GRAMMY NOMINEE: Kelsea Ballerini

Summary

Summary of Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist Episode Featuring Kelsea Ballerini

Podcast Information:

• Title: Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist
• Host: Willie Geist, Sunday TODAY
• Episode: GRAMMY NOMINEE: Kelsea Ballerini
• Release Date: January 31, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, Willie Geist engages in an in-depth conversation with Grammy-nominated country star Kelsea Ballerini. The discussion delves into Kelsea's musical journey, her latest album Patterns, personal growth, mentorship under Taylor Swift, and her monumental performance at Madison Square Garden.

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Early Career and Musical Beginnings

Kelsea Ballerini hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, where her passion for music ignited at a young age. She began writing songs at 12 and moved to Nashville with her mother at 15 to pursue a music career. Describing her early years as a "slow burn," Kelsea reflects on the challenges and gradual ascent in the music industry.

[00:52] Willie Geist: "She's ready to make that leap and catch the wave, and she feels like she has."

The Album Patterns

Patterns, Kelsea’s fifth studio album, marks a significant evolution in her music. Following her deeply personal EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, which chronicled her divorce, Patterns embodies her transition out of what she describes as a "puberty phase" in her career.

[03:58] Kelsea Ballerini: "I think the album title really sets the tone of what is the story."

The album is a storytelling masterpiece, capturing Kelsea’s life over a two-year period. It explores themes of womanhood, personal relationships, and self-discovery, offering listeners a chronological narrative that showcases her growth as both a songwriter and an individual.

Songwriting Process and Collaborators

Kelsea emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her songwriting. She collaborates closely with a group of esteemed female songwriters, including Hillary Lindsey, Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town, Jesse Jo Dillon, and Elisa Vanderheim. This all-female writing team has been instrumental in crafting the raw and honest lyrics that define Patterns.

[07:44] Kelsea Ballerini: "I put out Rolling up the Welcome Mat, my last EP, and there was nothing about it that I made to be a commercial record at all. It was so personal."

Personal Life and Relationship

Kelsea shares heartfelt insights into her evolving relationship with her mother, reflected poignantly in her song "Sorry, Mom." She discusses the transformation from a daughter to a woman and the mutual understanding that has developed over time.

[10:52] Kelsea Ballerini: "Now we're finally at this phase where I'm 31, and we're in this beautiful phase of life where I'm able to be like, hey, listen, I know that you probably wanted to shield me from a couple of the choices I've made, but at the end of the day, I'm safe and I'm happy, and you love me and I love you."

Her current high-profile relationship is also a topic of discussion, highlighting the balance between public openness and personal privacy.

Mentorship and Influence of Taylor Swift

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Taylor Swift’s mentorship and influence on Kelsea’s career. Kelsea credits Taylor with providing support and guidance during pivotal moments, helping her navigate the complexities of fame and personal challenges.

[31:07] Kelsea Ballerini: "Taylor walked into my life like an angel fairy and changed it."

She recounts lessons learned from Taylor, such as the importance of becoming "undeniable" in her craft, which has propelled her towards greater success.

Recent Achievements: Madison Square Garden Concert

Kelsea expresses immense gratitude and excitement about her sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City, marking a milestone in her career. She reflects on her journey from opening smaller venues to performing at one of the most iconic arenas in the world.

[18:12] Kelsea Ballerini: "I believe that this record is the record to do that jump, to get to a room like MSG."

She describes the experience as both thrilling and nerve-wracking, underscoring the significance of this achievement for female artists in country music.

Future Endeavors and The Voice

Looking ahead, Kelsea discusses her new role as a coach on The Voice. She shares her enthusiasm for the position and the unique challenges it presents, blending her experiences as an artist with mentorship roles.

[41:13] Kelsea Ballerini: "It was awesome. Just chaotic. We all talk just over each other. It's truly like a little sister and three big brothers."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a lighthearted segment where Willie and Kelsea share moments enjoying New York City’s famed hot dogs, symbolizing Kelsea’s embrace of her new environment and the blending of her personal and professional life.

[48:49] Kelsea Ballerini: "To patterns. And to New York City hot dogs."

Kelsea's journey from a young songwriter in Tennessee to a Grammy-nominated star performing at MSG exemplifies her resilience, authenticity, and continuous growth. Patterns stands as a testament to her ability to translate personal experiences into universally relatable music, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in both country and mainstream music.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• [03:58] Kelsea Ballerini: "I think the album title really sets the tone of what is the story."
• [07:44] Kelsea Ballerini: "I put out Rolling up the Welcome Mat, my last EP, and there was nothing about it that I made to be a commercial record at all. It was so personal."
• [10:52] Kelsea Ballerini: "Now we're finally at this phase where I'm 31, and we're in this beautiful phase of life..."
• [31:07] Kelsea Ballerini: "Taylor walked into my life like an angel fairy and changed it."
• [18:12] Kelsea Ballerini: "I believe that this record is the record to do that jump, to get to a room like MSG."
• [41:13] Kelsea Ballerini: "It was awesome. Just chaotic. We all talk just over each other."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of Kelsea Ballerini's conversation on Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, providing insights into her artistic evolution, personal milestones, and future aspirations.

Transcript

[Kelsea Ballerini]

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[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit down podcast. My thanks as always for clicking and listening along. Got a really good one for you this week with a country star who has crossed over to big mainstream success. Her name is Kelsey Ballerini. She's out now with her fifth album. This one is called Patterns. It comes on the heels of her previous Grammy nominated album, Rolling up the welcome Mat, which very personally detailed her divorce a couple of years ago. She has come up from Knoxville, Tennessee where she fell in love with music at a very young age, started writing songs when she was 12 years old, moved with her mother to Nashville when she was 15 years old and began what describes as kind of a slow burn career, a rise up through the music industry. She feels like, as she puts it, she's in this puberty phase which is she's not really new anymore. She's been in first album came out in 2015. She's ready to make that leap and catch the wave and she feels like she has. And in many ways she got the Grammy nomination for her previous album this year that happened and now she has sold out Madison Square Garden. She's played an arena show at her hometown in Knoxville. But this feels like something different and special. Special feels like she's on the brink of superstardom.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

She talks about how Taylor Swift became.

[Willie Geist]

A mentor, kind of took her under her wing very early on, offering her support and guidance in how to navigate all of this. And so she has had success over her five albums. She has won awards in the country community. She was nominated for this Grammy, but now on to bigger and better things. She hopes so I hope you enjoy getting to know Kelsea Ballerini as much as I did. So sit back, relax and enjoy Kelsey right now on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's so Good to see you, Kelsey.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It's so good to see you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I'm so excited for you because you are on the brink of something huge. You were nice enough to let me hear the entire album. It is amazing.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Thank you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What does it feel like because you've done this a few times now, to be on this side of it, to have it about to be out into the world? Is it nerve wracking? Is it thrilling? What does it feel like?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

All of the above. And also, thank you for saying that. Your lips to God's ears. I'm very. It's that anticipatory time where it's been turned in for a couple months now, so I can't. I can't touch it anymore. But it's not out yet, so it's not everyone else's. So it's just this in between phase where I'm like, okay, did I do it right? I think I did, but then I'm going to re listen to it 48 more times to make sure I did. But, you know, I think I made this record differently than I have before. It's my fifth studio album, and it's after an EP that really changed my life. And so I was hyper protective going into it, just making sure that. That I did justice by where I'm at in my career and more so where I'm at in my life and what that. What does that sound like? What does that feel like? How do I make that? And that was a process that I really had to give myself some grace to get started.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's called patterns.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What does that mean exactly to you? Why did you use that title?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Well, I'm an album girl. You know, I know that times are always changing and evolving, which is amazing, but for me, I think the way that you get to know an artist is by listening to track one, to track 15, 14 and a half in this case. You know, I think if you listen to it chronologically, you're gonna get a story and you're gonna get to know me more as a songwriter and a woman. And that's what I crave from artists. And so that's what I always want to deliver. And I think the album title really sets that tone of what is the story. And for me, my records have been a snapshot of that year and a half, two year period that I'm writing it. And so I think for me, you know, I kind of like came up for air after rolling up the welcome mat, and I was like, okay, okay, survived. That's awesome. I'm 30 at that point. I'm like, here's my life. What do I like? What do I not like? What have I contributed to both? What's in my control, what should I edit, what should I celebrate more? And then let me look at, like, my closest, most interpersonal relationships and let me challenge those. And it was the process of all that. And I think you hear all of kind of those intricacies throughout the record.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It is a story, start to finish. And you're right, that's not as common as it used to be, for sure. So I'm just curious, as such a great songwriter, which you are, and I think you consider yourself a songwriter first.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Always. Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What's the first day of the process like? In other words, time for an album.

[Willie Geist]

Where do you begin?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Just fetal position. No, I'm kidding. I mean, I really. I think for me, I. I've always written about my life, right? But I think in my brain, because I want it to be for everyone. Anyone and everyone, truly. I'm like, everyone's welcome here. Find something in this record that feels right to you when you project it onto your life, and it's yours. But I think my way of doing that was rounding the edges a bit, so leaving out some of the details, leaving out some of my personality. To me, that made it more palatable for people. And then I put out Rolling up the welcome Mat, my last ep, and there was nothing about it that I made to be a commercial record at all. It was, like, so personal. I didn't tell anyone I was doing it. I had just put out a record. And it was really selfish. I mean, the whole thing. For me, it was. I was going to write about my life at that point regardless. And I just felt like that perspective on a woman in country music in the south, whatever, talking about divorce, I hadn't heard exactly yet. And I just wanted to put it out just in case anyone found it, needed it. And then it changed my life. And so it really challenged, going into this chapter of making music. Like, okay, how do I not round the edges anymore? How do I stay this honest and this. Like, this tangible, with the storytelling in a very different phase of my life. And it took me a minute. And I think the breakthrough for me was I need to surround myself with people that I feel safe with, to just throw paint at a wall. Like, here's all my feelings. Here's what I'm going through, like, in my womanhood, in my relationship, whatever. Help me sort through this. What could this sound like? And So I called four of my girlfriends, and we started the process. And then as soon as we wrote, the first song we wrote was Sorry, mom, one of my favorites on the record. And I was just like, I think I'm gonna lock the door. I don't think I want anyone else to touch this. I think it's just us.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That group is incredible. I mean, there are songwriters who are really well known in Nashville who may not be known to the public, but then there's Karen from Little Big Town.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Iconic.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Just a great group. So how did you come to that place where I need a crew to sort of sift through all this material and let's go lock ourselves away on some girls weekends, as you said, and come out the door with an amazing album.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I didn't know that I wanted that particular crew at first. I think it was really just kind of getting into those first few songs where I realized that. I realized that these women, I mean, Hillary Lindsay, she wrote Jesus Take the Wheel. I mean, like, million reasons. I mean, she's just. She's one of the reasons that I'm a songwriter. You know, I remember being at Lipscomb, we were talking about Nashville, and I would literally get done with class, and I would go to my dorm room with my roommate Jensen, who's one of my dearest friends, and I would get on YouTube and I would look up every single writers round of hers and just hear all of her uncut songs and just study them. I just think she's the best. And then Karen Fairchild, Little Big Town. I grew up seeing them in Knoxville. I mean, she's become. You know, I just. I'm an artist that I admire. To appear to a friend, to a sister, to a collaborator, that's like, what a journey. Like, I feel so grateful to have all of those different versions of her. And then Jesse Jo Dillon, I mean, her dad is songwriting royalty, but now she's really having her moment. And she's just brilliant and articulate and humble and so down to go there. No matter where there is, she does not shy away from the truth. And then Elisa Vanderheim, she has just become my musical right arm. I just am so musically codependent with her. And she knows it to the point where she's like, kelsey, I need a break. I have to go work on other things. I'm like, but what about me? And so I just have these women that I just deeply respect and I admire. And the fact that they made time for me, it meant a lot. And so I think once we found something Special together. I was like, can we just protect this with our lives?

[Willie Geist]

How is it different, though?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Because this is so interesting from previous experiences you've had or that a lot of people have, which is a mix of men and women or a whole bunch of men writing for a woman.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What's different and unique about this experience and how did it affect the product and patterns?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

That's a great question. I think I'm really interested in it in womanhood and growing up. I think that's been a big theme in just in my life and, like, my personal kind of findings and growing up the last few years and certainly a pattern of this album. Very nice you hear. You really do hear womanhood throughout the whole thing. And not like, hey, let's have a girls night. Let's go. That's not really there, but there is this underlying tone of. Of maternal feelings and this warmth and this safety and this camaraderie. And I think for me, finding that and really solidifying that in my personal life, I did want it to reflect in the record, in the music you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Mentioned, sorry, mom, which is a great song. And anyone with a teenager or a young woman or man in their house can probably relate to this. As a parent, what did you want to say to your mom in that song?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I think one of the most beautiful things that's happened the last few years is the relationship with my mom, going from mother to daughter to woman to woman. And, you know, my mom, she'll kill me for saying this, but it's very true. Like, she was a helicopter mom growing up. You know, My parents split when I was 12, 13. I have a beautiful relationship with both my parents, but I think my mom was just. She was really careful with me. And then, you know, I grew up, and I went to a Church of Christ college for two years, and then I went straight onto a tour bus. And I think that juxtaposition was really hard for both of us. Cause I was like, oh, my gosh. Hi, real world. This is crazy. And she was like, kelsey, just sing and put on your jammies and go to bed. You know? And I'm like, but wine's cool. Anyway, so I think we just had, like, growing pains, you know, and. And now we're finally at this phase where I'm 31 now, and we're in this beautiful phase of life where I'm able to be like, hey, listen, I know that you probably wanted to shield me from a couple of the choices that I've made in my life, but at the end of the day. I'm safe and I'm happy, and you love me and I love you, and that's all we can ask for. How lucky are we?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's an amazing gift to give your mom that song. What was her reaction the first time she heard it?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I didn't play it for her, actually. I was in St. Louis on that first riding retreat, and she was actually. She. I'm gonna tell my mom now. She was at Bar Taco with my boyfriend and Kenny Chesney, and they were throwing back margaritas.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Wow.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

And so I gave that task. I passed that task off to play that song for her. Yeah. I didn't have to do it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So the guys played it for her.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah. I think Kenny eliminated himself from that situation. But, yeah, Chase played it for my mom, and it was a very beautiful moment for them to have together.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah. How did it hit her?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

She got done listening to it, and she said she has nothing to be sorry for, which I think is very sweet.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Very sweet. It is a beautiful song. It really is. You are. You mentioned your previous album, which, as you said, changed your life.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And it was so raw, and it was. In a moment. It was very difficult for you coming out of a divorce. When those songs go public and they become well known and everyone hears every detail of what you're going through. I don't. Regret's not the right word, but do you ever go, wow, I sure put it all out there. Or is that what you were aiming for?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

My feeling towards it now is so different than it was a year ago. I think at first, when I put it out again, I literally. I gave it to my management, my label. I said, hey, I made this. I'd like to just put it out on streaming. I'll do one interview. That's kind of it. Let's just let it ride. I just put out this other record called Subject to Change. I love it. Let's tour this, whatever. I did one interview on a podcast, Call Her Daddy. And just the culmination, I think, of the contents of the record, the songwriting. And then that interview just kind of. It just made, like, a little moment. And it terrified me so badly, because then I was like, did I overshare? Cause now there's a lot more ears on it than on the record that I just put out. That was not what I intended, and I had to get comfortable with the idea that, okay, this is super personal for me, and I'm still actively, you know, growing out of this chapter of my life. But what if the eyeballs on it aren't necessarily dissecting into my life. What if the eyeballs on it are because it's connecting, because they're feeling it, too? Whether it's a divorce or a breakup or a life change, there's a connective tissue there that I have not felt before in my entire career. And that's when I got more comfortable with leaning into it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's sort of the gift of what you do, isn't it? Thinking, maybe at first I'm spilling my guts, but then all these other people come in and say, no, those are mine too.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And finding some sort of bond with people you don't know, it's also where.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

You have to kind of detach your ego from it, you know, because, like, what a. What a very central thought to be like, oh, my God, people are, like, dissecting my life, where it's like, okay, what if they're not? Like, what if you actually dissected your own life and then put it out there? And now people are just again projecting it onto their life and feeling it however they're supposed to. I will say it's that whole record and body of music. It was such a gift, I think, for me. I. I was watching all these artists catch the wave, and I felt like I was on the board for a long time, and I was wondering if I would ever catch a wave like that. Like, one that would really help me shift out of kind of the puberty phase, as I call it. I'm not a new artist anymore, but, like, I haven't caught the wave yet. Like, I feel like I've caught little waves, but I'm not there. And I feel like that record was the first wave that I really, really caught. And. And then it was interesting because it was so personal, and it was like my life was on the shore at that point, you know, And I was like, oh, wait, but this is actually where I'm at. But, like, this is bringing me to my first arena, so, like, I'm gonna stay on this wave. Right. And it was a big juxtaposition in my head for a while.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah. Isn't that ironic?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes, it is.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You weren't doing it for cynical, you know, professional reasons. You were telling the story of what was happening in your life, and that became the thing that took you to another place.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's kind of an amazing thing.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is.

[Willie Geist]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Kelsea Ballerini right after the break.

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[Willie Geist]

Now more of my conversation with Kelsey Ballerini.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You were saying your first arena show, which was in your hometown, Knoxville.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

There's another one coming here.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah. New York City at Madison Square Garden.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You're playing the Garden and it's already sold out.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

What does that feel like, ironically and I don't know how this has happened, Willie, but I'm so grateful. I feel like I have played every venue as an opener, like the amphitheaters, the arenas, as an opener. Except for msg, I've never played it. I don't know how. It's just somehow been the only one that is untouched for me still. And I've seen shows there. I've been in the room, felt the energy, but I've never played it. So I. I'm giddy, I'm nervous. I haven't played a show, you know, in a minute. So to be back in that size of a room with a whole new record, that'll Be out for four days before the show happens with like, big girl production. It's like a. It's a big girl show.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

But I haven't skipped any steps. And I think I got really impatient for a while. Cause I was like, okay, I played Gramercy and then I played Irving, and then I played the Best Buy Theater, which I think it's a different name now. Yes, In Times Square. And then I played Reggae City Music hall. And then I opened at Barclays at Jones Beach. I mean, I've done everything. And so it just feels like here we are.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's exactly what you're talking about there. You've earned this. You've been riding those waves for a long time. And it feels like you're ready now. Like, this is the moment. What does Madison Square Garden mean to an artist? I know what it means for a fan. It's just a cool building and the ceiling's great. And every artist who plays there says the acoustics are amazing and all that. But just for you, as someone who grew up in East Tennessee.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And you're playing the Garden, what does that mean to you?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It's the most famous arena in the world. Right. I think for me, I remember when I first signed my record deal, Gordon Kerr, who was the label head, he set me down. He said, what's your goal? What do you want? And I was 20. And I said, I want to come up on a hydraulic lift in the middle of a big arena. And it sounds so silly now, saying that out loud, but for me, I. There's not a lot of women in country music that have graduated to arenas. And so I knew that if I was ever lucky enough, and lucky is truly the word, lucky enough to make that jump, I had to do it at the right time. And I couldn't fail because I don't. I don't want. I only want to add to that trajectory for women in country music. I don't want to take away from it. I don't want to fail. For me, for us. And that's why we've been so careful and reserved sometimes and all that stuff. And so I think for me now, being in a place where, like. Is it still scary? Uh huh. Yep. Me backstage will not be cute. I will be like finding a bucket. But I think for me, I finally. I bet on myself now. I bet on myself. And I believe that if there's ever a time for me to make that jump, it's now. And I believe in the music. I believe that this record Is the record to do that jump, to get to a room like msg.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You've earned it. You're ready. Yeah, you're ready. You know, you say you're one of the few women in country to be able to sell out an arena, which is true. But just hearing you say country, of course, that's the genre you're in, where you're placed. But listening to patterns, yes, it's country, but it feels like a little bit more than that. It feels like there's a bunch of crossover music in there and the way you write a song and tell a story and all that.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Is that a style that you. I mean, obviously you came up with both country and pop influence. You weren't pure country. So is that sort of. Is it fair to say that you're some combination of the two?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I mean, I always say that. I grew up on a farm in East Tennessee, and my first concert was Britney Spears, and I've just never shied away from it. You know, I think just like on top. Top 40 radio, you have Benson Boone, and then you have Dua Lipa, and then you have Cardi B and then you have Taylor Swift. You have so many different versions of what popular music is. Right. Why can't country be the same? You know, I think there's a ton of different versions of what country means to people. And listen, I love traditional, yummy country music, but I like, if I made a record like that, I would be dishonoring a lot of the other influences that I have and what inspires me. So I just have to focus on what feels right to me and my art, which is definitely influenced by everything. It always will be, it always has been. And I think I'm finally comfortable enough to know that that's not for everyone. It used to really offend me when people are like, that's not country. I'm like, but wait a second. I'm writing about my life. This is my truth. That's what country music is. Right. And I've learned that, like, yes, it is to me, and I believe that. And so it doesn't really matter where everyone else thinks it should fit. It matters what I think, like, where I believe it fits. And to me, it will always be country, but it will always be country adjacent as well.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Well, that brings me to back to your childhood a little bit, because it tells us a lot about where you are today. When you're a kid growing up in Knoxville and you've got, you know, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears and all Your favorites to go with all the country stars that you love, and you love Shania and you love Taylor and everybody else. So when did music come into your life? I know you wrote your first song when you were 12 for your mom, but when did it become something that was clearly gonna be the guiding force in your life?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I loved music growing up. Like, I did church choir, and then I led worship sometimes, and I did Glee club at my high school. I'll tell you a story. So I tried out for everything. And we did Peter Pan, my. My sophomore year of high school. And I tried out to be Wendy and Tinkerbell, obviously. And I did not get either of those roles. I got the ostrich. Did you know there was an ostrich in theater? Pan. I love Becky Thomas, my high school choral director, with my whole heart, but I think that she gave me a pity role. I think she wrote it into the script for me. I had a, like a latex head that went over my head. You couldn't even see me, thank God. And I just got chased by lost Boys and that's all I did. That's all I did.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Not that you mentioned. I do not recall an ostrich in that story.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I think we should call someone. Yeah. So, you know, I loved music, but I just. Nothing clicked yet. Like, it wasn't my thing yet. And then my parents split when I was 13, and I'm an only child. And so for me, I took it really hard. And again, I love both my parents so much, but it was a rocky couple years to figure out what that looked like. And I think 13's already that age where, like, I got tall, boys got cute. Everything's changing, you know, we got hormones, where do we sit at lunch? Like, all that's existing. And I think it was that kind of crossroads, like one of the many that we have throughout our life where I was like, man, okay, what's going to be important to me? Where am I going to go? Because I have a lot of feelings right now, and I'm at that age where I could go a million different ways. And I went to the guitar. Thank God I couldn't play at all. And still I'm not great, and I can admit that, but I just. I felt so much solace and refuge in being able to have all these big feelings about my life as a 13 year old and how it was changing and evolving and all these things and knowing that I could keep it safe somewhere that wasn't within me. And I fell in love with it, like it's the. It's the truest love of my life. It really is.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's a little bit of an escape, maybe in that time for you place.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

To go, an escape kind of. But really, I think the most honest I ever am with myself is when I'm writing. Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So you get.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Don't tell my therapist that.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So at some point you get serious enough about it that you convince your mom you need to move to Nashville.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So you leave Knoxville.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Uh huh.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's quite a leap.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Did your mom go along with that idea right away or how did that go?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

No, I mean, it was a bit of a journey. I'm lucky because I'm privileged because growing up, my parents, if I wanted to try gymnastics, they let me do that. They supported me in that. I danced for 10 years. They were like, here, take these classes. I understand that as a privilege. And it was a hobby. I liked all of it. It was fun, you know, But I think particularly my mom watched music go from a hobby to a passion. It was like a real thing for me. And I started bugging her about moving to Nashville freshman year of high school. She was like, not yet. Well, no, I will get you there, just not yet. You know, she's like very faith driven. And some stuff happened at high school my sophomore year, and she was like, let's finish this year and let's go. It's time. I was like, let's ride, let's go.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Did that incident at your high school impact the shooting that took place that people may know about? Did that impact your decision to sort of turn a page and move to Nashville?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

That was the year that. Yeah. So there was a shooting the seventh day of my sophomore year at my high school and changed a lot of people's lives, obviously. But that for me was the day that my mom said, okay, let's get through this year and let's. It's time. I think that was her. Her sign to make a change for our family. For me, it made me go 100%, 100 miles per hour into music. I mean, that was the year that I got hyper involved with my Glee club and did all the musicals. And I mean, I just. That was. That was. It was a. I needed music, you know, and that's what made me feel safe at school. So I did that. And then. Yeah, and then after that, we. We left.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So you get to Nashville, you're 15 years old. What's it like for an aspiring teenage musician in Nashville? What does that even look like? Ooh.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I was Winging it, let me tell you. I mean we had met a couple people. Cause we would make a lot of trips to Nashville and I would sit outside of the Bluebird Cafe with my guitar on the railing. Cause I couldn't get in. So I'd play for the line of people as they were going in to see the actual. I was just figuring it out. My mom had a full time job and we moved at the beginning of summer. I was 15, I couldn't drive yet. And so every day I would get up and I would flip between CMT and GAC and I would watch the videos and then at the end of the video they would have the label, the songwriters, sometimes the director and I would make a little list. So a couple hours every morning and then I would go to my mom's computer and I would just google everyone. And that was my way of kind of studying the places that I didn't know how to get to quite yet. And so I kind of took myself to school because I knew I needed to like move in that direction. I just didn't know how yet. So I just learned.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So it's one thing to have those names down, but when a little 16 year old girl, a young woman, knocks on the door of a label, what do they say? Like, how did that begin for you? In a way that they listened to you and said, yeah, come on. Hear you play.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Well, my first ever experience, it was, it was at an independent label that does not exist anymore. And I walked in and I played a song that I had written by myself. And he looked at me and he said, well there's all reggae, Taylor Swift. And at the time, I mean she was like, she is to me still. But I mean at the time she was the person I was studying, you know, because she was young and she was in country music and she was writing her own songs and she was defying every odd. And I was like, that's what I. Yes, yes. You know, perfect. And so hearing someone to me that was all almighty and powerful at the time. Tell me no. And that was the reason. It was heartbreaking for me. And in hindsight it was so helpful for me because he was right, you know, I was like, I was so. I wanted to like be exactly what, I wanted to do exactly what she was doing, but I didn't know the difference of I needed to take what she was doing and learn from it, but I needed to do it my own way and I needed to figure out what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it and what that sounded like and like, yes, be inspired by your heroes, but also what matters to you and how do you want to do things differently and make your own name and your own mark. And so it was a very bittersweet lesson, but it was needed. And then, you know, fast forward a couple years later, and Taylor, like, walked into my life like a. Like an angel fairy and changed it. So it's funny how the universe works.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Isn't that crazy? Like, somebody you look up to becomes almost a contemporary in many ways.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Oh, she just. She posted about my record before. My first single was top 40, and. And really changed my life. And we were, like, very close for many years. And she really took me under her wing as an artist, but really as a woman. And a lot of my firsts, my first time getting nominated, my first time performing on an award show, my first time having weird things written about me in a tabloid, she was my call, and so I. I couldn't respect her more. And I'm very grateful for what she does for every. Every female artist, but really, every artist. Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What were the big lessons? Write your own songs, be raw and honest. All the things that she does that a lot of people see in you as well. What did you take from her?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I remember I asked her. I was like, you know, I'm a girl on an independent label, so this is proving to be a little difficult for. For me. And she was like, you have to become undeniable. Whatever that means to you, whatever that looks like for you. But, like, one thing about me is I will not stop, you know? And so I think maybe she saw that in me and she just said, yeah, you. You have to become undeniable. Then no one can tell you no, because what is no? You just pivot right. Pivot right.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You know, that's a good piece of advice.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Easier said than done.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

But, I mean, listen, I'm still, like, telling myself that on the wreck.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Just be undeniable.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Stick around for more of my conversation with Kelsey Ballerini, right after a quick break. Auto insurance can all seem the same.

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[Willie Geist]

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[DSW Advertiser]

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[Kelsea Ballerini]

Easy.

[DSW Advertiser]

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[BetterHelp Advertiser]

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[Willie Geist]

To the rest of my conversation with Kelsea Ballerini.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So your first album, I think you're 19 years old when it comes out.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I wrote it when I was 19. I think it came out.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Came out when you're 20. Spins off three number one songs. Your first album? Yeah, Not a bad effort out of the gate.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

One was called Peter Pan.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yes, that's right.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Not the ostrich.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You graduated from the ostrich to a number one song.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Finally.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

What kind of validation did that feel like to have your first effort? You have no idea how it's gonna go. You hope it's gonna go well, but for it to go that well. How did it feel?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I just kept my head down, honestly. And I wish that I could go back and like pick my head up every now and again and just say, look, be present. Cause there's even stuff that I don't remember. Cause it all happened so fast. And listen, when you're in that phase of your career, especially as a woman, especially in country, you are in a full sprint and you have no other option. And I'm proud of myself for that. But at the same time, I do wish that I would have picked my head up a little bit more and really taken it in. But the thing that made it so special was it wasn't just my first number one. It was like the label's first number one. This first number one for the songwriters that I was involved with, it was a big team win. And that felt even more special.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And then when you as you moved along so you're 20 years old at that point, did you change the way from there that you approached music? The way you wrote songs? Like, what did you. In other words, what did you learn from that first experience, that went well, but I'm sure you look back on and be like, maybe I could have.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Done this or done that to stay naive. I think that naivety is such a gift because when you don't know what you can't do, you think you can do anything, and then in turn you do. And I didn't know a lot. Like, I remember. Remember Tomato Gate?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Okay, Well, I remember when Tomato Gate happened. I think Carrie Underwood had the number one song that week. And then I was in the top five with my first single. And so I was cast into this conversation that I just, honestly, I was not ready for. And I learned a lot very quickly. But I wish I could have been more educated and eloquent at that time to understand the lack of women in country music and have that conversation from a more empowered place. But I wasn't. I didn't, you know, But I think for me, that was just one example of, like, I didn't know that there was a huge gap between men and women and, you know, on the charts, I didn't know that, you know, there were some things with an independent label that were gonna be wonderful and some things that were gonna be harder. I didn't know about 360 deals. I didn't know about tour support. I didn't know about all these things, you know, and so I just loved the people I was around and trusted them, and I still do. And I still have most of the same team. And we just figured it out. And I'm glad that I had that level of naivety. And I still try to keep a lot of it. I still try to be savvy and smart and educated, but still have just enough to keep the magic of what we do alive.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's well said. I was thinking too, about you, the balance you have to strike when you write so honestly and so personally about your life to maintaining some level of privacy. Obviously, as you said, you're in a very high profile relationship right now. So how do you live so openly but also keep some things for yourself?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I don't know. I mean, I don't know. I think it's trial and error. I'm not used to the interest in me as a person as much as I have been warming up to the last couple of years. You know, I think for a long time I was used to being the girl that sings Peter Pan for people, and I love that. I love that role, you know, but as far as, like the floodgates that welcome that opened up, as far as Human me, girl, me is different now. And so I'm still getting my footing on how I share things and what I share and my relationship and all that stuff. And I mean, you know, it's. It's not normal. So I think it's fair enough that it's kind of an ebb and a flow.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

But, yeah, it seems from the outside like you both handle it well. You both speak glowingly about each other in public. And I know you said about this album Patterns that it's not all. Yeah, mushy, gushy. Yeah, I mean, it's like there's Instagram life and then there's real life too.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I think the beautiful thing about being with an artist, you know, just in a different field, but an artist is that also equates to being with a truth teller. And when I got into this relationship, I hadn't put out welcome mat yet, and I remember I sent that EP to him and I just said, hey, you're gonna ask eventually, so I'm just gonna go ahead and give this to you. And he lifted that record up and supported it and stood side stage the whole time. And, you know, that takes someone who really celebrates truth telling and believes in the person that is doing it. And so when it was time to make this record, I couldn't shy away from that idea of, okay, new relationship, two year relationship now. But, you know, when you're, when you're in your 30s, you have like all these, these past relationships that you have experienced and how your family operated and all these things that you're bringing to the table. And of course that's gonna take some, like, some kind of, you know, getting your footing to figure out and work through. And I'm really proud, personally of the way that we've been able to do that. But I'm also really proud of the way that I was able to write about that and celebrate the moments that could have gone one way, but we fixed patterns and we did it together. And I think that that's a really celebratory thing on this record. And I'm really proud to be with someone who again celebrates truth telling, even when it's ours. I think I love love and I love. I'm such a relationship girl, and I love my relationship, but I love the nuance of it and I love what's made it great. And what's made it great are the moments that I got to write about now. My hope is that kind of like what we talked about earlier, people can listen to it and they can, like, they can listen to it as me talking about me, which I know they will. But I also do hope that now I've said as much as I really want to say about anything, you know, and so now I hope that people take it and put it on their own lives.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It becomes theirs.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah. Yeah. That's the goal.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Last thing before I let you go. The Voice.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

The Voice. This is a voice.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

How exciting.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It's so fun to be in one.

[Willie Geist]

Of the big red chairs.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I know. John Legend feels so powerful with a button.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Oh, yeah. Adam Levine, Michael Buble.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

How did that come about?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And how. How much fun has it been because you're already shooting it?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I am. We're, like, pretty deep into it. I filled in for Kelly a couple years ago during the battle rounds, and I had done a couple things like an advisor role and stuff on the show before, and I loved it. But when I sat in Kelly's seat, I was like, I think I want to do this. And so when Blake left, the producers came to Nashville and they were interviewing country artists. I didn't know who, but I was one of them. We went to dinner, and I knew them at this point, so I felt comfortable. We had this dinner, and at the end of the dinner, I mean, I came out of my skin. I don't know how I did this. I leaned across the table and I'm like, hey, I don't know who else you're talking to. I'm sure you're talking to legends. I was like, but I really want this. And I know that I'm probably newer, and I know that I probably don't have the track record that other people do, but I can do this. And I really, really want this job. And fast forward to, like, truly, like, kismet. Perfect timing. And I. I got the job, so that's amazing. It's been awesome.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And is it as fun behind the scenes as it appears for someone who watches the show?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes. Arguably more.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah. Just chaotic. We all talk just over each. It's like, it's truly like a little sister and three big brothers. It should be a spin off show.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And it's just that our buddy Carson Daleyza.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes. I love Carson. Trying to bring all the time. He's like, I'm talking. Cameras are rolling, guys. We're like, oh, sorry.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Well, it's so fun to watch all these great things happening for you. As you said, it's well deserved. You've been at this a while, riding these waves. And now the Voice and selling out the garden and this fantastic new album.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Thank you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Very happy for you. Congratulations.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Good to talk to you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You too.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Also, I was stalking you on TikTok this morning.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Oh, you were?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

And someone asked you a question.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Am I on TikTok?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah, you're on TikTok. And they asked you if you are more of a hamburger or a hot dog person.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

They did.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

And you said, oh, you're a hot dog over hamburger. Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Really?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I wouldn't have pegged you for that.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah. So next time, next time we chat, let's go to a hot dog stand and just. We should have to erase that from my memory. Really, I feel very strongly about it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Do you really?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I do. I mean, I like the cheeseburger, but.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I was gonna say, is it not that you don't like the cheeseburger, that you love the hot dog?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Like a New York hot dog?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I love a Nathan's hot dog.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

But if you're asking from the street.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You walk up, you get it from.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

The guy, the charm, the allure of it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

But a backdoor barbecue, you're taking the hot dog over the.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I'm taking the hot dog.

[Willie Geist]

Really?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I'm taking the dog. Dumb.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And she does impressions.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

All right, let's go for a walk.

[Willie Geist]

After our sit down conversation, we stepped outside into the crisp autumn New York City day. You heard Kelsey say she stalked me on TikTok and found out I chose hamburgers over hot dogs. I legitimately don't remember that. It turns out out I was asked at a Mets game last year that question. I stand by it. I still like a hamburger. But we did find what our luck walking around New York City because there's one on every corner, a hot dog cart. So now Kelsey and I step outside.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

This is my favorite time of year. I love it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I love it.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Just feeling like fall.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's not muggy, it's not cold. Sweater weather.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Weta weather.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's the best.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is so good.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It's kind of a tight window here because by November it gets cold.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I know.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And then you're in like three months of sleep.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

So this, like right now, but I.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Also feel like Christmas and just holidays in general here are. There's a different level of magic.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

It is. I feel like we're filming the opening credits of a TV show.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I know. What's it called? Crossing the fall in New York. I don't know.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

This is a good time in New York America, huh?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is. It is. I do feel like there's such a magic to this city. And I've always told myself that I think there's going to be a day where I'm gonna need like a creative just shift. And I would love to just come up here and write for a month, just Airbnb somewhere and just be not in what I know.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You know, people, There are people from Nashville recently even who've done that.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Like a little apartment in the Village.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Go record down there even. Yeah, right. Record. Just get your people with you.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yep.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You know, I think that'd be a good move for you. What's your next album?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I know I, I, it might be. I do think being somewhere that's not so familiar to you, it breeds like a different perspective in the music. And I'm, I found that, like on the retreats that we did for this album, I found that. So I do feel like huh. Is next to New York. I don't know.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I think we're planting the seed now. This is purely coincidence, I assure you.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

But you know what I see? You know what I see is hot dog. You know what I don't see is a hamburger. And it's a great day to be alive. Are you gonna do it?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Should we do it?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Are you gonna get a hot dog?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Well, of course I am. I mean, yeah, I'm gonna get a hot dog. How you doing?

[Willie Geist]

Good, sir.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Oh. Oh my God.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I've got a big fan of New York City hot dogs here.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Huge fan. I'm a huge fan.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Do you have a good hot dog here?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah. Could we have two of them, please? Thank you, sir.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

What do you. What's your topping?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I'm doing a little both.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I'll do, I'll do it with you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Do you both?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yep.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

But you're mostly a ketchup person.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I am.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Which I am generally for the bit.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Just cuz I, I feel like this isn't a bit.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

This just happened.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I feel like you would rather to be a cheeseburger. So I'm just gonna, I'm gonna do exactly what you're doing so we can be aligned here.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's very generous of you, but walking up to here, I don't want the burger in my hand. I want the hot dog. This feels like a hot dog moment.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

You live here.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah. This feels like a hot dog moment.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

See, I'm just bringing you back to your roof. Thank you. You're welcome. And it does kind of feel like I'm back in Knoxville a little bit too, somehow.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Oh yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Very kindred. Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

You know what we had. Oh my Gosh. There is a roller skating rink near the house that I grew up at, and they had pickle pops. So you get like the normal candy hot dogs or a pickle pop.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Is that what it sounds like?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is pickle juice frozen in an ice tray with a toothpick in it.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Wow.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

And my God, we would line up for those.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That actually sounds really good.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I mean, if you like pickles. If you don't like pickles. People are repulse hearing that right now. Sorry. If you don't like pickles, that is a bad thing to hear. That's nightmare fuel.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

That's some country stuff.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

It is some country stuff. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. People are like, you're not country. I'm like, have you ever had a pickle pop?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I mean, case closed.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Thank you, please. I had a cow named. Well, I had three cows. Rudolph, Snowball, and Angel. Nope, not angel. Angel. That was my goldfish. Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Rudolph, and Snowball. That's right. I had a goat named Mama Goat.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Okay, well, we're gonna do ketchup and mustard, right?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yes. The classic combo.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Did you split those and then cook them?

[Willie Geist]

That's a good method.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Do you see how you split it?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

And now it's back.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Oh, wow. This is. This is good.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Mustard, right? Yeah. This is my first meal in New York. Starting it off right.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Listen, you brought it up.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Thank you.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

You brought up the hot dog controversy.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

This is how you prep for Madison Square Garden. You know what I mean?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yes, please. Thank you. I mean, look at the variety that comes out of this little place. Yes.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

These are really good.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Yeah. Thank you, sir. Oh, yeah.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

That is so good.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Wow, he really went.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Cheers.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Cheers, Kelsey. To patterns.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

To patterns. And to New York City hot dogs.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

There it is.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Welcome back.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

There it is.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Welcome back.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Back on team Hot Dog.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Back on team Hot Dog. Wow. Anyone else want a hot dog?

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

The splitting method is interesting.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I haven't seen that before.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

Inside, I like that, you know?

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Yep. Sorry. This is not cute.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I'm not going for cute at this time.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

Okay, good, good.

[Kelsea Ballerini's Interviewer]

I'll just crush it. Okay. What do I owe you? Thank you. That's for you. Thanks, Mexico. This is not for tv. I'm doing it.

[Kelsea Ballerini]

I needed this.

[Willie Geist]

It was a good hot dog. My big thanks to Kelsey for a great day in New York and a great conversation. You can catch her new album Patterns, wherever you stream your music. And my thanks to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear my conversations with our guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday Today every weekend on NBC. I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on Sunday. Sit Down Podcast.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

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