Kelsea Ballerini graced the stage as the “homecoming queen” at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee for her first-ever headlining arena show. The show marked a momentous occasion and held special significance as it took place in East Tennessee, where she was born and raised.
“I’ve gotten to play a lot of shows in the last decade, in a lot of places that I love. But if there is one show that I’m glad you came to, it’s this one,” Ballerini told the audience. “This is my first big girl show. To be able to come back and feel so held and so welcomed and so loved by the place that let me go is something I’ll never be able to say thank you enough for.”
An Emotional Homecoming Concert
Kelsea Ballerini At Thompson-Boling Arena In Knoxville, Tennessee on November 2
The concert held an even more special place in the vocal powerhouse’s heart as she performed in her hometown, surrounded by music industry personnel, her closest friends, as well as boyfriend Chase Stokes (Outer Banks‘ Actor) and her parents.
The superstar took the stage at 8:40 pm and was welcomed by the thunderous cheers of a sold-out hometown crowd. Over the course of nearly two hours, Ballerini took fans on a journey that highlighted her decade-long career, encompassing songs from her debut album, The First Time, all the way to her latest project, “Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good).” In addition to her chart-topping hits and fan favorites, the two-time GRAMMY nominee also treated the audience to a captivating rendition of The Chicks’ classic, “Cowboy Take Me Away.”
But her commitment to this special night extended beyond her stellar set list. She brought a stadium-sized production that truly elevated the show to the next level and if this was a taste of what future Ballerini shows will look like, fans are surely in for a treat.
Kelsea Ballerini went through a whirlwind of emotions throughout the show and showcased gratitude for her loyal fans’ endless support.
“If there’s one thing you hear from me tonight, it’s ‘thank you,’” Ballerini emotionally shared. “I’ve never, ever truly, in my life – in my life – been more grateful for ‘what I have.’”
Ballerini’s magical hometown concert certainly proved that she is destined for stardom, and the world is ready to embrace her brilliance.
We’ve compiled a list of six highlights from the unforgettable concert below.
Superstar Moment
Fans in attendance at Kelsea Ballerini’s hometown concert were treated to a truly remarkable “superstar moment.” During her performance of “Peter Pan,” Ballerini truly soared. The chart-topping hitmaker took flight on a massive black illuminated star that floated high above the stage while a sparks showered out from beneath it. It was a moment of pure magic that left the audience in awe.
“Guys, did that look cool? ‘Cause it was scary as s**t,” Ballerini said while laughing as she returned to the stage. “I’ve always wanted to do something like that, but it was so scary.”
Visually Stunning Production
The was more than just a concert, but an experience and journey of Ballerini’s career.
Ballerini, a natural-born entertainer, truly brought all of her songs to life in a way fans have never seen before with a visually stunning production that boasted of pyrotechnics, lasers, confetti and more. She not only elevated her production to new heights for this one-night-only concert, but she also expanded her road crew from 33 to 79 and her tour buses from 3 to 8. Not a single detail was overlooked, with each of her dazzling custom outfits, each complete with sparkly matching shoes and accessories, flawlessly fitting each moment of the show.
Ballerini’s fiery performance of “Miss Me More” was a standout during the show, both vocally and from a production standpoint.
Brought Rolling Up The Welcome Mat To Life
Fans were ecstatic when Ballerini kick off the show with “Mountain With A View,” a fan-favorite tune from her critically acclaimed EP, Rolling Up The Welcome Matt (For Good).
Not only did she give the fans “Mountain With A View,” but she also performed several other tracks from the project, all of which were met with a roaring sing-along. She also performed “Leave Me Again,” “Interlude (Full Length),” “Blindsided,” “Penthouse” and “How Do I Do This.”
Duet With Her Musical And Hometown Hero: Kenny Chesney
Kelsea Ballerini surprised the crowd with an appearance by Kenny Chesney, her fellow East Tennessee native that she credits as her musical and hometown hero. They joined forces to perform the chart-topping hit “Half Of My Hometown.”
“Can we stop? I can’t be in Knoxville and sing this song without Kenny Chesney!” Ballerini said, stopping her performance after singing the first verse and chorus of the tune to welcome Chesney to the stage.
“Before we sing this song, Kelsea told me backstage she goes, ‘Don’t make me cry up here.’ I’m not gonna make her cry, but I do wanna say just how proud I am of Kelsea and her band,” Chesney said as her proud friend and collaborator. “Tonight is very special and I’m thrilled to be back in East Tennessee to celebrate Kelsea Ballerini.”
The pair then performed “Half Of My Hometown” in the arena where Kelsea Ballerini got to see her first concert 23 years ago. This was an exceptionally meaningful and emotional moment during the show, as it marked the first time these two superstars had the opportunity to perform their duet together in Knoxville, a city that holds a special place in both of their hearts as their hometowns.
Fans were also sure to show up for her during the show in a heartfelt way, holding up signs that read “you make us proud” as Ballerini sang the lyrics: “‘Go Bobcats’ while the other half/ Of my hometown was in the crowd/ They knew the words, they sang them loud/ And all I wanna do is make them proud/ ‘Cause half of me will always be Knoxville, Tennessee.”
Performance With The “Girl Squad”: Ingrid Andress and Georgia Webster
Ballerini reunited with support acts Ingrid Andress and Georgia Webster back to the stage for a powerful performance of “Homecoming Queen” on the b-stage.
A True Connection With Her Fans
Ballerini’s special bond with her fans was evident throughout the evening. Throughout Ballerini’s nearly two-hour set, she made sure to interact with the sold out crowd. From accepting gifted friendship bracelets and signing autographs on the front row to making her way through the arena during “You’re Drunk, Go Home.”
She even paid tribute to her fans with a performance of “Legends,” a song that she doesn’t often perform live from her second album, Unapologetically. During the performance of “Legends,” she sang directly to the fans surrounding the stage’s massive runway and photographic memories flooded the screens that filled the entire background of the stage.
Emotional Show Ending: “Grateful For What I Have”
In a heartfelt moment, Kelsea Ballerini concluded the show much like the way she began her career in Music City—just her and her acoustic guitar. As she made her way to the end of the cat walk with just her guitar in hand, she expressed profound gratitude for all of those who supported her career and helped her get to where she is today. She also reflected on her artistic journey and how far she’s come in her career thus far.
“If there’s one thing you hear from me tonight, it’s ‘thank you,’” Ballerini emotionally shared. “My [mom, dad, boyfriend and boyfriend’s mom is here, high school chorus teacher is here, and my childhood best friends are here and you’re here, thank you.] I’ve never, ever truly, in my life – in my life – been more grateful for ‘what I have.’”
She then held back tears as she performed “What I Have,” a song that finds Ballerini counting her blessings while coming to realization that “you don’t got to shine to be gold” and being happy with all that she has in her life.
If this show was a preview of a potential arena tour, Ballerini proved that she is more than ready to embark on a new chapter of her career as an arena headliner.
