Feature Photo: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Kelsea Ballerini was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she first began singing in church and writing songs at age twelve. After moving to Nashville, she signed with Black River Entertainment in 2014. That same year, she released her debut single “Love Me Like You Mean It,” which eventually climbed to number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Her debut album The First Time followed in 2015 and launched Ballerini into mainstream recognition, making her one of the most successful new female country artists of the decade.
The success of The First Time was propelled by three more singles that all reached the top ten: “Dibs,” “Peter Pan,” and “Yeah Boy.” “Peter Pan” in particular became her second number-one hit and helped Ballerini make history as the first female country artist since Carrie Underwood to send her first three singles to the top of the Country Airplay chart. The album blended traditional country themes with polished pop production, establishing her as a crossover-ready figure in contemporary country music.
In 2017, Ballerini released her second album, Unapologetically. It included hit singles like “Legends,” “I Hate Love Songs,” and “Miss Me More.” The record marked a more mature direction both lyrically and musically, reflecting personal growth and the emotional changes in her life. Unapologetically was nominated for Best Country Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, further solidifying her place among the most respected modern country artists.
Ballerini’s third studio album, Kelsea, arrived in March 2020. Its lead singles, “Homecoming Queen?” and “The Other Girl” (a collaboration with Halsey), highlighted her growing interest in blending pop influences with her country roots. The album was supported by national television performances and showcased a more vulnerable side of her songwriting. Just months later, she released Ballerini, a stripped-down companion album that featured acoustic versions of the same tracks in a more intimate arrangement.
Her fourth album, Subject to Change, was released in September 2022 and signaled a stylistic pivot inspired by ’90s country. It featured the single “Heartfirst,” which received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Solo Performance. Ballerini also released the EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat in 2023, a deeply personal project that coincided with her divorce from Morgan Evans. The songs on the EP, including “Blindsided,” reflected her state of mind during that period and showcased some of her most introspective writing to date.
Throughout her career, Ballerini has been honored with numerous awards and nominations, including Academy of Country Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, and Billboard accolades. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in April 2019 by Carrie Underwood, a moment she described as one of the greatest honors of her career. Her influence in country music has extended beyond radio success; she’s played a significant role in amplifying the presence of female artists in a male-dominated industry.
In addition to her recording career, Ballerini has also become a regular presence on television. She served as a coach on The Voice and has appeared as a host on the CMT Music Awards. Her fashion sense, candor, and stage presence have made her a favorite in both the music industry and broader entertainment circles. She’s also been open about her personal struggles, using interviews and her music to address issues like self-doubt, heartbreak, and healing.
Outside of music, Ballerini has explored other creative outlets. She published a poetry book titled Feel Your Way Through in 2021, which offered insights into her personal experiences, including body image issues, family dynamics, and anxiety. The collection underscored her desire to connect with audiences beyond the stage and demonstrated her skill as a writer apart from songwriting.
Kelsea Ballerini continues to evolve as an artist, balancing commercial success with an increasingly personal and authentic voice. Whether through her chart-topping singles, her honest lyricism, or her public advocacy for women in country music, she has carved out a distinct space in the genre—one that reflects both her roots and her willingness to push boundaries.
Complete List Of Songs From A to Z
- A Country Song – Kelsea – 2020
- Baggage – Patterns – 2024
- Beg for Your Love – Patterns – 2024
- Boy Meets Girl – The First Time – 2015
- Bragger – Kelsea – 2020
- Club – Kelsea – 2020
- Cowboys Cry Too (with Noah Kahan) – Patterns – 2024
- Cut Me Up – Patterns – 2024
- Deep – Patterns – 2024
- Dibs – The First Time – 2015
- Dibs (acoustic version) – The First Time – 2015
- Did You Make It Home? (outro) – Patterns – 2024
- Doin’ My Best – Subject to Change – 2022
- End of the World – Unapologetically – 2017
- First Rodeo – Patterns – 2024
- First Time (Live from the Heartfirst Tour) – The First Time – 2015
- Fun and Games – Unapologetically – 2017
- Future Tripping – Patterns – 2024
- Get Over Yourself – Unapologetically – 2017
- Graveyard – Unapologetically – 2017
- Half of My Hometown (featuring Kenny Chesney) – Kelsea – 2020
- Heartfirst – Subject to Change – 2022
- High School – Unapologetically – 2017
- Hindsight Is Happiness – Patterns – 2024
- Hole in the Bottle – Kelsea – 2020
- Homecoming Queen? – Kelsea – 2020
- How Much Do You Love Me – Patterns – 2024
- I Can’t Help Myself – Subject to Change – 2022
- I Guess They Call It Fallin’ – Subject to Change – 2022
- I Hate Love Songs – Unapologetically – 2017
- I Think I Fell in Love Today – Unapologetically – 2017
- I Would, Would You – Patterns – 2024
- If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too) – Subject to Change – 2022
- In Between – Unapologetically – 2017
- LA – Kelsea – 2020
- Landslide (live from Nashville) – Unapologetically – 2017
- Legends – Unapologetically – 2017
- Looking at Stars – The First Time – 2015
- Love and Hate – Kelsea – 2020
- Love Is a Cowboy – Subject to Change – 2022
- Love Me Like a Girl – Kelsea – 2020
- Love Me Like You Mean It – The First Time – 2015
- Love Me Like You Mean It (acoustic version) – The First Time – 2015
- Love Me Like You Mean It (Reimagined) – The First Time – 2015
- Machine Heart – Unapologetically – 2017
- Marilyn – Subject to Change – 2022
- Miss Me More – Unapologetically – 2017
- Muscle Memory – Subject to Change – 2022
- Music – Unapologetically – 2017
- Needy – Kelsea – 2020
- Nothing Really Matters – Patterns – 2024
- Out of the Blues – The First Time – 2015
- Overshare – Kelsea – 2020
- Patterns – Patterns – 2024
- Peter Pan – The First Time – 2015
- Peter Pan (acoustic version) – The First Time – 2015
- Peter Pan (The Demo) – The First Time – 2015
- Put It to Bed – Patterns – 2024
- Roses – Unapologetically – 2017
- Secondhand Smoke – The First Time – 2015
- Sirens – The First Time – 2015
- Sorry Mom – Patterns – 2024
- Square Pegs – The First Time – 2015
- Stilettos – The First Time – 2015
- Subject to Change – Subject to Change – 2022
- The First Time – The First Time – 2015
- The First Time (acoustic version) – The First Time – 2015
- The Little Things – Subject to Change – 2022
- The Other Girl (with Halsey) – Kelsea – 2020
- The Way I Used To – Kelsea – 2020
- This Feeling – Unapologetically – 2017
- This Time Last Year – Patterns – 2024
- To the Men That Love Women After Heartbreak – Patterns – 2024
- Two Things – Patterns – 2024
- Two Things (stripped) – Patterns – 2024
- Unapologetically – Unapologetically – 2017
- Underage – The First Time – 2015
- Universe – Subject to Change – 2022
- Wait! – Patterns – 2024
- Walk in the Park – Subject to Change – 2022
- We Broke Up – Patterns – 2024
- Weather – Subject to Change – 2022
- What I Have – Subject to Change – 2022
- XO – The First Time – 2015
- Yeah Boy – The First Time – 2015
- Yeah Boy (acoustic version) – The First Time – 2015
- Yeah Boy (Work Tape) – The First Time – 2015
- You’re Drunk, Go Home (with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce) – Subject to Change – 2022
Albums
The First Time (2015): 23 songs
Unapologetically (2017): 16 songs
Kelsea (2020): 13 songs
Subject to Change (2022): 15 songs
Patterns (2024): 21 songs
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