Noah Kahan and Kelsea Ballerini, united by their shared passion for music, forged a bond that transcended mere collaboration, blossoming into a profound friendship. The 31-year-old vocal powerhouse recently shared the stage with Kahan at the CMA Fest, where they enchanted audiences with their collaborative hit, "Cowboys Cry Too," alongside Kahan's own "Stick Season." Reflecting on her performance in a recent interview with People Magazine, Ballerini exclaimed, "I absolutely adore Noah."
Discussing her serendipitous encounter with the talent behind "Northern Attitude," Ballerini elaborated, "Initially, I came to know him as an artist and a collaborative partner, but now, we've grown into cherished friends. Words cannot suffice to describe the magnificent person he is; he's genuinely a gem of a human being."
She continued, chuckling, "It's quite amusing, considering how intertwined our plans were for the CMA Fest. We had so many collaborations in the pipeline, including my invitation for him to join me at the Variety [Power of Women] event. I almost hesitated to disturb him, fearing I might be intruding."
Ballerini revealed that the CMA Fest invitation was a spontaneous decision, saying, "I texted him on a Monday, and by Friday, we were performing together. I nervously asked, 'I know you might want some alone time right now, but just in case, would you like to join me at CMA Fest?' He responded, 'I've never done CMA Fest before. I've never played in a stadium.' I joked back, 'Didn't you headline Fenway Park once?' He clarified, 'Yes, but a full-fledged football stadium is different.'"
Ballerini added that her friend was swiftly persuaded and agreed "at the eleventh hour. I was incredibly grateful. We got to perform our song, although my set was unfortunately curtailed by the rain. Yet, I insisted, 'You've traveled all this way with your friends and family. We simply must play "Stick Season."'"
She raved, "Noah is pure joy to share the stage with. Yes, I hold him in the highest esteem."
