EntertainmentCMA Awards

CMA Awards: Kelsea Ballerini talks about fangirling and having dinner with Reba

CMA Awards: Kelsea Ballerini talks about fangirling and having dinner with Reba
Add KERO as a Google Preferred Source

Sometimes even the stars get a little star struck.

CMA Awards Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Kelsea Ballerini is experiencing a little bit of that sensation as she prepares to take the stage with country music icon Reba McEntire at the 51st Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday night.

She says the feeling of hanging out with Reba McEntire will never be normal. “It is so not casual, I’m a fan before I’m an artist,” Ballerini said.

The “Dibs” singer says that she had dinner with McEntire which helped calm her nerves.

The pair will perform her single, “Legends”, during the broadcast. “We practiced but also went to dinner, that was her idea," Ballerini said. “She is such a pro, she is always just calming because she has done it before.”

 

The Knoxville-native recently released her sophomore album, “Unapologetically”. McEntire tweeted out her support for her performance partner’s release.

The CMA Awards air Wednesday at 7 p.m. (CT) on ABC.

Bakersfield, CA

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

ThursdayThu

11/05/2026

Clear

-° / 50°

6%

FridayFri

11/06/2026

Clear

74° / 50°

4%

SaturdaySat

11/07/2026

Mostly Clear

80° / 51°

1%

SundaySun

11/08/2026

Mostly Clear

76° / 51°

2%

MondayMon

11/09/2026

Partly Cloudy

74° / 51°

3%

TuesdayTue

11/10/2026

Clear

73° / 50°

3%

WednesdayWed

11/11/2026

Mostly Clear

78° / 55°

3%

ThursdayThu

11/12/2026

Partly Cloudy

77° / 54°

8%