Kelsea Ballerini Talks About Hating Love Songs and Representing Country Music

Kelsea Ballerini ended 2017 on a high note (literally) and is showing no signs of stopping down. She released her second full-length album, Unapologetically; married fellow country singer Morgan Evans, picked up nominations at the Academy of Country Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards, released a new music video for her (ironically-named) track “I Hate Love Songs”, and headed off on tour with country music legend Keith Urban. It’s OK if you want to take a breath — we’re exhausted just thinking back on her highlight reel too. Oh — and did we mention she recently performed at the Amazon Music Prime Day concert, alongside Alessia Cara, Julia Michaels, and Ariana Grande? Yeah, NBD.

But Kelsea isn’t letting a hectic schedule wear her down — or disillusion her from why she began making music in the first place. (After all, she got her start when she was 19, so she’s a pro at all of this by now.) She sat down with Teen Vogue to talk about hating love songs, stanning her tourmates, and being a forever fan even as she becomes a major voice in country and in music at large.

Teen Vogue: You came out with a new music video for "I Hate Love Songs" not too long ago. In the video, you're kind of poking fun at different love cliches. What was your vision behind that?

Kelsea Ballerini: I’d done the really ‘90s pop dance video. I had done the really dramatic storyline video. I’d done an acting video. I’d done just everything else. And in my real life I try to be funny. So I wanted to show that side of myself and really keep exploring new things as an artist. I wrote the song and love the lyrics so much, and I really wanted those to come to life.

TV: In “I Hate Love Songs,” you’re rebuking clichés, but how do you make sure you’re not falling back on the same old ways of talking about love in your songwriting? How do you make sure your lyrics feel fresh, even when you're talking about well-trodden subjects?

KB: Songwriting... everything has been written. It’s all about finding something about love or something about life and saying it differently. That’s the creative twist. That’s the hook. That’s what you really have to work hard for. Or sometimes it falls into your lap and it’s a gift. But that’s when you know you have a great song — when it’s something that’s such a universal thought, that’s been said a million times but you said it differently.

TV: You're currently on tour with Keith Urban. What has that been like? Were you a big fan growing up?

KB: I have this picture from the CMT Awards when I was 15 years old, like reaching across the barricade as a fan to shake his hand. I think he’s the best that country music has. So just to be able to do what I do and introduce myself to his fans and then turn into a fan every night and go watch him is super sick.

TV: How has your mindset shifted from that fan perspective over the years?

KB: It doesn’t shift. I have two gears in my brain and it’s like artist mode and fan mode. And I never want to lose that excitability as a fan. To wait in line for an hour to spend 30 seconds with someone is the coolest thing ever. I did that for so many people. I never want to lose that side of myself.

TV: Country music is experiencing a bit of a shift right now, with women like you and Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves all making great music. What is your vision for the genre and what country will talk about?

KB: I think it’s always evolving, just like every other genre. What I do think is cool about country right now is that the stigma is starting to dissolve. The stigma of, like, it’s all about cowboy boots and trucks and beer. Obviously there are songs about that, and I hope our genre always keeps the root of country music. But there’s so many other influences in songs on the chart right now. You can hear rap influence, R&B influence, folk, pop, all of it. And it’s making our genre bigger and helping dissolve those barricades that have kept us over here for a while.

TV: You recently posted an Instagram video where you went through your makeup routine and got really vulnerable about self-worth and the work it takes to get stage-ready. How do you use your social media to connect with fans?

KB: I just remember as a fan how much I looked up to and studied everything Miley Cyrus did and Taylor Swift did. I remember being so open to everything they did and wanting to be like and wanting to do the same things. So I want to be authentic for any girl that might be following me and thinking that same thing. Sometimes that is a fun and glittery and a beautiful moment I want to share. And sometimes it’s not because, that’s life. I always want to have both of those things.

TV: You performed at the Amazon Music Prime Day concert on a roster of all women: Alessia Cara, Julia Michaels, and Ariana Grande. What is it like to perform with just women, especially when country music is still so male-dominated?

KB: Well, there’s layers to it. I love representing country music wherever I get to go, especially when it’s in an all-genre field like [that concert]. And I just think it’s important to showcase talented people and showcase people’s art and craft. I think it’s awesome right now that people are highlighting female [artists] more. And I hope that continues to happen, especially in country music.

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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Kelsea Ballerini Wants to Go Beyond the "Highlight Reel" on Instagram