Kelsea Ballerini Opens Up about Singing on The Jonas Brothers' 'Strong Enough' and Being Replaced
Kelsea Ballerini spills the beans on her missed opportunity with the Jonas Brothers, revealing the track she was initially set to sing on before getting 'replaced'
A collaboration between the Jonas Brothers and Kelsea Ballerini sounds like a dream come true, but unbeknownst to fans, it has already taken place and remained under the radar!
Ballerini, who is 30 years old, revealed the news to her followers on Friday, November 17, through her Instagram Story. During a chat while on a plane, she was asked by a fan about a potential collaboration with the Jonas brothers. In response, Ballerini shared, "To be completely honest, I was initially a part of 'Strong Enough,' but I ended up being replaced hahahaha."
The country singer expressed no anger towards Bailey Zimmerman being included in the final cut. "But Bailey is incredible," Ballerini remarked on Friday, accompanied by a tearing-up emoji and a melted face emoji. However, she did not disclose the reason behind her own exclusion.
Courtesy of Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram
Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas teamed up with 23-year-old artist Zimmerman to release "Strong Enough" on November 10. The brothers expressed their excitement about collaborating with Zimmerman, stating, "We're thrilled to work with Bailey on 'Strong Enough'! He is an incredibly talented artist who has had an extraordinary year, and it has been a fantastic experience collaborating with him."
Zimmerman enthusiastically praised the opportunity to work with the Jonas Brothers, saying, "I have been a fan of the Jonas Brothers for as long as I can remember. I practically grew up with them! It has been unbelievable to get to know Joe, Nick, and Kevin, and we have already made unforgettable memories together. The fact that they invited me to be part of a song still astonishes me. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!"
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After the triumph of their single, the Jonas Brothers took to Instagram last Friday to reveal that they are teaming up with Zimmerman. On Saturday, November 18, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, they will grace the stage together as the pregame entertainment for the James Madison Dukes and Appalachian State Mountaineers matchup.
"Appreciate the immense love we received for 'Strong Enough' this past week! Can't wait to showcase it alongside @bailey.zimmerman tomorrow at @collegegameday," the band hinted.
On the other hand, Ballerini has been staying equally occupied this month, following her sensational performance in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 2, where tickets were completely sold out.
"I had my very first concert experience in this arena when I was a child ... and then 15,000 of you showed up, making it the venue where I had my first ever headline arena show," the singer of "Half of My Hometown" expressed on Instagram following the performance. "I wish I could go back and show my younger self these photos, but I'm honestly grateful that she had no idea."
After the show, Ballerini proceeded to captivate the audience with a heartfelt rendition of "Leave Me Again" at the 2023 CMA Awards in Nashville. Just a few days later, she received a nomination for Best Country Album in anticipation of the 2024 Grammy Awards for her work on Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.
