Boston was in for a night of heartfelt storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and country music magic as Kelsea Ballerini took over TD Garden on Thursday. With MaRynn Taylor and Ashe setting the tone for an evening of music, the stage was set for an unforgettable show filled with fantastic moments and a setlist that spanned the many chapters of Kelsea’s career.

• A Night of Emotion and Energy

  Opening the set with “Patterns,” Ballerini immediately set the mood with a mix of vulnerability and, of course, confidence. She wasted no time getting into fan-favorites like her breakout hit from 2015 “Love Me Like You Mean It.” The night was certainly a roller coaster of emotions. She took us through the high-notes of “HEARTFIRST” and “hole in the bottle,” had us moved with the deeply personal “This Time Last Year,” and then made us want to ‘scream-sing’ along to the rebellious “IF YOU GO DOWN (I’M GOIN’ DOWN TOO).” The Boston crowd, as they always are with their country artists, was all in.

  One of the most anticipated moments of the night was “Cowboys Cry Too,” a song she recently recorded with Noah Kahan. The energy in the room shifted as everyone collectively held their breath, hoping Noah, who was raised in Vermont, might walk out on stage. It just seemed to perfect not to happen. But it didn’t. Kelsea knew we all were expecting it in the back of our minds, so as she led herself into the second verse of the song (which Noah sings on the recording), she uttered out a little line like “he’s not here, I’m sorry.” While we didn’t get to hear the duet live, Kelsea’s solo performance of the song was just as awesome.

• Special Guests: Chase Stokes & Dibs

  While we were backstage in Kelsea’s radio room, the question was asked if her boyfriend, ‘Outer Banks’ star Chase Stokes was in the building, to which she proclaimed “yes, and so is Dibs!” Kelsea’s nine year old dog has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments recently, and it was heartwarming to hear Kelsea talk about how much him being there meant to her.

• The Encore

  As the setlist came to a close, Kelsea delivered a great encore with “Penthouse,” a song that has become an anthem for her fans as of late. It was the perfect way to wrap up a fantastic night of music and magic. From start to finish, Kelsea Ballerini proved why she continues to be a force in country music. Whether she was making us dance, cry, or lose ourselves in her music, she reminded us why we fell in love with her in the first place, and rest assured, she knows that Boston loves her.

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