Country star Kelsea Ballerini, currently in a high-profile relationship with Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes, recently opened up about her friendship with singer Noah Kahan and their last-minute collaboration at CMA Fest 2025. The performance, which took place at Nissan Stadium, featured their duet Cowboys Cry Too and Kahan’s hit song Stick Season.
According to People, the performance almost didn’t happen, as Ballerini revealed she was hesitant to ask Kahan to join her at the festival. Having worked together numerous times before, including at the Variety Power of Women event, she didn’t want to burden him with another request.
When Ballerini finally reached out to Kahan just four days before the show, he expressed his nervousness about performing at a stadium. Despite having headlined at Fenway Park, Kahan admitted, “I’ve never done CMA Fest. I’ve never played in a proper football stadium.”
Friendship between two artists continues to grow stronger
The pair’s relationship has evolved from being collaborators to close friends. Ballerini expressed her admiration for Kahan, describing him as a “good human” and praising his humble “I’m just happy to be here” attitude.
i’m growing slightly more tempted to wait a week then die so i can at least see the noah kahan concert but i dont know bc then its bad timing
— jay (@priv2606) June 19, 2025
Their performance at CMA Fest faced an unexpected challenge when Ballerini’s set was cut short due to rain. However, she insisted on performing Stick Season with Kahan, considering he had brought his friends and family to the event.
The duo’s musical partnership became public when they released Cowboys Cry Too in 2024, a collaboration that earned them a 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Ballerini praised Kahan’s contribution to the song on social media, particularly highlighting his songwriting skills in the second verse.
During the same period, Ballerini has been busy with other ventures, including becoming the newest ambassador for Celsius, an energy drink she affectionately calls “Kelsius.” She mentions that the beverage helps her maintain energy during long performance days, including her late-night CMA Fest set that started at 12:30 a.m.
