The Summer time of Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea Ballerini doesn’t think about herself to be a “go-with-the-flow” sort of particular person. It’s T-minus 48 hours earlier than trend’s largest occasion of the yr—the Met Gala—and the singer-songwriter nonetheless hasn’t seen her Michael Kors robe in particular person, nor has she tried it on.

And the nerves are beginning to set in.

“Let me present you what I do know; I do know it has flowers!” the 30-year-old excitedly shares as she whips out her cellphone to indicate sketches. She’s straight off the aircraft from a lady’s journey to the Bahamas for an early-morning picture shoot in New York, however her power degree is unwavering.

“I’m excited, however I’m nervous! Very nervous. Chase shall be with me on the pink carpet, in order that helps. You recognize I’m such a girly-girl, so I’m able to play dress-up, however there are a number of unknowns because it’s my first time attending. I’ve been advised the lavatory selfies are the one time it is best to actually take your cellphone out. I’ve additionally heard that I must get numbing spray for my toes and Band-Aids for my clutch, which I’ve on lock. What can I say, I’m a Virgo!”

Astrological indicators and Band-Aids apart, Ballerini additionally appears to have it on-lock this summer season. Whereas she could also be greatest identified for being a multiplatinum songwriter and producer, she remains to be the one feminine nation artist to rake in three consecutive number-one singles from a debut album. She additionally has two of the most important magnificence offers within the business: She’s not solely a CoverGirl, but in addition a face of Pantene and one of many model’s Wholesome Hair Ambassadors. If that weren’t sufficient, she has a brand new single this summer season, an album rumored to be popping out within the fall, and a brand new prime-time TV gig that she’s weeks away from filming.

After a quite public divorce, she additionally has boyfriend Chase Stokes and her open-aired Jeep by her facet this summer season, that are two extra causes for the massive smile on her face.

Your profession is absolutely taking off and I heard you’ll have a brand new job within the works. What are you able to inform us?

“Sure! I feel I can share this! I’m going to be a coach on The Voice. Earlier than I depart, I’m ending the album and cramming in as a lot actual life as I can. Then I’m going to LA July by way of September to go attempt on a brand new profession for a minute.”

Congrats. Are you enthusiastic about shifting to LA? I do know you’re a Nashville lady.

“Am I enthusiastic about shifting to LA? In no way. LA makes me shake in my boots! I’m actually excited to do one thing so out of my consolation zone and to have this chance—a possibility the place I’m nonetheless invested in music, however otherwise. I’m excited to take a few of what I’ve realized over the past decade and attempt to assist different folks. I’m excited to attempt one thing new.”

Proper now, I’m simply cramming as a lot into life as I can.

Lots has modified for you since we final spoke two years in the past, each personally and professionally. However you appear actually pleased.

“What isn’t new since final time we talked? My Saturn return actually kicked my ass. The final two years have been the most important transformation, however in a great way. I really feel like I’ve grown up into somebody I’m actually pleased with, and that features being somebody who’s nonetheless actively attempting to develop.

I don’t know…possibly it’s turning 30, or what I’ve realized up to now 10 years, or what I’ve been by way of within the final two, however I’m very drawn to development and attempting new issues proper now. I’m attempting to not keep too stagnant in my life, however I’m additionally centered on discovering stability. I really feel like every part is a bit unrecognizable—in a great way.”

That’s good. Now you have got your two large magnificence offers. Congrats. That should have been large once you received these calls.

“After I moved to Nashville, I used to be 15 and I had a bucket record. Clearly I’ve added to it, and I’ve taken away from it, and I’ve crossed stuff off from it, however each the CoverGirl and Pantene partnerships are so large. I keep in mind being a preteen and going by way of the magazines and seeing the commercials on TV, and I truthfully can’t consider I’m an ‘Straightforward, Breezy, Lovely CoverGirl.’ I’m nonetheless starry-eyed over it.”

You mentioned you’re going to attempt to make a while for enjoyable this summer season. What does that appear like for you?

“I need to discover the West Coast. I’ll have my canine with me and I’m excited to take days off and get on the market, hire a automobile and do what I do after I’m again residence in Nashville: Put the home windows down and go drive and see what’s happening.”

I do know you discuss rather a lot about relaxation and psychological well being. What do you do if you end up so busy to depart work at work on the finish of the day?

“I do remedy as soon as every week. I’ve by no means been this in keeping with it, and I’ve observed that it’s extremely useful to maintain to that schedule. I feel I’ve lastly realized how one can have a ‘swap.’ I used to at all times pleasure myself on, ‘I’m going to be the identical on a regular basis!’ I hope that I’m at my core—I do know that I’m at my core—however now there’s a little bit of a swap that I’m capable of flip off after I’m in my actual life and in my denims and with my buddies, my boyfriend, my canine, my mother or dad, or whomever. I’m capable of ‘click on’ into being a 30-year-old girl, daughter, buddy…and simply attempt to be current for that.”

Is it laborious when there’s a lot curiosity in your life? Do you have got part of your life that’s only for you?

“I don’t thoughts. I don’t thoughts as a result of I don’t have an excessive amount of of a duality. What I submit may be very a lot who I’m. Even on stage, that’s who I’m. Certain, every part is a little more dramatic and amplified, however it’s nonetheless who I’m at my core. I by no means need to overthink an excessive amount of. Is somebody going to be upset in the event that they got here to a present after which they arrive as much as me at dinner and I wasn’t what they anticipated? I don’t need to overthink that an excessive amount of as a result of I don’t have an excessive amount of of a duality of a character.”

That’s nice. My final query: What would you inform that lady who confirmed up together with her mother in Nashville 15 years in the past?

“Not a rattling factor. I actually wouldn’t. I really feel like there’s actually nothing I’d need to know. Every thing occurs the best way it’s alleged to, even when it’s not precisely the way you thought it might prove. I’m actually pleased with each my previous and my expertise. It hasn’t been good, and I haven’t been good in any respect, however it has occurred completely.”