Kelsea Ballerini: What She Is So Glad She Did
Kelsea Ballerini performed at Nissan Stadium at CMA Fest on Friday (6/7) and brought fans to their feet with her rousing show.
Before she took the big stage, Kelsea chatted with the press backstage and said that as popular as she’s gotten, she’s never stopped being a fan. She told us, “The best thing I ever did for myself was be a fan, and the best thing that I continue to do for myself as an artist is be a fan. Even a couple of years ago, I think I played on Friday or Saturday and then came back with my mom the next day and watched the show.”
She continued, “I really try to fill that cup, especially at CMA Fest. Everyone’s favorite artists are all here at the same time, and to be able to have thirty minutes to watch them on stage or thirty seconds to meet them in a meet-and-greet makes such a difference.”
Ballerini has put in the time as a fan before her own star began to rise in Nashville, so when she comes face-to-face with her faithful following at the event, she has walked in their shoes. She said, “I’ve been the one waiting. I’ve been the one in the nosebleeds here at Nissan.”
She added of CMA Fest, “It’s important, and it’s magical. I would say if you’re someone here who wants to be in music, do all of CMA Fest just once.”
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No stranger to performing on the big stage at CMA Fest, Kelsea actually hosted the ABC CMA TV Special along with Thomas Rhett from 2015 to 2019.
A few years back, Ballerini told us about what fun it was to host CMA Fest for several years, “Every year is like literally a whirlwind different CMA Fest. The reason I loved hosting it so much, though, is that it kept me in the stadium, and I got to watch everyone, which I didn’t get to do before I hosted.”
She added, “I love being a fan and watching my friends do what they do. So yeah, that was really cool to get the fan tank filled. And hosting was fun too.”
Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, and Jon Pardi also performed at Nissan Stadium on Friday night (6/7).
This year’s (2024) CMA Fest TV special hosts are Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde.