Kelsea Ballerini Announces ‘Bucket List’ Hometown Concert In Knoxville
Ballerini will kick off a “new level of touring” with the hometown show.
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Kelsea Ballerini is heading home for her first major area concert at Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
On the morning of her 30th birthday, Ballerini surprised fans with the homecoming concert news, revealing plans to headline her hometown arena on Thursday, November 2.
Homecoming Concert
Ballerini announced the news in a video featuring her beloved dog, Dibs. In the clip, the country superstar and her four-legged pal are seen hopping in her jeep and making their way to the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. They pass iconic Knoxville landmarks such as the Sunsphere, the historic theatre district, Neyland Stadium, and more.
Decked out in their best Tennessee Volunteers gear, they wind up inside the arena that Ballerini will soon headline where they come face-to-face with Smokey, the UT mascot.
Watch The Announcement Video
The one-night-only event will feature special guests Ingrid Andress and Georgia Webster.
“Throughout the last decade and four albums, there has been a consistent ode to my hometown. Whether it be lyrically like in ‘half of my hometown’ or celebrating milestone moments in venues like my high school, the Tennessee Theater, or the Civic Center, it’s always been incredibly important to me to go back to the place that let me go to chase my dream. Playing Thompson-Boling has been on my bucket list since I was a little kid watching my favorite musicians come through town and is the perfect place to celebrate such a bookmark year and kick off a new level of touring.”
With “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO)” steadily making its way into the Top 15 on Country radio, and after successfully headlining three theater tours over the past ten months, along with being the exclusive support act for Kenny Chesney’s I Go Back 2023 tour, there remained one important item on Ballerini’s agenda: go home.
Bucket List Moment
The homecoming performance will take her back to the very place that molded her spirit, instilled my core values, and fueled her unwavering determination to achieve success.
Tickets for the event go on sale for members of Kelsea’s fan club at 10AM local time on Wednesday, September 13. General on-sale for the once-in-a-lifetime show is 10AM local time on Friday, September 15. For purchase tickets, visit her official website HERE.
VMAs Performance
The East Tennessee native is also gearing up to perform for the first time ever at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Tuesday, September 12. Emceed by Nicki Minaj, the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 12 at 8/7c on MTV.
Kelsea Ballerini is currently up for two nominations at the 2023 CMA Awards, including Female Vocalist Of The Year and Album Of The Year (‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’).
Additionally, the GRAMMY-nominated artist recently released Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good), which arrived on August 11. The project features seven tracks, including a brand-new song “How Do I Do This,” which brings Ballerini’s life story “up to date.”
Latest Release
Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good) also includes updated lyrics in “Penthouse (Healed Version),” “Interlude (Full Length)” and “Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay).” These fresh releases reflect Ballerini’s recent performances that have come as a result of her journey to finally finding peace and healing from her 2022 divorce with fellow country artist Morgan Evans.
“I thought when Alysa and I were making Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, it was something I would release and never revisit,” Ballerini shared. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, and that wasn’t the point of the music. Now, in hindsight and with a full heart, I want all those people who came alongside me and supported this album to know that I will never be able to fully express my gratitude, but (For Good) is my best attempt.”
Ballerini continued, “And I also want them to know: we move on. The best part of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good) is knowing I don’t need to talk about this stuff anymore. My whole life is ahead of me, so this expanded version is to let people know there’s real freedom in breaking down, in facing the emotions because it gets you to where your life can really shine.”
For more information on Kelsea Ballerini’s latest project and upcoming shows, visit her official website HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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