Kelsea Ballerini Gives Stellar Performance and Gives Back in Atlantic City

The country crossover superstar put on a stage spectacle at Hard Rock Live in Atlantic City

Kelsea Ballerini live — *Kelsea Ballerini [Matt Bishop/Pop Vulture]*

Last night at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, country crossover superstar Kelsea Ballerini dazzled a capacity crowd inside the Etess Arena. Behind her latest album Subject to Change, Kelsea is currently headlining some of the biggest venues of her career on her Heartfirst Tour, named after the album's lead hit single. While her rise hasn't been completely meteoric, her steadfast journey from opening act to big room headliner has been incredible to follow.

As her following has grown, Kelsea is using her platform to show support and envoke change in the community. With this show, Kelsea partnered with the Hard Rock brand to support a cause that has become very important to her. Backstage before her performance last night, Kelsea met with George Goldhoff, President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. At Kelsea's recommendation, the casino pledged a $5,000 donation to The Trevor Project, which provides advocacy, education, and crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth in America.

*George Goldhoff, left, Kelsea Ballerini, right [Matt Bishop/HRHC Atlantic City]*

Later in the evening, a massive LED screen and theater curtain slowly parted in the middle of the stage, and Kelsea's silhouette emerged to an enamoured roar form the capacity crowd. Donning the same dress from her album cover, she kicked off the evening's festivities with "Subject to Change," the title track from her latest LP which arrived nearly a year ago through Black River. After highlighting two more new tunes - "The Little Things" and the tour's namesake "Heartfirst" - she wasted no time taking fans down memory lane with a mash-up of some of her biggest hits - "Love Me Like You Mean It," "Dibs," and "Yeah Boy." While any of those could have been saved for the encore, the crowd was thrilled to hear that many Kelsea classics right off the bat.

Judging by the look on her face, it was clear that Kelsea was in awe seeing Etess Arena filled to the brim.

Not wanting to lean on her back catalog, Kelsea proceeded to play a total of nine tracks from her latest record, a solid chunk of her 21-song set. Other highlights included "Half of My Hometown," "Blindsided," "Penthouse," "Homecoming Queen," and "Peter Pan," among others. She threw in a cover of Miley Cyrus's smash, "Flowers," and seemlessly sewed together one of her latest songs "Love Is a Cowboy" with The Chicks classic "Cowboy Take Me Away."

*Kelsea Ballerini [Matt Bishop/Pop Vulture]*

Even though the crowd would have stayed for another hour or two, Kelsea wrapped things up with her breakup anthem "Miss Me More" and another shot from her latest album, "Doin' My Best."

Having covered her very first national tour when she supported Billy Currington back in 2015, it has been delightful to watch Kelsea's career evolve. Back then, she did a Meet & Greet for a few fans out in the lobby bar of the venue. Since then, despite all her monstrous mainsteam success, she seems to remain grounded and thankful for everything that has brought her to this point. If she keeps with this formula, she will most likely be headlining the world's biggest arenas one day very soon.

Kelsea Ballerini's journey began when she inked a deal with Black River Entertainment at just 19-years old. Her natural talent for crafting relatable and catchy lyrics caught the attention of industry executives, leading to a recording contract.

In 2014, she released her debut single, "Love Me Like You Mean It," which became a breakout hit. The song reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2015, making Ballerini the first solo female artist to achieve a No. 1 debut single on this chart since Carrie Underwood in 2006. Her debut album, "The First Time," followed in May 2015, featuring hits like "Dibs" and "Peter Pan," both of which also topped the charts, solidifying her status as a rising star in country music.

Kelsea Ballerini is known for blending traditional country elements with modern pop influences, creating a unique sound that appeals to a wide audience. Her lyrical themes often explore love, heartbreak, self-discovery, and empowerment, delivered with a relatable charm. Her musical inspirations include iconic country artists like Shania Twain and Taylor Swift, as well as pop stars like Britney Spears, reflecting her dual love for country storytelling and pop melodies.

After the success of her debut album, Ballerini continued her ascent with her sophomore album, Unapologetically (2017), a deeply personal record that chronicled the highs and lows of her love life. The album included the hit singles "Legends" and "I Hate Love Songs."

In 2020, Kelsea released her third studio album, "kelsea," which showcased her versatility and growth as an artist. Later that year, she surprised fans with "ballerini," a stripped-down version of the same album, highlighting her raw vocals and songwriting prowess.

Her latest effort, Subject to Change, further cemented her place in modern country music, featuring hits like "Heartfirst."

Ballerini has also collaborated with notable artists, including Halsey on the duet "The Other Girl" and Kenny Chesney on "Half of My Hometown," which won multiple awards.