Kelsea Ballerini gets candid about her split from Morgan Evans with Alex Cooper. Image Source: The List
Kelsea Ballerini gets candid with Alex Cooper.
Singer Kelsea Ballerini appeared on Alex Cooper’s "Call Her Daddy" podcast, where she got candid about her split from ex-husband Morgan Evans.
Kelsea Ballerini discussed how her parents' divorce influenced her opinions regarding marriage, disclosing that she never wanted a big wedding. She said she just wanted everyone to have a good time, and she thinks these bigger thoughts started to come out as she grew older even though she knew she wanted to marry him since she loved him and wanted kids in the future, but then they were married, then it was like, time to have children, and she was like no, no, no. The singer stated that she began trying to make up early on and continued to do so until the very end.
Kelsea Ballerini told Alex Cooper that the rock bottom in her marriage with Morgan Evans was probably recognizing that she wasn't prepared for parenthood while her ex-husband was ready and willing to become a father. She explained that it was a matter they had spoken about early on and that she was reconsidering her decision, adding that Morgan was ready and that he didn't intend on becoming an old dad, whereas she insisted that she was not prepared for parenting and that she wasn't able to save their relationship.
The singer revealed that she told Morgan Evans she hoped to freeze her eggs when she did turn 30, which was still over a year away, and that it did not go as planned. She explained that it had not been a good day, adding she realized that there was a critical distinction here that has transpired, that has started to shift and it was not as if she might not see him, she keeps missing him, and she is alone and lonely. It's as if he's looking for something out of life and she wasn't there, and regardless of whether she arrived or not, she doesn't believe it was with this person if it is. And Kelsea stated that she believed at the time that, in hindsight, that's where she went, like, maybe she needs to rethink this.
The singer mentioned that there was such a sense of alienation between the two as they had not seen each other in a while; there had been an unwillingness to make an effort to see each other, and she was growing bitter and angry because whenever they did see one another, she felt like she was trying to carry that load. Kelsea said by that time she was drained and was simply sick of showcasing up that way all the time and not feeling seen or matched. And then she was tired from, like, constantly traveling and giving herself to other people because that's what she would like to accomplish to honor her career, and she thinks that she just felt exhausted and unvalued.
Kelsea Ballerini filed for divorce in August, and the couple divorced in November. Morgan Evans released a song called "Over for You" in which she says he's writing a song about being blindsided by the decision which is untrue. She clarified that they had a prenuptial agreement explaining that it was kind of like that or alimony, she recalled a phone call with her manager and lawyer who told her that Morgan wants half the house and she felt like shit as it made her doubt herself.
Kelsea said she found herself thinking about "How was she married to this person for this long and had no idea that this human being had a bit of character?" She continued by stating that, if she's being truthful, she thought it was very devious of him to put that out there while they still were going through the divorce paperwork. Kelsea did admit that she felt used at the time, but she appreciates his healing journey. But publicly exploiting it before its final feels a little nefarious to her.
Kelsea talks about the song and how the lyrics enraged her because she thought she had a good understanding of her grieving journey until that music came out and enraged her. The singer told Alex Cooper that she believes there is a world in which he got caught off guard. She wasn't able to catch him off guard. Two things can be true at the same time, and she wonders where he was if he was truly caught off guard.
The "Mountain With a View" singer, on the other hand, keeps insisting she has relocated and is no longer bothered by the song. They're months past it now, she says, and they're moving on, and she's taken the time to, like, actually sit in her feelings and go through the grieving process, as well as take ownership of what she brought to the table. Last week, Ballerini released "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat," a six-song EP and short film that tells her side of the story. It's something the singer wishes she'd done when her marriage ended in August.
She told Alex that she wishes she had it in August and she is blowing up her life, and she is going to do it. That someone would have had those six songs for her to listen to as she went through the complexities of the emotions of everything you think your life will be like, but it won't be.
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat details Kelsea Ballerini's point of view on the road to divorce, along with the singer sleeping on the couch, going out of her way to collect flights to see Morgan Evans (when he allegedly wouldn't reciprocate), and even pulling herself together after a fight ahead of the CMT Awards.
The singer said she was just throwing examples in there as she explained the revealing lyrics that contradict her ex's claims adding that they had been in therapy for several years. "Remember when I slept on the couch before the Country Music Awards and we walked the carpet with bags under our eyes from fighting? If that's your story, if that's true to you, where were you?" she asked.
Kelsea said that the two of them had "a really beautiful talk" before officially separating explaining that she was just being completely honest. She mentioned that she has loved what this has brought to her life, and she respects him and she respects herself, and as a result, she could no longer be in the marriage. Kelsea said they hugged and cried, it was emotional but concluded that then something happened and she hasn't spoken to him since.
