The two cities are forever linked, each accounting for roughly 14 years of her journey.
Nashvilles 16th Avenue, with its recording studios and radio stations, was not yet in her sights.
That didnt make sense to me.
Leslee Mitchell
Thankfully, what makes sense to a child islike the title of her new albumsubject to change.
My parents got divorced when I was twelve, and that was the catalyst for me.
What began as an outlet for adolescent emotion developed into a passion.
I was smitten, she recalls.
Ballerini and her mom drove three hours west to Nashville on weekends to learn about the country music industry.
The feedback forced Ballerini to focus on what kind of artist she wanted to be.
With each step in her career came another change of address.
In hindsight, my life could have gone in so many different directions, says Ballerini.
The idea of making music for a living saved a lot of my teenage years, she says.
Leslee Mitchell
After graduating from high school, Ballerini enrolled at Lipscomb University, where she studied communications.
I would go to school Monday, Wednesday, Friday, she recalls.
I was and am really determined.
Ballerini says her third song, the double-platinum Peter Pan, is the one that really changed my life.
Until then, condo living had appealed to her.
I could just shut the door and not worry about it, she says.
Leslee Mitchell
But during the pandemic, Ballerini discovered that she wanted more space.
I have a dog, and I grew up on a big piece of land, she says.
I realized that I needed to connect with that part of myself again.
Its a small lot; its half an acre, but its just enough for this chapter of life.
She sold her condominium and everything in it, down to the silverware.
Starting with nothing was terrifying, says Ballerini, who tackled the house in phases.
Leslee Mitchell
She hiredinterior designer Lindsay Rhodes, whose work she had admired in friends homes.
Im a maximalist and I love wallpaper, says Ballerini.
The solution was using darker colors, different textures and overstuffed furniture.
Its become such a safe, creative place for me.
Or I pull up a blank Word document and see if I have anything that feels inspiring.
Ballerini has a close-knit group of female friends whom she calls her ride-or-dies.
Leslee Mitchell
Along the wall are eight framed photographs memorializing iconic moments from her career.
The moments Im going to remember are the ones that I have here.
Walking to that wall, she points to each one, like a docent at a museum.
This one is when Little Big Town invited me to become an Opry member.
Then she points to one taken at the 2019 CMA Awards.
This is Garth Brooks giving me a hug backstage, after hed won Entertainer of the Year.
Leslee Mitchell
This is my friend Halsey, and Reese Witherspoon.
We had just taken a tequila shot, she says, laughing.
“They show up early.
They show up prepared.
They show up knowing who they are talking to, and just being present.
On the far right is a CMT Artist of the Year trophy.
Playing that show and having my dad there was just a whole moment, she says.
I learned that I love to cook over the pandemic, she explains.
From Friendsgiving to New Years Eve, the table for twelve is often full.
Sometimes well do family style, where everyone will bring something to prepare, she explains.
you might separate them and push them farther into the bench seats, she explains.
On game nights, the teams will be at their separate tables on opposite sides of the room.
When the weather is nice, Ballerini heads outside, to one of two outdoor spaces she created.
Soon, Ballerini will board her bus and begin a ten-city tour.
“This is the first album where I didnt worry about being a role model,” Ballerini explains.
“Instead of writing for other people, I wrote for me.
Like, ‘Oh, youre allowed to grow up.
Youre allowed to say how you feel.
Youre allowed to mess up and youre allowed to own that too.'”
Her Jeep, her dog and what they call a dream job all make the list.
But central to the chorus is the roof over her head.
We can see why.
