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Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Why She Embraces Fear: ‘Rip the Band-Aid’
Kelsea Ballerini has overcome some major hurdles in her life, including a very public divorce and mental health struggles, but she’s ready to let go of fear.
“I had to shed some skin and make some tough choices and know that although things would be difficult for moments, it would make things so much better in the long run,” she told People on April 1.
The “Miss Me More” singer continued, “I think it’s running toward things that scare you and standing up for things you believe in and doing it all unabashedly.”
“That’s really been the biggest change in my life, just going, ‘Rip the Band-Aid.’ That’s what I credit being happy and steady to,” she added.
Ballerini revealed she also stopped overthinking while performing. “As an opener, and then even my first few headline tours, my biggest fear was talking on stage, to the point where I would literally get on my laptop and have the set list up and I would type out word-for-word exactly what I was going to say and when I was going to say it every night,” she told People.
“This tour, I’ve done none of that, and it’s just been so freeing. If I feel like talking, I’ll talk for 10 minutes and read signs and get people’s stories and stuff like that,” the “Voice” coach shared.
She said, “It’s kept me really present for each show, and it also helps me remember each show. That’s been the biggest shift, the freedom of not worrying about what I’m going to say on stage.”
Ballerini Says Therapy Has Helped Her Tremendously
Ballerini revealed in an October 2024 interview with Women’s Health that she began going to therapy regularly at 24 years old after questioning her life choices.
I was starting to have questions like, ‘What is driving me?’ ‘Is missing Mom’s birthday worth it?’ ‘Am I okay?’ ‘And am I happy?’” she said.
The country singer revealed, “I couldn’t answer these fundamental questions I should have been able to answer, so I got back into therapy, by my choice, and fell in love with it.”
Ballerini also turned to therapy to help her face insecurities that she wouldn’t be popular with “The Voice” fans.
“I’ve gotten to the point where, if people don’t like my music, I’m like, ‘Fair enough. Not everything is for everyone.’ [With The Voice], it was the first time I was putting myself in a position where people are just not going to like me,” she admitted.
Ballerini Admitted That She Doesn’t Like Disappointing People
Ballerini didn’t let a cold stop her from performing at the Detroit leg of her tour in February, Taste of Country reported. “I’m gonna level with you right off the bat, I’m sick,” the singer told the crowd.
She added, “I’m also a perfectionist, and I also have this crippling fear of letting people down. So I’m going to give you absolutely every ounce of everything I have left.”
On February 11, Ballerini seemed to be back on her feet and shared an Instagram carousel that captured moments on the road. “just what the doctor ordered,” she wrote.
