Kelsea Ballerini Lights Up Radio City Music Hall

On the day after her fourth studio album SUBJECT TO CHANGE entered the world, country music darling Kelsea Ballerini was set to take the stage at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for the first night of her ‘HEARTFIRST TOUR;' her first headlining stint since 2019.

Ballerini arrived in a bright yellow, high-low, ruffled dress paired with matching knee-high boots. She kicked the night off with the title track of her record, “SUBJECT TO CHANGE,” a bouncy pop-country track that set the tone of the evening. Despite the airy, optimistic instrumentation, the lyrics are autobiographical and relatable.

The Shania Twain-inspired tune “THE LITTLE THINGS” came second as Ballerini started to make her way across the stage, saying hello to fans and engaging with the cheerful audience.

When Ballerini first addressed the crowd, she put an emphasis on her concert being a safe space for everyone in attendance. Radio City Music Hall seats almost six thousand people, and every time she spoke to directly to her listeners, it immediately condensed the big room to feel intimate and cozy.

She then excitedly told fans they were taking “a trip down memory lane” as she mashed up early hits “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Yeah Boy.” During this segment, a little boy in the very front row gave Ballerini a bouquet of flowers. She bent down and held his hand while she sang to him after the sweet gesture.

Throughout the evening, there were four different outfits showcased. The chicest was her dazzling golden bodysuit layered with a fringed cropped jacket on top. She appeared in the ensemble during the second chapter of the show which began with the ballad “LOVE IS A COWBOY.” During the performance, she sat on a stool with a dreamy, wild west sunset image behind her. As he continued crooning, Ballerini took the audience by surprise by inserting “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks into her original song, making for a nostalgic assortment.

She brought out a pastel blue acoustic guitar detailed with yellow butterflies to match the aesthetic of the new era for a high-energy performance of the girl power anthem, “ IF YOU DO GOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO).” Shortly after, she brought out opening act Georgia Webster for a sweet performance of one of Ballerini’s most vulnerable past singles, “homecoming queen.” It was a stripped-down presentation; each girl played their acoustic guitar while harmonizing. When Webster would sing her parts, Ballerini looked at her with a proud gaze.

Her band, made up of six musicians, was also one of the night's highlights. Alicia, the fiddle player, got a center stage moment and Aspene on the keys, was playing along with the giddy audience all night.

Standout performances of just-released songs came with “WEATHER” which featured engaging background changes to go along with the music. Lightning flashes and heavy rain were projected apparent during the upbeat choruses. When she performed the cosmic, slowed-down tune “UNIVERSE” she sat in the middle of the stage with a bright full moon beaming above her. During this staging, in particular, her angelic vocals were on full display as she played with her head voice, going into sweet-sounding falsetto moments.

While beaming under the fabulous ceilings of Radio City Music Hall, it wasn't hard to notice the diversity of the crowd. There were people in sleek getups, meanwhile, there were also concert-goers in all-western fashion with glittery cowboy hats and cowboy boots. There were adults throwing back beers calmly singing every word to "half of my hometown" while young girls jumped up and down, fangirling their hearts out during "Miss Me More." The vast crowd at Ballerini’s show reveals the wide appeal country music has despite being a continuously pigeon-holed genre.

For the encore, Ballerini spoke candidly about how gratitude before singing “WHAT I HAVE” in an acoustic fashion. Between the vulnerable slow moments, the flashy outfits, and the captivating background production, Ballerini’s ‘HEARTFIRST TOUR’ showcases everything that can be great about country music; it feels intimate while also feeling larger than life. As one of the most sought-after females in the genre, she proves that when the ladies are given the spotlight, they make the most of it.

The night ended with “DOIN’ MY BEST” as Ballini jumped around the stage barefoot with a white t-shirt and jeans as she exclaimed with a smile, “I keep growin’ up, I keep rollin’ up my sleeves / And I think that showin’ up is good enough for me.”

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