Kelsea Ballerini Recalls Bonding with Carly Pearce Pre-Fame in 'Therapy Group' for Women in Country Music (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelsea BalleriniandCarly Pearcehave been friends for quite some time.During a week-long guest hosting gig on SiriusXM’sWomen of Countrychannel in honor of Women’s History Month,Ballerini opened up about getting to know Pearcebefore either of them were famous.“Before we had anything on the radio, before we had any success, we were friends in like this all-girl, basically just like therapy group,” said the “Baggage” performer, 31, in a clip exclusively shared with PEOPLE.Carly Pearce and Kelsea Ballerini in February 2024.Stewart Cook/Shutterstock"We were all just trying to figure out how to break into the industry and like being a support system for each other. And then we both had the opportunity to sign a record deal and start touring and put songs out. And we have just walked alongside each other through the last, more than 10 years, honestly," added Ballerini.While the two artists have “gotten to perform together and do songs together” including “You’re Drunk, Go Home” from Ballerini’sSubject to Change, Pearce, 34, is “a really wonderful friend.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kelsea Ballerini in February 2025.David Fisher/Shuttersto"We’ve gotten to walk life together and we’ve both had so much life happen and life change in the last 10 years,” she continued. “And to be able to have a sister that is also a peer that also just like you can relate to as a girl going through life and growing up and all those things, but also be like, ‘Okay, like, how are we feeling about music right now? Are you doing okay on the road? Are you tired? Like, what do you need from me?'“Ballerini expressed, “It’s been really important for me to have her as such a beautiful friend. So, shout out to Carly Pearce. I love you forever.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Kelsea Ballerini in November 2024.Jason Davis/WireImageIn January, Pearce gushed toPEOPLEabout her friendship with Ballerini at the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City.“Kelsea and I have been friends for over 10 years,” she said at the time. “I watched her when she had 200 or 300 people in a little club, and now she’s selling out big arenas, so it was surreal.“Pearce noted she’s learned a thing or two from watching Ballerini perform live. “I feel like she has a really amazing ability to perform like the superstar she is in front of thousands of people, but she still remains so vulnerable and honest, and you feel very connected to her, even if you’re sitting all the way in the back,” she said.

Kelsea BalleriniandCarly Pearcehave been friends for quite some time.

During a week-long guest hosting gig on SiriusXM’sWomen of Countrychannel in honor of Women’s History Month,Ballerini opened up about getting to know Pearcebefore either of them were famous.

“Before we had anything on the radio, before we had any success, we were friends in like this all-girl, basically just like therapy group,” said the “Baggage” performer, 31, in a clip exclusively shared with PEOPLE.

Carly Pearce and Kelsea Ballerini in February 2024.Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

“We were all just trying to figure out how to break into the industry and like being a support system for each other. And then we both had the opportunity to sign a record deal and start touring and put songs out. And we have just walked alongside each other through the last, more than 10 years, honestly,” added Ballerini.

While the two artists have “gotten to perform together and do songs together” including “You’re Drunk, Go Home” from Ballerini’sSubject to Change, Pearce, 34, is “a really wonderful friend.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kelsea Ballerini in February 2025.David Fisher/Shuttersto

David Fisher/Shuttersto

“We’ve gotten to walk life together and we’ve both had so much life happen and life change in the last 10 years,” she continued. “And to be able to have a sister that is also a peer that also just like you can relate to as a girl going through life and growing up and all those things, but also be like, ‘Okay, like, how are we feeling about music right now? Are you doing okay on the road? Are you tired? Like, what do you need from me?'”

Ballerini expressed, “It’s been really important for me to have her as such a beautiful friend. So, shout out to Carly Pearce. I love you forever.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Kelsea Ballerini in November 2024.Jason Davis/WireImage

Jason Davis/WireImage

In January, Pearce gushed toPEOPLEabout her friendship with Ballerini at the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City.

“Kelsea and I have been friends for over 10 years,” she said at the time. “I watched her when she had 200 or 300 people in a little club, and now she’s selling out big arenas, so it was surreal.”

Pearce noted she’s learned a thing or two from watching Ballerini perform live. “I feel like she has a really amazing ability to perform like the superstar she is in front of thousands of people, but she still remains so vulnerable and honest, and you feel very connected to her, even if you’re sitting all the way in the back,” she said.

source: people.com