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Kelsea Ballerini will be the first to tell you she feels refreshed—and has entered a new phase of her life and career. The singer took a rare break from working on her album in New York City to perform for the first time in over six months at the inaugural SoFi "Amplify Your Ambitions" competition at CMA Fest and mentor three finalists vying for the $200,000 grand prize from the financial institution.
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Before taking the stage to perform four songs at the Hutton Hotel's Analog Room, Ballerini showed off her coaching skills. on The Voice , giving live feedback to the three finalists: country-pop singer Shantae Poulin, country-soul duo The Kentucky Gentlemen, and the winner, singer-songwriter Karen Hardy.
«"It's funny, I learned a lot while I was on 'The Voice,' like how to give advice. And my main piece of advice is: there will always be people who will express their opinions. And some people should be listened to more than others," Ballerini said in an interview. Rolling Stone before the event. "But even if the opinions of authority figures don't suit you—if you listen to their advice and it doesn't seem right—ultimately, your word and your intuition should come first.".
For Ballerini, the CMA Fest performance marked her first return to the stage all year, after touring in 2025 and releasing a deluxe edition of her 2024 album. Patterns , and EP Mount Pleasant . This project, released last November, included a mention in Rolling Stone in the song "I Sit In Parks," in which she reflects on the possibilities of her life if she had taken a different path, singing: "Am I guilty of chasing things? / Biological clocks don't wait / I did the damn tour / This is what I wanted, this is what I got / I turned around and stopped / And wondered if I missed the mark?" / But Rolling Stone says I'm on the right track.".
Naturally, we couldn't help but ask her about this mention.
«"I think there are certain pillars in the music industry that, in terms of authority, deserve attention," Ballerini explained the phrase. "And Rolling Stone "For me, it's always been one of those pillars. Rolling Stone and the Grammys—these are certain associations that make you think, 'I hope one day I'll feel their support and attention, because that's the level of music I want to make.'".
She added: "So, the song 'I Sit in Parks' is a song about how I've been striving for one thing my entire adult life, and can I really strive for multiple things at once?"«
Has she reached the level where she feels she is now capable of this?
«"I think I'm beginning to understand that sometimes less is more. For a long time, I didn't believe in setting aside time for myself, but now I've discovered that when I do, I'm much more immersed in the creative process and more eager to return to it when the time is right," she said.
In fact, Ballerini says she's currently in a "transitional period" in music as she creates songs for her next album, which she's working on entirely in New York City, moving away from the Nashville music scene where she's realized all of her previous projects.
«"I'm at a point in my career now where I wanted to explore a different energy, even in terms of location," she says. "And what would my country music sound like if it were inspired by a city other than Nashville? New York is such a vibrant city. Everything is blooming, people are always out and about. Even on all the demos, you can hear sirens and people's voices in the background.".
At last year's CMA Fest, the singer spoke Rolling Stone, that she's ready to "enjoy the moment" and take a break. "I'm taking a proper break. And now I'm working on my next project," Ballerini says. "It's not out yet, so I just want to stay in this private world and keep it under wraps for as long as possible.".
Even when she leaves Nashville to pursue her project, she keeps her eye on the future of the genre. She notes that she listens to Carter Faith's album. Cherry Valley and also loves Stella Lefty and Avery Anna.
«"This year's ACM Awards ceremony was a huge inspiration to me," she says. "The girls are truly shining in this country.".
Ballerini's only performance at CMA Fest came as part of her long-standing partnership with SoFi, which hosts auditions for more than 500 aspiring musicians competing for a $200,000 grand prize.
«"Their top priority, whether it's college, buying a car, their first home, or anything else, is really helping them invest in themselves and their dreams," Ballerini says of SoFi. "Before you achieve that first success, that first deal, it's an investment of time and resources. And being competitive becomes very expensive. This is a huge investment they can make in their lives and careers. It's life-changing.".
The event, hosted by SoFi Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Stafford Webb, drew a star-studded crowd, including Gossip Girl and The Boys star Chace Crawford, country singers Stella Lefty and Dasha, and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East.
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