Kelsea Ballerini Reads Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce and Jelly Roll's Minds in 2024 CMT Awards Opening Monologue

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelsea Ballerini hosting the 2024 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Photo:Hubert Vestil/Getty

Hubert Vestil/Getty

Kelsea Balleriniisn’t just a singer — she’s a mind reader!

During the 2024CMT Music Awards, the “Penthouse” artist, 30, turned herviral reactionto her losing a Grammy this year into a bit for her opening monologue.

“There I am,” Ballerini told the audience after replaying the moment where she delivered a tight-lipped expression whileLainey Wilsonwon a Grammy. “You know sometimes the camera just lands on you and people misinterpret your reactions. Trust me. You maythinkyou know what’s going on in our heads, but you don’t. So right now, we’re going to find out what the stars in our audience are really thinking. That’s right, we’re reading minds in here.”

Carly Pearce, Trisha Yearwood and Beth Bernard attend the 2024 CMT Music at Moody Center on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Rick Kern/Getty

Rick Kern/Getty

The camera then panned to “Heart Like a Truck” singer Wilson, 31, who asked, “She’s not reading my thoughts right now, is she? Mic check, Mic check,” before turning toCarly Pearcewhose thoughts turned to her anxiety about sitting next toTrisha Yearwood.

The “Back Home Again” icon’s inner monologue was in awe of herself: “I’m Trisha Yearwood? How cool is that?”

Ballerini then pivoted toJelly Rollwho joked that his name is “Angelo Rollingsworth,” rather than his birth name Jason Bradley DeFord.

“Now we all know, Mr. Angelo Rollingsworth,” the “Miss Me More” artist said, before the camera panned to her boyfriendChase Stokeswho revealed his thoughts about Ballerini: “First sheslides in my DMsand now she’s in my thoughts. Oh, you thinking what I’m thinking? Oh my God.”

“We’ll circle back,” the host quipped.

Bucky The Beaver of Buc-ee’s and Keith Urban attend the 2024 CMT Awards at Moody Center on April 7, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Earlier on Sunday, April 7, she also responded to a fan comment on TikTok asking that she add “yeah, sure, okay,” an ad-lib from her song “Blindsided,” into the CMT Awards script.

“Challenge accepted,” Ballerini told followers. “I will sneak ‘yeah, sure, okay’ into the script tonight, and only people who saw this video will understand. It’s gonna be our thing. Will I get in trouble? Stay tuned.”

(She did it.)

Ballerini isn’t a newbie when it comes to hosting the CMT Awards — however, 2024 is her first time doing it solo.

In February, sheopened up to PEOPLEabout how she felt about going it alone at this year’s awards show.

“It’s definitely new grounds for me,” Ballerini said over Zoom from her home in Nashville. “But it’s my fourth year hosting, so I feel like I’ve learned a lot. And the good thing about CMTs is there’s such a light energy, so there’s not a pressure that I feel to be perfect. I just want to be fun, honor the night and help people have a good time.”

“It’s really a big reunion and everyone wants to hang out, so I might just ask for some help where I can get it,” Ballerini added.

The 2024 CMT Music Awards will air live from Austin, Texas' Moody Center on Sunday, April 7 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

source: people.com