Kelsea Ballerini Revealed Among MTV VMA Performers, Will Make VMAs Debut

Kelsea Ballerini is set to make her VMA Awards debut at the iconic MTV awards show in the coming weeks, organizers announced on Thursday (August 31). The award-winning country singer-songwriter will take the stage during the live show on Tuesday, September 12.

“Boots: On. Welcome Mats: Rolled OUT,” the MTV Video Music Awards Instagram account reads with the announcement on Tuesday, referencing a lyric Ballerini’s smash-hit ballad from her latest full-length album, “Love Is A Cowboy” (“hold onto your boots”), and the heartache EP she wrote after her divorce, Rolling Up The Welcome Mat.

Ballerini’s latest full-length album, Subject To Change, released in September 2022. The 15-track project included highlights like the title track, “The Little Things,” “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too),” “HEARTFIRST,” “You’re Drunk, Go Home” (with Carly Pearce and Kelly Clarkson), and others. Months later, Ballerini released Rolling Up The Welcome Mat, a deeply personal, 6-track EP that shared her side of the story from her divorce after nearly five years of marriage.

Earlier this month, Ballerini expanded that project with a seventh track — “How Do I Do This,” about beginning to date again — as well as fan-favorite lyric swaps made famous during live performances. Updated tracks on Rolling Up The Welcome Mat (For Good) include “Penthouse (Healed Version) [Live],” “Interlude (Full Length)” and “Blindsided (Yeah, Sure, Okay).”

Other artists set to perform at this year’s VMAs include Doja Cat, Anitta, Lil Wayne, Demi Lovato and more. The show is set to air live at 8 p.m. on September 12.