Kelsea Ballerini Reflects on 'Gnarly' Divorce at Time100 Next Gala: 'I Had Big, Complex, Human Feelings'

The country singer channeled her split into her 'Rolling Up the Welcome Mat' EP, which was released in February

Kelsea Ballerini has some thoughts on her "gnarly" divorce.

The country singer, 30, reflected on her split during a speech at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Tuesday night.

"I got divorced last year at 29, and it was gnarly. After that, I got back to why I started writing songs and that was because I had really big, complex human feelings that I needed to sort through and figure out," she said during the dinner.

"Selfishly I did it for me, but I ended up putting it out just in case there was another 29 year old girl that was dealing with the same thing. And it turns out there was, and this EP changed my life in a way I can’t really explain, so instead I’ll sing it for you," Ballerini said, referring to her Rolling Up the Welcome Mat EP and introducing her song from it, "Penthouse."

Related: Kelsea Ballerini Dazzles at People's Choice Country Awards in a Custom Backless LBD: See the Sexy Look!

Last August, Ballerini filed for divorce country singer Morgan Evans after nearly five years of marriage, She initially addressed the split on her Instagram Story, writing in part, "This deeply difficult decision is the result of a journey of love, growth, and effort that ultimately has come to an end."

Evans also shared his own statement on Instagram: "I am very sad to confirm that after almost five years of marriage, Kelsea and I are parting ways. I wish it were otherwise but sadly it is not."

The "Mountain with a View" musician however has since moved on and is dating Chase Stokes.

The pair initially sparked dating rumors in January 2023, when the Outer Banks actor, 31, posted a cuddly photo of them together at the Georgia vs. TCU game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

After teasing their romance in a handful of interviews, they eventually went public with their romance and made their red carpet debut as a couple at the CMT Awards.

Related: Kelsea Ballerini Says She Has 'No Shame' Sliding into Chase Stokes' DMs: 'I Was Living My Best Life'

On Wednesday in a cover story interview with NYLON, Ballerini opened up about the start of her relationship with Stokes.

“I was at a bar in Nashville with some friends from Charleston [where Outer Banks films], and they were like, ‘What about Chase?’” the singer-songwriter told the publication, explaining that she followed him and he followed her back. “I was just like, ‘Why am I waiting for this guy to reach out to me? This is 2022.’”

Ballerini ended up reaching out to Stokes, and the two planned their first date for when they were both going to be in Los Angeles in the coming weeks. However, they then changed their plans to see each other sooner.

"I was playing a birthday party for a friend of mine, but I got there and was like, ‘It’s kind of crazy that we’re finally in the same town and I’m not seeing you today...He was like, ‘Drop your pin.’ He just showed up at this party and yeah, it was great," the singer-songwriter said.

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