NASHVILLE, TN — Country star Kelsea Ballerini hard-launched her latest musical era with a wave of intimacy and emotion this week, hosting two exclusive “The Mount Pleasant Experience” listening sessions in Nashville on Monday, November 17. The event served as the debut live performance of her new five-song EP, Mount Pleasant, which dropped just days prior on November 14.
The venue, a Nashville production studio, was completely transformed to reflect the contemplative mood of the new music, notably inspired by her single “I Sit in Parks.” Attendees were ushered into a “lush faux parkland,” complete with artificial turf, rustic swing sets, benches, and glowing lamp posts—a scene enhanced by the subtle scent of burning incense. The pop-up also featured a photo booth and displayed the star’s memorable looks from the era’s music videos, giving fans a glimpse behind the curtain.
The Statement: “Not to Make a Point on the Internet”
During the intimate sets, the 32-year-old artist performed all five tracks, pausing between each song to offer deep insight into its writing process and inspiration.
However, the most pointed moment of the evening came during her discussion of the standout track, “Emerald City.” Ballerini addressed recent social media speculation directly, telling the crowd: “I write songs to relate to, not to make a point on the internet.”
The comment follows a public call-out from her ex, Chase Stokes, who had criticized fans in her TikTok comments for what he called “f***ing weird” speculation that the song was aimed at his former costar and ex-girlfriend, Madelyn Cline.
A Tearful Thank You
The emotional peak of the evening arrived as Ballerini wrapped the show with her mental health ode, “Check on Your Friends.” Growing visibly emotional, she broke down in tears while thanking her fanbase for their unwavering support throughout her career and the vulnerable phases of her life.
“Thanks for embracing the not-so-glittery parts of me over the last few years,” she said, her voice catching. “I know that I’m the luckiest to be able to have all these very big feelings and be like, ‘I need to put it in music or I will combust.’”
The star also extended her gratitude to her professional support system, including her label (Black River), management (Sandbox), and creative agency (CAA), for allowing her the freedom to pursue her art authentically.
“To have a team and a label that has allowed me to do that over the years, whenever it feels right… I just want to say that the biggest thank you to the trust fall that it’s been consistently back and forth… that just allows me to just do this — good, bad, ugly, red, green, and happy and sad.”
Mount Pleasant follows Ballerini’s acclaimed 2024 album, Patterns, showcasing a continued willingness to explore the depths of personal experience through her music.
@nashvillemusic Emerald City from show two of @Kelsea Ballerini event in Nashville as part of the launch of Mount Pleasant. Amazing emersive experience with Kelsea and around 200 fans. #kelseaballerini #emeraldcity #mountpleasant #mountpleasentsc #nashville