How Kelly Clarkson inspired Kelsea Ballerini to move to Nashville

Did you know Kelly Clarkson inspired Kelsea Ballerini‘s move to Music City to become an artist? Well, sort of.

It all started in 2005 when Kelsea witnessed Kelly take the stage to perform.

“I was seeing her in Knoxville at the arena, and it was her Behind These Hazel Eyes Tour, and so she had these two video screens above her stage of her eyes, the whole show. So depending on the song, they would close or [they’d] cry or wink or whatever,” Kelsea recounts in a promo interview for The Voice. “I was just at the age where I knew I loved music, but I was like, ‘Do I want to, like, do this? Like, I don’t know how to, but I think I really love this.'”

That’s when Kelsea received a sign.

“I was having this moment as a little kiddo, and I looked up to these screen eyes of Kelly Clarkson, and they winked,” shares Kelsea. “In my soul, I really believe that Kelly Clarkson told me I was supposed to move to Nashville.”

“Does she know it?” Kelsea’s fellow The Voice coach Michael Bublé asks. “Of course, of course. Yeah. And she’s weirdly kind of been a consistent throughout my whole career now. So she started it for me.”

John Legend then interjects, noting how Kelsea’s “first time coaching on The Voice” was filling in for former coach Kelly in 2021.

“Oh my God. It’s a full-circle moment,” Michael notes.

“I know. She’s my girl,” Kelsea adds.

You can catch Kelsea, Michael, John and Adam Levine coaching on season 27 of The Voice, premiering Monday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.