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 2024
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 2024.
Kelsea Ballerini Biography Details
| Birth name | Kelsea Nicole Ballerini |
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| Born | September 12, 1993 (age 31)
Mascot, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Origin | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
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| Labels | Black River |
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| Partner | Chase Stokes (2023–present) |
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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 | 2024 |
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 (2024) |
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 2024, she released her fifth studio album, Patterns, and continues to make waves in both music and television.
