At the recent CMA Awards ceremony, Kelsea Ballerini presented her newest single, "I Sit in Parks," from her *Mount Pleasant* EP. The performance was infused with a dreamy, evocative atmosphere, reminiscent of Lana Del Rey's signature style. Donning a glittery crimson gown, Ballerini took the stage without shoes, gracefully seated on a garden swing adorned with flowers, delivering her reflective lyrics to an engaged audience.
As her performance progressed, Ballerini departed from the swing, and the stage transformed with digital rain cascading behind her, soaking her hair as she concluded the song. Her lyrics, including lines like, "So I sit in parks checkin’ benchmarks/Tarryn’s due in June, the album’s due in March," underscored the personal reflections embedded in her work.
Earlier this month, Ballerini unveiled "I Sit in Parks" as the primary track from her *Mount Pleasant* EP. This collection succeeds her 2024 album, *Patterns*, and its expanded edition. Ballerini articulated that her musical creations consistently serve as snapshots of specific periods in her life, with *Mount Pleasant* representing a period of profound introspection, longing, and embracing her identity as a woman in her early thirties.
Ballerini is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at this year's CMA Awards, contending against esteemed artists like Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson. She is a two-time CMA Award laureate, having previously been honored for "Half of My Hometown" with Kenny Chesney in 2021. Looking ahead, Ballerini shared with Rolling Stone over the summer her intention to pause from music creation. She expressed a desire to refresh her creative spirit, emphasizing the need for a break to "take a breath and cook a meal and, like, learn to play tennis or something, and then pick up a guitar," before crafting her next musical endeavor. The CMA Awards also featured performances from other notable artists including Luke Combs and Old Dominion, with Lainey Wilson hosting the event in Nashville.