Kelsea Ballerini Stuns in Jaw-Dropping Shoulder-to-Hip Cutout Gown at Time100 Next Gala

Kelsea Ballerini Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Kelsea Ballerini made a bold statement at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on October 24. The talented 30-year-old singer turned heads on the red carpet wearing a stunning black Stella McCartney gown. The dress featured a daring cutout design that exposed her cleavage, torso, and bikini line, taking the cutout trend to a whole new level. Completing her ensemble, Ballerini wore black sandal heels and accessorized with beautiful diamond stud earrings from Kwiat.

For a glamorous look, the artist known for her role in "Peter Pan" chose to wear gold eyeshadow, bronze blush, and a glossy pink lip. She wore her blonde hair in a sleek updo and complemented her overall look with metallic nails.

Ballerini was accompanied to the glamorous event by her boyfriend Chase Stokes, who wore a black shirt, matching pants, and a camel-colored coat. The couple, who have been romantically involved since January following Ballerini's divorce from Morgan Evans in August 2022, were affectionate towards each other, posing for photos while kissing and hugging.

Kelsea Ballerini Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Ballerini not only posed with the 2023 Time100 Next issue, where she graces the cover, but also captured some photos. (The franchise highlights promising talents in various fields such as entertainment, sports, politics, and business.)

In the feature article dedicated to her, Ballerini discloses her dedication to fostering inclusivity in country music.

“It is our commitment to amplify the voices of emerging artists,” Ballerini elaborated. “We particularly strive to uplift unsigned musicians from underrepresented communities in Nashville, offering them the chance they deserve to be signed.”

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini (Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Adding to her point, she emphasized, "The desire to enjoy music by male artists on the radio is not questioned. I, for one, appreciate it. However, I strongly believe it is equally important, if not more, to have the voices of women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community represented on country radio. We should be able to experience the diversity of voices that are typically heard on pop radio."

Ballerini's exceptional eight-year recording career is not the only reason she's become a prominent figure in advocating for inclusivity. With two Academy of Country Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, and seven platinum or multi-platinum singles under her belt, she has truly established herself as a noteworthy artist.

Kelsea Ballerini's incredible achievements act as inspiration for others, as she continues to pave the way. During the CMT Awards in April, she left a lasting impact by cohosting with Kane Brown and performing her empowering song "If You Go Down (I'm Going Down Too)" alongside four talented drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race.

Ballerini explained to Time that she saw an opportunity to make a strong statement on the stage of the CMT Awards amidst the ongoing discussions about anti-drag legislation in Tennessee. As the host of the awards and with a performance of a song centered around friendship and support, Ballerini believed it was the perfect platform to stand up for those she cares about and express her commitment to them. CMT fully supported her decision.