What Kelsea Ballerini’s Silent Tears After the ACMs Tell Us About Success No One Talks About. ML
Kelsea Ballerini Gets Real About ACM Awards Loss and Moving Forward
Kelsea Ballerini opened up about her disappointment after losing at the 2024 ACM Awards and how she’s learning to redefine success on her own terms.
In an Elle interview, the 32-year-old shared, “I wish I had a good answer for this, or I’d probably sleep a little better at night.” She reflected on having seven No. 1 hits before suddenly not having any. “I still put in the work, and I still put out songs that are undeniably country… it’s just different now, and that’s OK.”
But Kelsea isn’t giving up. “I’m not gonna stop making music,” she said. “I’ve never really been an award show girlie. I love performing, but now I’m happy to just be part of the conversation. This is not where I find my success.”
She was honest about her feelings: “I did cry myself to sleep that night.”
Kelsea attended the ACMs with then-boyfriend Chase Stokes. She was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Music Event of the Year but lost to Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley.
On the personal front, Kelsea and Chase split after nearly three years together. She removed his photos from her Instagram, while Chase has kept hers — including a birthday post from just before their breakup.
