Kelsea Ballerini Responds to Concertgoer Yelling Her Ex-Husband’s Name

Kelsea Ballerini in New York City on Oct. 25, 2024.
Credit:

John Lamparski/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Kelsea Ballerini responded sharply to a concertgoer shouting “Team Morgan!” during her performance.
• The country artist was formerly married to fellow musician Morgan Evans.
• The incident occurred while she was performing “Penthouse,” a song inspired by her divorce.

Kelsea Ballerini is emphasizing the need for respect from her audience during performances following a recent incident in Sydney on December 6, where she confronted a concertgoer who shouted her ex-husband Morgan Evans’ name.

The Grammy-nominated artist, 32, was mid-performance of her emotional track “Penthouse” when the shout prompted boos from the crowd. In footage shared on social media, Ballerini instructs the individual to “f— off.” She then playfully remarked, “See? Everyone’s happy,” while smiling and giving a thumbs-up to her fans, followed by a cheeky gesture.

Kelsea Ballerini on Oct. 29, 2024, in New York City.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

“Penthouse” is featured on Ballerini’s 2023 EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, created during the period following her divorce from Evans, 40. The song reflects themes of heartache, showcasing lyrics like, “It hurts putting s— in a box / And now we don’t talk / And it stings rolling up the welcome mat / Knowing you got half.”

After the concert, Ballerini took to Instagram Stories to express her frustration, stating, “Respectfully, if anyone yells anything disrespectful during this song again, it will no longer be on the setlist. Please let this be a song that matters to people and not a place to insert yourself into a world that doesn’t exist and was never yours to begin with. Team everyone’s happy or bust, please.”

Ballerini filed for divorce from Evans in August 2022 after nearly five years of marriage. According to sources at the time, the couple had been struggling with their relationship and had sought therapy for several years before reaching the decision to separate.

The two first met in March 2016 at the CMC Awards in Australia and became engaged later that year in December, wedding in 2017 in Mexico.

Kelsea Ballerini on June 6, 2025, in Nashville.

Jason Kempin/Getty

In an April 2025 cover story, Ballerini reflected on how crafting Rolling Up the Welcome Mat helped her process the challenges of her divorce. “I went back to writing songs simply because I had to,” she shared, emphasizing the need to express her emotions and highlight the different narratives surrounding heartbreak.

Following the end of her marriage, Ballerini had an on-again, off-again relationship with Chase Stokes, which lasted about three years. In September 2025, a representative confirmed their separation, although they later sparked reconciliation rumors after being spotted together in Europe.

The artist, who recently released her EP Mount Pleasant in November, is currently in the final leg of her Patterns Tour, with three upcoming shows remaining in Australia.