From Heartbreak To Healing: Kelsea Ballerini’s Journey Culminates in ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good)’

In February, Kelsea Ballerini released Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, a collection of songs that detailed the downfall of her marriage and her divorce. The project found the GRAMMY nominee being more open and honest than ever as she shared her side of the story through raw and emotional lyrics that painted the picture of the downfall of a relationship. 

Coinciding with the release of the EP, Ballerini released the Rolling Up The Welcome Mat short film, taking the heart-wrenching songs to the next level.

The project instantly resonated with fans and has gone on to become one of her most successful releases to date.

Finishing The Story

Now, in an effort to close this chapter of her life, Ballerini is finishing the story with the release of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good). The expanded recording finds Ballerini once again teaming up with Alysa Vanderheym and includes “Interlude (Full Length),” a live rendition of “Penthouse (Healed Version)” that encapsulates the dynamic atmosphere of her live shows, an enhanced “Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay)” incorporating the lyrics introduced during her Saturday Night Live appearance, and the brand-new track, “How Do I Do This.” 

A ‘Thank You’ To Her Fans

Earlier this week, during a screening of her Rolling Up The Welcome Mat short film at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Ballerini reflected on the EP and this new release.  

“There’s just been so much that’s happened and it’s because of you guys telling me to sing these songs and you guys showing up over and over again for the process of the lifespan of this EP. So yeah, it is the end of this chapter,” she shared. “It is my thank you to you for showing up for this chapter.”  

As for the new track, Ballerini explained, “There’s a new song, “How Do I Do This.” It’s about going on the first date after. I feel like I want to catch you up, I want to kind of bring us into a new space that is positive and that’s kind the next step of the story.”

The lyrics of “How Do I Do This” find the 29-year-old being vulnerable once again as she questions herself before her first post-divorce date. 

“I’m scared of looking stupid/ Said I, I’m ready/ Now I gotta prove it/ Got a little black dress/ I wanna use it/ And maybe lose it/ On a floor that ain’t mine/ I think it’s probably time to keep it moving/ I talk a big game that I’m scared of losing/ Everything I knew about love is ruined It’s so confusing/ So, how do, how do I do this?,” she sings on the chorus. 

Listen

Now dating Chase Stokes, Ballerini is thriving and ready to officially put the conversation about heartbreak and divorce behind her. 

“This is my way of closing the really life-changing chapter of my life as an artist and a woman and I’m really happy,” Ballerini told the crowd of fans and industry professionals inside the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater. 

TODAY Appearance

To celebrate Friday’s release of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good), Kelsea Ballerini appearance at Rockefeller Plaza for NBC’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY. While there, she performed “Penthouse,” “Heartfirst,” and “Blindsided” and opened up about the next chapter of her life. 

“I’m about to turn 30 and I’m excited to take a little bit of time off and go celebrate with my friends and my family and hang with my dog, and really dig my heels into my real life a little bit and live a life to write about,” she said.