Kelsea Ballerini shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, a 6-song EP and accompanying short film delving into the details of her marriage and divorce from fellow singer-songwriter Morgan Evans. Ballerini surprised her fans with the project just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Ballerini shared a thankful message to the team who helped bring the project to life on Thursday (February 16). She posted a few photos and video clips documenting the stages of creating Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, including the day she wrote the final song (“Leave Me Again”), a stunning a cappella rendition as she recorded “Penthouse,” and more.
- Mountain With A View
- Just Married
- Penthouse
- Interlude
- Blindsided
- Leave Me Again
“here’s my healing journey. here’s my heart. here’s my truth,” Ballerini shared on her social media channels when she released the EP and film, which she wrote and directed. “i’ve never been this open, i’ve never been this bold, and i’ve never been this proud of my art. so with love and respect, i’m rolling up the welcome mat. six song story and short film out now. happy valentine’s day. ❤️🩹”
Ballerini, 29, and Evans, 37, went their separate ways after nearly five years of marriage. Ballerini was first to announce the divorce in August, saying, in part: “This deeply difficult decision is the result of a journey of love, growth, and effort that ultimately has come to an end.”
Following the split, Evans released his own heartbreak song, “Over For You,” seemingly asking Ballerini when she was ready to call it quits (“I’m just wonderin’, how long has it been over for you?”). Ballerini, whose headlining CMT Storytellers event is set to premiere Thursday night, appeared to give him an answer in the first track of her EP: “I'm wearin' the ring still, but I think I'm lyin’/ Sometimes you forget yours, I think we're done tryin’/ I realize you loved me much more at twenty-three/ I think that this is when it's over for me.” Watch Rolling Up The Welcome Mat again here (warning: language):