Kelsea Ballerini Says Timing Of ‘The Voice’ ‘Worked Out Beautifully’
Kelsea Ballerini has always been a busy woman but now she’s preparing for the role of a lifetime, in the judge’s seat, for season 27 of The Voice. The country star will join the judges panel in 2025 alongside Michael Bublé, John Legend, and Adam Levine.
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This is not the first time Ballerini has worked with the singing competition. The “Cowboys Cry Too” singer was previously the first-ever coach of the comeback stage, a battle advisor, and even filled in for Kelly Clarkson during season 20 of The Voice.
“Between the three of those experiences, I was like, I think I really want to do this. I’m so uncomfortable, but I like it,” Ballerini said.
She continued, “I’m not writing a song or singing my song on stage. It’s just like a different part of the job, I guess. And, it’s also on TV and a lot of people watch it, and that’s terrifying.”
Almost two years ago, when fellow country star Blake Shelton left the show, producers from The Voice were visiting Nashville. They were in town to interview several artists for the gig, including herself. They took to dinner, but she did not know who else was on the list.
“At the end of dinner, something just came over me and I looked at them and I said, ‘Hey. I really want this, and I know that you’re probably talking to a lot of people that have a bigger track record and all the things, but I just want you to know that I know I can do this and I really want to do this, so I just want you to hear that from me.’ I walked away and I was like, well, who is that? Who is she? And so, yeah, then the call came for this next season,” Ballerini explained.
Ballerini went on to say, “Luckily, you know, I was like, no, I didn’t get it last year. Then ‘Rolling Up The Welcome Mat’ happened. I was able to have the time to like really tour it and really, really put my focus into that music, which is the most important thing to me. So it really worked out beautifully and I’m very excited.”
The 30-year-old follows in the footsteps of fellow country singers including Shelton, Dan + Shay, and Reba McEntire, as well as Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Usher, Nick Jonas, and more who have all served as a judge on The Voice.