Kelsea Ballerini, the acclaimed country music artist, has been vocal about her experiences following her divorce from fellow musician Morgan Evans. While her deeply personal album, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, resonated with countless fans, she’s adamant about not glorifying divorce.
Ballerini gained widespread recognition for her vulnerability in chronicling the emotional journey of her divorce through her music. After the album’s release, she found that many listeners deeply connected with her story, sharing similar experiences of heartbreak and transition. However, she emphasizes that she doesn’t want to be seen as a symbol or champion of divorce.
In an interview with Elle magazine, Ballerini recalled the anxiety she felt on the eve of her album’s release in 2023. "I remember being like, Oh, man, I’m terrified," she confessed. Despite her fears, the overwhelmingly positive response to her music brought her a sense of relief. "I went to sleep, and the next morning, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s OK. People are finding this and connecting with this.’ But it was definitely a scary feeling."
The impact of her music has been profound, with fans even bringing signs to her concerts that read "Just got a divorce." While she appreciates the connection she’s made with her audience, she remains cautious about celebrating divorce.
"I try to never celebrate it until I know if it’s a good thing. I don’t ever want to be a poster child for divorce," she told Elle. "It’s been three years now. It’s simply not in the forefront of my life anymore. But I always make sure when these women come up to me, my first reaction is never, ‘Oh my God, congratulations!’ It’s like, ‘Are you OK?’ Because just like it needs to be destigmatized, I also don’t think it should be celebrated or glamorized."
Ballerini and Evans’ marriage lasted nearly five years, having tied the knot in 2017. The couple initially met in 2016 while co-hosting the CMC Music Awards in Australia. The announcement of their divorce in 2022 was shared on Instagram.
"I’ve always tried to share my life with you in a real and vulnerable way, while also protecting layers of my personal life as they unfold," Ballerini wrote at the time. "This is now public record so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce."
Evans also released a statement, expressing his sadness: "I am very sad to confirm that after almost 5 years of marriage, Kelsea and I are parting ways. I wish it were otherwise but sadly it is not."
Ballerini told Elle that her life is now "unrecognizable from how it was a couple of years ago, and thank God."
Since January 2023, Ballerini has been in a relationship with actor Chase Stokes, known for his role in the Netflix series Outer Banks. The couple’s relationship appears to be thriving, and they have recently moved in together, according to People magazine.
Stokes emphasized the importance of prioritizing their relationship, despite their busy schedules. "If we need to make the effort to show up when one’s across the country, we do it," he said. "The amount of effort that we put into our careers, we should be doubling that in our personal lives. It’s not always easy, and it’s not always convenient, but having a big, beautiful life didn’t come from convenience or ease."
Ballerini has continued to release new music, drawing inspiration from the experiences and emotions she navigates in her life. She finds it particularly easy to write about the "growing pains" of life.
"I’ve always gravitated toward writing about the unsteadiness in life, whether that’s a version of heartbreak or just growing pains. I love writing about growing up and the uncomfortable nature of that. The hardest part for me is to write when I’m happy," she told Elle.
"It’s so much easier, because songwriting is so therapeutic for me, to sit down when I’m down in the dumps about something rather than when I’m happy. Because when you’re happy, you want to go exist in your happiness, not sit down with your guitar. But I will say making ‘Patterns’ was truly reflective of the year and a half that I wrote it. So there is turmoil and growing pains in that, and there is happiness, but it’s not sugarcoated."
Ballerini also discussed her song "First Rodeo," which she considers her first love song for her album "Patterns." She described it as an unconventional love song, saying, "Even ‘First Rodeo,’ which I think is the first love song that I wrote for ‘Patterns,’ is literally saying, ‘I fell off the horse. That was embarrassing. I felt like damaged goods. Oh my God, here you are. Can we take this slow because this is not where I saw my life going, but now I want to try this again?’ It’s an unconventional love song, and that’s what interests me, the nuance of it, not just ‘Friday night in your truck, let’s go to the bar.’"
Kelsea Ballerini’s journey through divorce has been a public one, marked by vulnerability, resilience, and a commitment to authenticity. While she appreciates the connection she’s made with fans through her music, she remains grounded and cautious about glorifying divorce. She also recently spoke about what she finds sexiest about her new boyfriend, Chase Stokes. Her focus is now on moving forward, embracing new relationships, and continuing to create music that reflects the complexities of life.
