Kelsea Ballerini Gets Vulnerable In ‘homecoming queen?’

Kelsea Ballerini’s long-awaited new single, “homecoming queen?” is finally here and it does not disappoint. The Tennessee native previously shared…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

September 6, 2019

Kelsea Ballerini – Homecoming Queen

Kelsea Ballerini’s long-awaited new single, “homecoming queen?” is finally here and it does not disappoint.

The Tennessee native previously shared that “homecoming queen?” was her most emotional single to date and she wasn’t kidding. The song, which Ballerini co-wrote with Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins, is all about showing your true self and realizing it’s okay to reveal your insecurities, even when it’s not easy to do so.

The storyline centers around a homecoming queen who hides her true emotions from the world, but the raw, honest lyrics can be applied to everyone’s life.

“But what if I told you the world wouldn’t end/ If you started showing what’s under your skin/ What if you let ’em all in on the lie? Even the homecoming queen cries,” Ballerini sings in the chorus.

The just-released music video for the song captures the message perfectly. Directed by Shane Drake, the clip opens with Ballerini just coming off stage to a beautifully decorated dressing room. As she sings the song, the camera moves around her, slowly stripping away everything on the walls as well as her glam – her extensions, makeup, false eyelashes, etc. At the end of the clip, a makeup-free Ballerini is shown wearing simply sweats inside a black room. As the music video closes, she’s left bawling on the floor.

The emotional single is the lead release from Ballerini’s yet-to-be-announced third studio album. Click HERE to purchase or stream “homecoming queen?” now.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.