Kelsea Ballerini has made it no secret that new music is on the way, but the details of that new music she's keeping under wraps… for now.
LISTEN NOW: Kelsea Ballerini talks new music with Katie Neal at Audacy’s Leading Ladies
“It’s still in the pod, in the incubator,” she told Audacy’s Katie Neal of new music while backstage at Audacy’s Leading Ladies event presented by Olay Body. “It just needs a minute.”
Keeping the project close to her chest until she’s ready to set it free is a reflection of just how much heart, soul, and love Ballerini is putting into the album — much like her last EP, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, which took her to new heights earning her 4th career GRAMMY nomination.
“I still want to have that pureness and that intention of making something that I’m proud of that reflects the truth of my life right now,” she said of the similarities between the two projects. “It’s getting there.”
She continued, “It’s been a process this time — in the best way — so I’m allowing it to have the time that I think it deserves. I think for a long time, in my whole career, since my first record I’ve been like, ‘OK. Keep pushing it out, keep it going,’ and I just want to honor this music. I want to do it right.”
Knowing her fans are anxious to hear what’s to come, Ballerini promises it’ll be worth the wait. “It’s something I’m really proud of. It's taking shape in a way that’s different than how I anticipated even and that’s why I want to give it the time and space it deserves to really make sure that it’s the record that it needs to be.”
Kelsea took the stage at Audacy’s Leading Ladies event presented by Olay Body on Wednesday night at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre in honor of uplifting women’s voices, triumphs, and stories. She performed an acoustic writers-round-style set alongside Elle King and one of her longtime favorites, Meghan Trainor.
“I’ll never forget, this is such a random story,” she said before remembering what an influence Trainor had on her in her teenage years. “She was on the cover of Seventeen magazine [when] I was in high school. It came in the mail… and my Mom was like, ’Oh my God, Kelsea, I thought it was you — but it’s not,’” she laughed before saying, “I remember keeping that magazine and being like, she’s so cool, she’s on the cover of Seventeen!’”
Now, Ballerini is that role model for young women all over as she is a Covergirl, Pantene spokesperson and much more. So, what’s next?
“My true answer is, I don’t know but I am so open,” Kelsea stated. “I think for a long time I was so zoomed in to being one thing… Now, I’m like, ‘What else? What else will creatively fulfill me or push me or challenge me?’ That’s what I’m excited about in this chapter of my life.”
Don't miss Katie Neal's full chat with Kelsea Ballerini above, and stay tuned for more coverage from Audacy's Leading Ladies 2024 right HERE.