Kelsea Ballerini Solidifies Her Status As An Arena Headliner With Unforgettable Hometown Concert
If this homecoming concert was a test run for a possible arena tour, Ballerini passed with flying colors.
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by Catherine Powell
23 years ago, Kelsea Ballerini attended her first concert at Knoxville, Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena, and on Thursday evening (Nov. 2), she returned to that same arena for her first-ever headlining arena concert. The sold-out show was a testament to her star power, natural-born ability to entertain, and the unwavering connection she shares with her fans.
With her hometown crowd cheering her on, the songstress took the stage at approximately 8:40 pm, treating her fans to an enchanting two-hour musical experience that spanned her nearly 10-year career.
An Epic Homecoming
Opening the show with the powerful “Mountain With A View,” Ballerini set the stage for what was to come as she arose from under a platform and was met with a chorus of applause. Instantly captivating the audience, the two-time GRAMMY nominee confidently paraded around the stage performing hit after hit for a sea of adoring fans.
“I’ve gotten to play a lot of shows in the last decade, in a lot of places that I love. But if there is one show that I’m glad you came to, it’s this one,” she said, beaming. “This is my first big girl show.”
As the audience went wild for the superstar, she added, “To be able to come back and feel so held and so welcomed and so loved by the place that let me go is something I’ll never be able to say thank you enough for.”
Next-Level Production
A hometown arena concert was a bucket list moment for the 30-year-old singer/songwriter so she pulled out all the stops in honor of the occasion. Taking her production to new heights for the special, one-night-only show, her road crew increased from 33 to 79 and from three buses to eight. With all hands on deck, the show featured next-level visuals, including pyrotechnics, lasers, confetti, and more as well as several outfit changes.
Without missing a beat, Ballerini flawlessly transitioned from hit to hit allowing each song to have its own moment in the show. She reflected on the start of her career with “Love Me Like You Mean It,” gave a nod to her fans with “Legends,” and brought the honky tonk party with performances of “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too) and “Hole In The Bottle.”
Surprise Guest Kenny Chesney
A particularly special moment came during Ballerini’s performance of “half of my hometown.” Halfway through the first verse and chorus, she paused and said, “Can we stop? I can’t be in Knoxville and sing this song without Kenny Chesney!”
A roar of applause filled the arena as Chesney joined Ballerini on stage. “Before we sing this song, Kelsea told me backstage she goes, ‘Don’t make me cry up here.’ I’m not gonna make her cry, but I do wanna say just how proud I am of Kelsea and her band,” he shared from the stage. “Tonight is very special and I’m thrilled to be back in East Tennessee to celebrate Kelsea Ballerini.”
Those who were in attendance to witness this heartwarming moment between the pair of East Tennessee natives should consider themselves quite lucky. Re-live the moment HERE.
B-Stage Set
After Chesney exited the stage, Ballerini gave fans in the back of the area a front-row seat with a quick set from the b-stage, which included a “girl squad” performance of “Homecoming Queen” with opening acts Georgia Webster and Ingrid Andress.
Flying High
Shaking hands and hugging necks along the way, she made her way back to the main stage for a quick costume change. Following an energetic performance of “Weather,” Ballerini surprised the crowd by flying above the stage on a giant illuminated star adorned with sparkers while singing “Peter Pan.” When her feet were planted safely back on stage, she said, “Guys, did that look cool? ‘Cause it was scary as s**t!”
One of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’s most buzzed-about tracks, “Blindsided,” was a crowd favorite (fans shouted “yeah, sure, okay” at a high volume), and her fiery rendition of “Miss Me More” once again proved her was born to entertain.
It was clear that fans were anxiously awaiting Ballerini’s performance of “Penthouse” and she didn’t let them down. Recreating her viral MTV VMA performance, Ballerini did a quick change mid-song to reveal a black mini dress under a long white silk gown. With the audience clinging to every word, she went on to sing “How Do I Do This,” offering fans a glimpse into the beginnings of her budding romance with Outer Banks star, Chase Stokes, who was sweetly cheering her on from the soundboard all night.
An Emotional Ending To A Remarkable Evening
In a vulnerable moment, Ballerini closed the show the same way she began her career: just her and her guitar. Making her way to the end of the catwalk, she acknowledged her mom, dad, her high school chorus teacher, and her boyfriend, who were all in attendance for the special night. She then expressed immense gratitude to her fans.
“If there’s one thing you hear from me tonight, it’s ‘thank you,’” Ballerini, visibly filled with emotions, shared. “I’ve never, ever truly, in my life – in my life – been more grateful for what I have.”
Following a tear-filled acoustic performance of “What I Have,” Kelsea Ballerini bid farewell to fans, closing the curtain on what was, without a doubt, the best show of her career thus far.
Kelsea Ballerini – The Homecoming Show Set List
Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tenn.
Mountain With A View
Heartfirst
Love Me Like You Mean It
Yeah Boy
Legends
If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)
Love is a Cowboy
Cowboy Take Me Away (The Chicks cover)
Hole In The Bottle
Half Of My Hometown (with Kenny Chesney)
You’re Drunk, Go Home
Leave Me Again
I Hate Love Songs
Needy
The Way I Used To
Homecoming Queen (w/ Ingrid Andress and Georgia Webster)
This Feeling
Interlude (Full Length)
I Quit Drinking
Weather
Peter Pan
Blindsided
Miss Me More
Penthouse
How I Do This
Doin’ My Best
What I Have
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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