Kelsea Ballerini Gets Candid About Divorce In Honest New Interview: ‘The Glitter Wears Off’
Kelsea Ballerini is opening up about the reasons she chose to divorce Morgan Evans. The “Heartfirst” singer recently appeared on…
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo Courtesy ABC
Kelsea Ballerini is opening up about the reasons she chose to divorce Morgan Evans.
The “Heartfirst” singer recently appeared on the Tell Me About It With Jade Iovine podcast where she explained her decision to end her nearly five-year marriage.
Ballerini, 29, shared that she’s “really intuitive and in tune” with herself and that’s how she knew it was time to call it quits.
“For a while, it was kind of like, ‘OK, this is just a new phase of a relationship,’ because relationships go through seasons, right? And it’s not always going to be butterflies and rainbows,” she said. “For a long time, I was like, ‘Oh this is just… The glitter wears off. That’s what happens.’ And then you get into a phase where you wait for it to come back. And then sometimes it doesn’t.”
The East Tennessee native admitted that “divorce is a bitch” but ultimately knew that staying would have been worse than leaving.
“At the end of the day, it is such a disservice and a dishonoring of yourself if you know something is not right and you stay,” she said. “[Shame] is the one thing that I just refuse to feel… Judge me for it, fine, that’s on you.”
After filing for divorce in August, Ballerini has kept herself surrounded by her friends and family and said she’s not ready to be alone yet. In fact, at the time of the podcast interview, she had not spent a single night by herself since she and Evans split.
“Whether it was my mom or my dad or my friends, I’ve had my people really rally for me and I’m not ready to be alone yet,” she explained. “And I don’t think that I’m avoiding anything, ’cause I’m definitely in my feels, cause I really want to heal properly… But yeah, I don’t think that’s what I need right now.”
During the interview, Ballerini also discussed the “shame” that is associated with divorce and said, “That is just the one thing that I just refuse to feel. I just refuse to feel it. Judge me for it, fine, that’s on you.”
Ballerini and Evans finalized their divorce in November on the same day Ballerini earned a GRAMMY nomination and picked up the keys to her “dream house.” That night, she played the Grand Ole Opry and held nothing back when she stood in the iconic Opry circle.
“In my last song, there’s no judgment or keeping score. So, the truth is that this morning, I started my day at the courthouse, finalizing my divorce,” she told the Opry crowd.
“And then getting nominated for Grammy. And then getting the keys to my dream home. And now standing in the circle of the Opry. And shit, if that ain’t country music, I don’t know what is.”
Ballerini announced the couple’s split on Instagram in August, calling it a “deeply difficult decision.”
“Friends, I’ve always tried my best to share my life with you in a real and vulnerable way, while also protecting layers of my personal life as they unfold. This is now public record so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce,” she wrote.
“This deeply difficult decision is the result of a journey of love, growth, and effort that ultimately has come to an end. It’s hard to find the words here…but I feel extremely grateful for the years of marriage to Morgan and hopeful for the next seasons.”
Evans later confirmed the separation on social media.
“I am very sad to confirm that after almost 5 years of marriage, Kelsea and I are parting ways. I wish it were otherwise but sadly it is not,” he shared.
Ballerini and Evans met in 2016 while co-hosting Australia’s Country Music Channel Awards. Thor relationship flourished and they ultimately wed in December of 2017.
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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