Kelsea Ballerini Announces Well-Deserved Break After Tour and ‘The Voice’: “It’s Time to Pump the Brakes and Just Have a Summer”

After a whirlwind year of sold-out shows and prime-time TV, country music sensation Kelsea Ballerini is ready to hit pause and embrace a slower pace—at least for a little while.

The 31-year-old star, fresh off her 22-date “Kelsea Ballerini Live on Tour” and her first season as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” opened up about her plans for some much-needed rest during a candid appearance on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” this Thursday.

“I need a break!” Ballerini confessed with a laugh. “And I’ve never been able to say that before, but I really think it’s just time for me to pump the brakes, figure out what’s next, have a summer—what? Go to the beach? Huh? Learn to cook a new meal, hang out with the dogs. So that’s kind of my agenda.”

Still, Ballerini knows that life in the spotlight rarely goes according to plan. “Every time I say that I have time off, something happens. But I’m very open to whatever is out there,” she admitted, hinting that her break could be short-lived if the right opportunity comes along.

As for whether she’ll return to “The Voice,” Ballerini kept her answer open-ended: “Never say never. It’s been such a beautiful season of doing things that are out of my comfort zone and bigger than I’ve ever done, and it’s been really fulfilling. I love being in that seat.”

Ballerini’s recent tour, which wrapped up at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on April 13, supported her critically acclaimed fifth studio album, “Patterns.” The album, released last October, explores themes of personal growth and radical self-acceptance—a message Ballerini has embraced both on and off the stage. A deluxe edition, featuring five new songs, dropped in March 2025.

In a recent Variety cover story, Ballerini reflected on her journey to stardom in Nashville, especially in the shadow of Taylor Swift. As a young, blonde, female singer-songwriter, she was often compared to Swift—something that, in her words, “forced me to be different.” She recalled an early rejection from a label executive who told her, “There’s already a Taylor Swift.” Looking back, Ballerini admits, “He was right. It forced me to be different.”

Now, with a string of hits, a loyal fanbase, and a reputation for authenticity, Ballerini is embracing this next chapter—one that includes a little more rest, a little less rush, and perhaps a few new adventures along the way.

“You have to learn yourself before you love yourself, and I had learning to do,” Ballerini said of the journey that inspired “Patterns.” And now, as she steps back to recharge, fans everywhere are rooting for her to enjoy every well-deserved moment.