COUNTRY music star Kelsea Ballerini has released her latest album, Patterns, with speculation around the lyrics and the meanings behind them now rife.
PATTERNS is the 15-song follow-up to Kelsea’s GRAMMY-nominated ROLLING UP THE WELCOME MAT EP, with the hitmaker seemingly getting candid about and alluding to her split from ex-husband Morgan Evans in the new tracks.
The 31-year-old split from fellow country star Morgan, 39, in the summer of 2022, with her releasing the EP titled ROLLING UP THE WELCOME MAT on Valentine’s Day in 2023 that told her side of the story.
And now, following on from the heartbreaking EP where Kelsea detailed the breakdown of her marriage from Morgan, the singer has lifted the lid on the healing she has done since.
PATTERNS, which is Kelsea’s fifth album, rounds off her Saturn Return and appears to close the chapter of her life that inflicted pain, change and the healing that has followed.
“My Saturn Return kicked my ass so hard, in the best way,” she told NME. “I feel like ‘Patterns’ really does cover the last chapter of that.”
The album contains some already loved tracks from the hitmaker, including Cowboys Cry Too, Sorry Mom, Two Things, and First Rodeo.
Opening with the album title track, Patterns, Kelsea reflects on the patterns she has spotted with her personality, character and habits.
“Maybe I’m the one to blame for doing the same old same,” she croons in the tune.
In Two Things she then seemingly details her on and off relationship with a lover, potentially Morgan, before the next track, We Broke Up, affirms their split.
In track 10, Kelsea croons about not wanting to beg for her lover’s love. “If you want ‘Sorry’ on my knees / Babe, that can’t be me / God, you can be so mean / When I’m crying,” she sings in the second verse.
In the chorus she then croons, “But I’d follow you to the moon / You know I’m ride or die for you / But if you want a chase, I won’t run / I ain’t gonna beg for your love.”
Kelsea Ballerini admits to feeling ‘disingenuous’ while promoting Sorry Mom as beloved dog Dibs battles ‘inoperable cancer’
Then, in the outro she concludes by saying she wouldn’t beg for her lover’s love, “Or for a kiss, or a morning call”.
It is not clear who or what each song is about, but this won’t stop fans and listeners from speculating and coming to their own conclusions.
CLOSING THE CHAPTER WITH GRACE
Closing out the PATTERNS chapter with her 15th track, Did You Make It Home?, Kelsea seems to allude to making peace with her split and the moving on that has followed it.
“Are you safe on the road you chose? / Did you make it home?” she asks in the closing track.
“I’m thinking of you as you go / Did you make it home?” she concludes.
Kelsea Ballerini’s albums
Kelsea Ballerini’s new album is out now, but when were her previous albums released?
- The First Time (2015)
- Unapologetically (2017)
- Kelsea (2020)
- Subject to Change (2022)
- Patterns (2024)
‘A LITTLE EL DORADO, A LITTLE BIT JOHN B’
Since splitting from Morgan more than two years ago, Kelsea has been dating Outer Banks star Chase Stokes.
The country star and Netflix hunk first sparked romance rumors when the 32-year-old John B star shared a snap of the pair cuddled up together at a basketball game in January 2023.
The pair then kept things pretty low-key but seemingly “hard launched” in April that year – as per Kelsea’s Instagram story – when they walked their first red carpet as a couple at the CMT Awards.
With their relationship going strong, Chase even featured in Kelsea’s latest music video, First Rodeo.
In the music video, Chase portrays Kelsea’s love interest as she croons about wanting to take things slow and wanting her lover to take care of her heart.
“Thought I knew all of the ropes / Thought I could ride like a pro / Never knew I’d have a round two / I fell off, babe, but I found you / Take my heart, but take it slow / ‘Cause this ain’t my first rodeo,” she croons.
