How Kelsea Ballerini Got Her Start in Country Music (DETAILS)
Years ago, the Voice Coach was just a girl with a dream.
Long before she was destined to sit in one of The Voice's Coach's Chairs, Kelsea Ballerini was just a girl who dreamed of being a country music star. But how did the 31-year-old get her start in the industry? What was the catalyst that inspired her to get into songwriting?
The reason will resonate with many fans!
How Kelsea Ballerini began writing songs
In a 2014 interview with CMT, the Knoxville, Tennessee native explained that she turned to songwriting at 13 as a way to navigate her feelings surrounding her parents' divorce.
"I found it right in that time," Ballerini revealed. "I started coping with life through that way and never stopped."
As many teenagers know, there aren't many outlets other than putting your thoughts down on paper when dealing with such an impactful life moment. For Ballerini, her love for songwriting blossomed out of her interest in other forms of writing.
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"I wrote poems and journals, but that's when it switched for me to songwriting," Ballerini confessed. "That's when I wanted to do everything. It was like a fire all of a sudden."
Shortly after getting bit by the songwriting bug, Ballerini knew what she needed to do:
"I started coming to Nashville and moved here when I was 15," she said.
Ballerini wasn't kidding when she said she "never" stopped songwriting. In 2025, she's written five albums' worth — and counting! — of songs that reflect her country music roots and are so introspective. It's the latter aspect of her as an artist that has earned her so many fans over the years, and it's an inspirational reminder that so much good often comes out of healthy coping mechanisms in times of stress.
How did Kelly Clarkson impact Kelsea Ballerini's music career?
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Although Ballerini and Kelly Clarkson are now friends in real life, all friendships start somewhere. The first time Ballerini saw Clarkson perform live in concert changed everything!
In an interview with Country Living, Ballerini revealed she was only 12 years old when she attended one of Clarkson's concerts. During that fateful show, she realized, "That's what I want to do when I grow up."
Call it inspiration — divine intervention — but Ballerini believes Clarkson being caught winking on stage during that concert was a sign.
"Ever since then, I've been like, 'Kelly Clarkson told me to be an artist,'" she admitted.
Of course, ever since that day, the two stars have seen quite a few parallels in their respective careers, especially being regarded as two of the most fan-favorite Coaches in the history of The Voice!
