‘Bummed’ Kelsea Ballerini speaks out after looking unimpressed over Grammys loss to Lainey Wilson
She looked blindsided by the loss.
Kelsea Ballerini has opened up about the now-viral reaction she had during Sunday’s 2024 Grammy Awards when country star Lainey Wilson won the Best Country Album category.
“Ohhhh yall,” Ballerini, 30, said in an Instagram Story on Monday. “You can be bummed for your loss and happy for somebody else’s win at the same time.”
“Two things can be true and both hold valid and valuable space,” the “Half of My Hometown” songstress added. “The face reading and reaction analysis is unnecessary and hurtful to everyone.”
“A woman’s win is a team win. Write about that instead,” Ballerini added.
The “Peter Pan” singer’s statement came one day after several viewers noticed Ballerini’s stoic expression when her album “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” lost to Wilson’s “Bell Bottom Country.”
Ballerini’s expression was quickly plastered all over social media.
“Kelsea Ballerini’s face when Lainey won. 😳😳😳 Knowing she got snubbed!!!” someone wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“I will be raising havoc throughout Nashville until further notice. JUSTICE FOR KELSEA BALLERINI,” a second user added.
“The industry does not give Kelsea Ballerini the recognition she deserves,” a third posted.
One angry user stated that the Tennessee native was “robbed” and should have won the award.
A fifth user chimed in that “the Grammys are BS.”
Despite the loss, Ballerini was spotted dancing with Taylor Swift during Miley Cyrus’ performance of her hit song “Flowers,” which took home the Best Pop Solo Performance award earlier in the show.
Ballerini’s desire for a “woman’s win” came true as many of the top categories including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Album of the Year all went to women.
Luckily, she was in attendance to see all the celebrations in-person, as she nearly missed the ceremony altogether.
Due to the downpour of rain and the traffic, Ballerini was briefly stuck in a traffic gridlock.
“We’re not going to make the red carpet. Maybe we’ll make the show. Hopefully, by the award,” she said in a now-deleted Instagram Story. “What are you gonna do? You’re just gonna vibe. We’re just vibing.”
Catch up on The Post's top 2024 Grammys stories
- The best-dressed celebrities at the 2024 Grammys: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, more
- Rapper Killer Mike booked for battery after Grammys altercation
- Tracy Chapman, Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car’ duet at the Grammys 2024 earns standing ovation
- Jay-Z calls out Grammys for never awarding Beyoncé Album of the Year: ‘When I get nervous, I tell the truth’
- Fans call out Taylor Swift for ignoring Céline Dion onstage after Album of the Year win
- From Joni Mitchell and Billie Eilish to Miley Cyrus — here are the Grammys’ best and worst moments
- The best Grammys 2024 afterparty outfits: Megan Fox, Paris Jackson and more
“This record’s about things not panning out how you thought they would and this is God herself being like, ‘Member,’ ” Ballerini, who put out the record months after her divorce from ex-husband Morgan Evans, added.
The singer eventually made it to her seat and attended the show solo. She and “Outer Banks” actor Chase Stokes recently marked their one-year anniversary together.
