Kelsea Ballerini broke into the country music scene as a bright-eyed 19-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee. After over a decade of hard work, her efforts have paid off. Fresh off the release of her 2024 record, “Patterns,” Ballerini embarks on her first-ever arena headlining tour. I saw her on the fifth night of her 30-date tour at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia.
Before Ballerini’s set officially started, the screens lit up with a graphic of a happy blue heart from her single, “Heartfirst,” off the “SUBJECT TO CHANGE” album. The heart addressed the audience with a set of rules to, “be kind, don’t throw things, and most importantly, let it all out.” Ballerini’s music and live performances are a safe place for her fans to let out all of their pent-up emotions. As the heart said next, “Did you really go to a Kelsea Ballerini concert if you still have your voice the next day?”
Excitement was high as Ballerini started the show with the titular track to her album, “Patterns.” Her vocals were strong and clear, commanding the stage as all eyes were on her. To begin, she sat silhouetted upon a mountain of suitcases, representing the metaphorical baggage she sorts through in her latest album. The stage remained dark as Ballerini’s name came up on the screen while visuals of her played behind her.
When she moved down to the front of the stage, a spotlight came up to shine upon Ballerini in her geometrical gold dress. She looked gorgeous with her long, wavy blonde hair flowing as waved to the crowd. She then started playing “Baggage,” which has become a fan favorite from Patterns. A song about moving forward in a new relationship after the end of an old one, the heartfelt and relatable lyrics clearly connected with the audience as they yelled them back to her.
From there, she went back a decade to play her debut hit single, “Love Me Like You Mean It.” Released when Ballerini was only 19, this song opened the door for her launch to stardom. The love for this song has only grown stronger as time has gone on, and it was clear that some OG fans were there to show their support.
The energy of girl power and sisterhood was high the entire night. However, all of the men around me seemed to enjoy the show as much as the women they came with. Soon up was, “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO),” an anthem of female friendship and a promise to be a true ride or die for your girls. Though I went to the show by myself, I didn’t feel left out seeing the other women grab their girl friends and promise to be there for them until the very end.
After another throwback with “Hole in the Bottle,” Ballerini exited the stage for a few minutes as glowing lights descended from the ceiling and the visual of a spinning carousel appeared on screen. Ballerini returned to the stage in a skin-tight, glittery catsuit and shimmery black heels. She strutted down the catwalk with the confidence of a born performer, which, of course, she is.
Her stage presence shined as she sang, “Blindsided,” a song detailing the feelings of anger and betrayal that occur after a breakup. Since its release, this song has resonated with fans who have taken Ballerini’s words and projected their own experiences on them. This was clear as the noise level rose with fans screaming the words as loud as they could. “So, we have some female rage in here, huh?” Ballerini asked as she started another angry anthem with, “Miss Me More,” followed by, “We Broke Up.”
Things calmed down with “Two Things” and “Mountain With A View/Interlude.” Next up was “WAIT!” This song is my favorite from “Patterns,” and I have been waiting to hear it live since the album was released in November. It completely exceeded my expectations and was the highlight of my night.
Ballerini exited the stage a second time and returned in a glittery black romper and an acoustic guitar. Her band had also exited the stage, letting her have a moment alone with the audience. She spoke about the evolution of her career and her gratitude for the love and support her fans have shown her throughout the years. She also spoke about her dog, Dibs, who was sitting backstage with her partner, Chase Stokes. Fans know the love Ballerini has for her dog, especially as she played the song she named him after.
After a few more throwback songs, Ballerini went back to playing songs from “Welcome Mat” and “Patterns,” ending the set with “How Do I Do This?” She exited the stage in a shower of confetti as the crowd cheered. But that wasn’t all. The stage lights came up again to reveal Ballerini in a dramatically fluffy black jacket. For her encore, she sang “Penthouse (Healed Version)” from “Welcome Mat.” She hit every note, crushing every high note with ease. As the title suggests, Ballerini has long healed from her past experiences. However, she still managed to express the raw emotion that comes after a brutal breakup. The energy was palpable as she ended the night on a high note. As she exited the stage for the last time, I wished she could play her entire discography.
The evening felt like a night of self-care surrounded by 13,000 other people who needed it as much as I did. Though it can feel like the weight of the world gets heavier each day, Ballerini reminded us all to “check it at the door” and enjoy a night of catharsis through music. If you need a night that feels like a sleepover with your closest friends, Kelsea Ballerini is your girl. Her music has held me through the best and the worst times, and I look forward to seeing her again in the future.
Ballerini’s talent is undeniable, and her vocals sound the same, if not better than they do in studio versions of her music. With her captivating stage presence and ability to make a seemingly personal connection with everyone in the audience, she is a superstar, she is finally getting the recognition she deserves. If anything, her live performances just prove that a headlining tour was long overdue.
Written By Tessa Brainard
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