Kelsea Ballerini turned the Prudential Center into a glittering, high-energy celebration of music, sisterhood, and self-love last Tuesday (February 18) when she brought her Live On Tour to the Garden State. With a packed house filled with screaming fans decked out in sparkles, it was the perfect setting for Ballerini’s first-ever headlining arena show in New Jersey — a full-circle moment for the country-pop star, who once played the Starland Ballroom, opened for artists at the PNC Bank Arts Center and even headlined a show in Atlantic City.
The all-female lineup made the night feel extra special, with budding country songstress and Black River Entertainment label mate MaRynn Taylor, who has been soaking up every moment of her first big tour, brought infectious energy with a set full of empowering anthems and heartfelt storytelling including her most recently released track “same girl same.”
“It’s been a dream come true getting to tour with Kelsea,” Taylor told Celeb Secrets ahead of the show. “An all-girl lineup like this? It’s just girl power every single night.”
Taylor also reflected on the surreal experience of playing in arenas and seeing fans sing along to her songs. “Being a new artist and looking out into the crowd, seeing people actually know the words to my songs, is just mind-blowing,” she shared. “I’ve been doing meet and greets every night, and it’s been incredible to connect with people on such a personal level.”
She even opened up about her bond with Ballerini, calling her a “big sister” figure on tour. “Kelsea literally walked me to the stage on the first night of the tour because she knew how nervous I was,” Taylor recalled. “She’s been where I am, and she’s so supportive — it means everything.”
Following MaRynn, singer-songwriter Ashe enchanted the crowd — and ultimately got them pumped for what was to come — by delivering her dreamy, cinematic sound with a mix of fan favorites and tracks from her latest album Wilson, which dropped last September.
By the time Ballerini hit the stage, the crowd was more than ready to lose themselves in a night of good music and even better memories-to-be. Opening with “Patterns,” the 31-year-old commanded the stage with effortless confidence, proving once again why she’s one of country music’s most dynamic performers. The setlist was a perfect blend of nostalgic throwbacks and new bangers, as she sang songs like “Baggage,” “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “HEARTFIRST,” “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO),” “hole in the bottle,” “Miss Me More,” “We Broke Up,” “Two Things,” “Mountain With a View” and more.
Ballerini also took time to reflect on her journey, sharing how surreal it was to be headlining an arena in New Jersey for the first time. “I have a long history with New Jersey,” she said to the sold-out crowd, before reminiscing on her early days at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, opening slots at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel and even a headlining stint in Atlantic City.
“The only other time I have played the Prudential Center was for the VMAs on my 30th birthday,” she continued. “It was my first time ever playing the VMAs on my 30th birthday and I got to sing ‘Penthouse.’ It was like a trillion dreams coming true at once, especially leaving my 20s, that was the biggest dream coming true.”
“Whether you’ve been there from Starland with like 500 of you to tonight with like 11,000 of you, thank you so much for being apart of this journey. It means the whole world to not only 31-year-old me, but 13-year-old me.”
In between performing songs like “Wait!,” “Cowboys Cry Too,” “Peter Pan,” and “MUSCLE MEMORY,” She also made the night extra special by interacting with fans in the audience, reading signs, and connecting with the people who have supported her the most. From heartfelt messages to fun, playful posters, she took the time to acknowledge them all, making her fans feel seen and appreciated.
“Whether you are here and celebrating being in love with your person, I got you. Whether you are here and you are having some heartbreak in your life… I also got you,” she said to a roaring audience. “And most importantly, if you are here with your best friends, with your everything, we’ve got you tonight.”
And she certainly did. The 31-year-old ended the night with an epic sing-a-long by singing a mashup of “I Would, Would You” and “Lean On Me” before transitioning into “How Do I Do This” and the last song of the evening, “Penthouse.”
Of course, a Kelsea Ballerini show wouldn’t be complete without killer fashion moments. She rocked multiple outfit changes throughout the night, serving looks that blended classic country glam with modern pop-star edge. From a shimmery, gold mini dress and a red sequin jumpsuit to a black bodysuit with a detachable feather maxi skirt that featured a high slit and shimmered under the arena lights, her wardrobe was just as much a part of the experience as her setlist.
As for MaRynn Taylor, she was living her best life on stage, dazzling in sparkly, bedazzled jeans that have become a staple of her tour wardrobe. “I’m obsessed with all the sparkles,” she shared. “And I love that fans are twinning with me in the crowd — it’s so fun to see.”
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The energy in the Prudential Center was electric, with fans dancing, singing at the top of their lungs, and embracing the night as a celebration of femininity, friendship, and the power of music. The show wasn’t just a concert — it was an experience, a memory in the making, and the ultimate girls’ night out.
As the tour continues, one thing is clear: Kelsea Ballerini isn’t just playing arenas — she’s owning them. And if Tuesday night in New Jersey was any indication, her star is only going to keep shining brighter. Take a peek at the tour routing below and let us know if you’re headed to a show by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
KELSEA BALLERINI LIVE ON TOUR – TOUR DATES:
Feb 26 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Mar 13 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Mar 14 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Mar 15 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Mar 18 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Mar 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Mar 22 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego
Mar 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Mar 28 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Mar 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center
Mar 30 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Apr 1 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Apr 3 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
Apr 4 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Apr 5 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
April 8 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 9 – N Charleston, NC – North Charleston Coliseum
