Internet Has Some Thoughts About Kelsea Ballerini's CMTs Performance
Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini certainly made a statement at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.
The country songstress took the stage at the popular country awards show on Sun., April 7, where she not only served as a nominee and the evening's host, but also was among the night's list of performers.
She took the stage to perform the "reimagined version" of her hit 2014 song, "Love Me Like You Mean It," which she re-released just days before Sunday's show.
The newly-released take on the lively country-pop tune puts a moodier spin on the song that Ballerini, now 30, wrote a whole decade ago.
Fans had some strong reactions to Ballerini's performance of the slowed-down version, and tons of users took to the internet to express how they really felt about it.
"A QUEEN" one fan wrote on Instagram after seeing footage of the performance, for which Ballerini was dressed in a sparkling gold bodysuit.
"My favorite ❤️" someone else gushed.
"@KelseaBallerini’s music has continually elevated throughout the last decade—she gave us a moment with 'Love Me Like You Mean It' tonight at the #cmtawards!" another fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Another fan chimed in to call Ballerini's new spin on her old song, "Reimagined and better than ever!"
Sunday's show at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, marks Ballerini's fourth time hosting the gig, but it's her first time doing it solo. The "Penthouse" singer emceed the event alongside fellow country artist Kane Brown for the past three years—but this year, it was all up to Ballerini.
Ballerini was also nominated for three major awards at Sunday's show, including Video of the Year for the music video for "IF YOU GO DOWN (I'M GOIN' DOWN TOO)," as well as Female Video of the Year for her "Penthouse" music video.
She was also nominated in the CMT Performance of the Year category, following her unforgettable live performance at the 2023 CMTs, during which she put on an energetic show playing "IF YOU GO DOWN (I'M GOIN' DOWN TOO)" while notably backed by fabulous drag queens.
Next: Kelsea Ballerini Sends a Direct Message to Fan Who Claimed She 'Ruined' Hit Song
