"Thank You for the Grace to be Human": Kelsea Ballerini Reschedules Trio of Shows Due to Illness

During a show in snowy Buffalo, New York last night (February 6), Kelsea Ballerini was forced to end her show earlier than expected due to her battle with the flu.

Her illness dates back to her February 4 show in Detroit, Michigan, where fans had to help the award-winning entertainer through the nearly two-dozen song set, including singing her moving encore of 'Penthouse' almost exclusively on their own.

Coming into the show in Buffalo, Ballerini had taken to socials to share that she felt she was on the mend and looking forward to the New York crowd. Posting to her Instagram story during rehearsals, she noted: "For those sweet angel humans asking, I'm feeling better. Got some good rest (WOW I FORGOT HOW MUCH I LOVE SLEEP) and the meds are doing their job and I can't wait to perform for you tonight."

Ballerini added, "My voice is still a little raspy, but we're gonna lean in (like the Phoebe sexy voice) and I will see you on that stage. no way I'm letting you down."

Starting the show as always, the Knoxville native glided through the one-two punch of 'Patterns' and 'Baggage' from her lauded 2024 record before addressing the crowd for the first time and calling out the elephant in the room.

"I have been sick. I am feeling, physically, much better," she began. "We powered through the show in Detroit and yesterday I took enough DayQuil and NyQuil to tranquilize a horse. I laid in bed and got to catch up on Law & Order... My physical self is thriving, but my voice still has the flu," she joked with the crowd.

"I promise, there was no world where I was not going to get on this stage tonight and give you everything I had."

Unfortunately, within about 20 minutes and five songs, Ballerini was only able to make it through the first of her three act showcase before calling curtains in Buffalo.

Where she should have emerged to sing 'First Rodeo,' instead came a member of her crew who broke the news that the show would be ending early with more news to come about rescheduled dates.

After the lights came on and the crowd had made their way back home, Ballerini offered her own condolences and apologies for the unfortunate series of events, saying: "Buffalo, I am so, so sorry that I could not finish the show tonight. I am sicker than I am trying to be and I did not want to let anyone down tonight. I just got through the first few songs and I couldn't do it. I'm so sorry. I never want to give you a half-ass show."

In addition to the Buffalo show, Ballerini rescheduled her February 7th show in Pittsburgh, PA and the February 8th show in Toronto, ON, noting that the shows were being rescheduled to the end of the tour for April 11 (Buffalo), 12 (Pittsburgh) and 13 (Toronto).

"I will make them the best shows I've ever played in my whole life and I will pull out every stop for you. I will make it so worth it," she promised her fans. "I'm going to go rest now and get better so I can really show up the rest of this tour.

"I hope you understand and thank you for the grace to be human. I love you."

Information on the rescheduled dates will be sent to ticket holders in the coming days.

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