year Nominee (2023)
Kelsea Ballerini Collaborative Work
Song/Project
Collaborators
“Half of My Hometown”
Kenny Chesney
Kelsea Ballerini Net Worth
Kelsea Ballerini net worth is $6 million.
Kelsea Ballerini Summary
Kelsea Ballerini is a successful country pop singer-songwriter, known for her breakthrough hits like “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan.” She has released multiple chart-topping albums and received several accolades, including Grammy nominations and the Gene Weed Milestone Award. Influenced by both pop and country artists, she quickly became one of the top female voices in country music. Ballerini’s personal life, including her marriage and subsequent divorce from Morgan Evans, has also garnered public attention. In 2025, she released her fifth studio album, Patterns, and continues to make waves in both music and television.
