Unleashing the Hidden Meanings in Kelsea Ballerini’s 'Interlude (Full Length)' and 'How Do I Do This': A Captivating Journey!

Kelsea Ballerini performs during the TODAY Citi Concert Series on August 11, 2023 in New York City. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Kelsea Ballerini has recently released an updated version of her breakup EP, one year after divorcing Morgan Evans. The EP, titled Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good), features revised lyrics that are bound to raise eyebrows. Included in the EP are the revamped versions of her songs "Penthouse" and "Blindsided," which Kelsea has been performing live for the past few months. Additionally, she provides fresh perspective on the aftermath of her split in the full-length version of the previously 45-second song, "Interlude."

"Opening up a healed wound can be quite daunting, sending chills down my spine, Yet, the demand for the 'Interlude' to continue persists, No choice but to fulfill it," she starts in the fresh segment.

And fulfill it she does. "Intoxicated, while you sought inner peace, You claimed understanding would come with time, Fueling your inflated ego, it seems," she croons. "It was never intended as an attack, Yet now, whose side will you choose to stand?"

Ballerini and Evans have been engaging in musical jabs at each other ever since they ended their relationship in August 2022. In her song "Interlude (Full Length)," Ballerini openly acknowledges that they both moved on from treating their love as a serious matter to viewing it as a mere pastime.

With lyrics like, "You collected bones, but I buried the bodies / All this back and forth," she subtly references the resemblance between Evans' track "Tequila Man" and her own heartfelt ballad "Leave Me Again." She remarks, "Well, it's feeling pretty sloppy / Paste, copy."

Ballerini and Evans have both unfollowed each other on social media and haven't seen each other in Nashville. She sings about their encounter, wondering what they will say when they meet in town, realizing that they have let each other down despite initially agreeing to handle their situation maturely.

Although Ballerini has not made any public statements about the rumors of her involvement in an affair during their rocky period in 2019, she implies that there were hidden truths in their marriage. In her song, she expresses hope that he finds solace in having a support system that believes his negative perception of her, while questioning his motives in seeking comfort from someone else. She wonders what his secret was when he neglected to share important information after she had been honest about her own.

Ballerini's rerelease concludes with the addition of a fresh track titled "How Do I Do This," which she previously explained was inspired by the experience of going on a first date following a breakup.

The song kicks off with the lyrics, "They say in order to move on from the past, you have to embrace the future / It's been years since I last went on a date / Back when I was just 22." She continues by sharing that her friend introduced her to someone who they believed would be a good fit for her, and this person reached out to her not just once, but twice, asking if she was available to see them on Saturday. In response, Ballerini admits to typing out numerous ways to reply, but ultimately settled on a simple "Yes." Suddenly, she realizes with panic, "Oh no, where did I put my dress?"

Ballerini expresses her fear of appearing foolish as she deals with her nervousness before the date. The chorus states, "I declared that I am prepared, and now I must prove it. I have a little black dress that I want to wear, and perhaps discard it on a dance floor that does not belong to me."

Towards the end of the song, Ballerini mentions reaching out to Kelly for a conversation. Some fans speculate that she is referring to Kelly Clarkson, who experienced her own highly publicized divorce from Brandon Blackstock. The two artists have been friends for many years and collaborated with Carly Pearce on "You're Drunk, Go Home" in 2022.

"Is it considered wrong to take a shot? / I'm completely overwhelmed, like 'Oh, my God' / Because it's now exactly 7:00," Ballerini sings.

Ballerini had previously confirmed that she had conversations with Clarkson and Pearce (who ended her eight-month marriage to Michael Ray in 2020) about their respective breakups. "We are friends in real life, and the great thing about it is that you see us when we are all glamorous and walking the red carpet — but we also have genuine conversations about real life," she disclosed to Entertainment Tonight. "So it's truly comforting to have peers and idols whom I can turn to for advice regarding both music and life."

After overcoming her initial nervousness about the first date, the nominee for the Grammy Award publicly announced her relationship with Chase Stokes earlier this year. They crossed paths when she messaged him privately after her manager believed they would be a good match. The sound of typing and sending a text marks the beginning of her new song.

"It's centered around the anxieties of entering an unfamiliar world," Ballerini explained to Us earlier this month. "For me, it felt important to share my perspective and experiences that have occurred in my life. That had to come second. It's part two. I wanted to talk about the breakup and let that story exist on its own. If I ever decided to continue the narrative, like we're doing now with 'Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good),' it would be an extension of the story. Especially now, since I've been in a new relationship for quite some time and people have witnessed that. So, I believe it's the perfect moment to update everyone and transition the focus from the past to the present."

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) is out now.