Kelsea Ballerini's Must Have Products

Published on 8/30/2023 at 7:30 PM

Kelsea Ballerini is ushering in a new chapter — both in her personal life and in her music. The Grammy-nominated, country-pop superstar has been dominating music charts for the better part of the last decade — first releasing her debut single "Love Me Like You Mean It" back in 2014, and then continuing to churn out hit after hit ever since, with intimate country ballads that have not only grown up alongside Ballerini and her fans, but ones that have also helped the star to make sense of her own personal evolution.

Between wrapping up her tour, releasing another studio album, enduring a very public divorce, and emerging from all of it transformed with a new outlook on life (and love!), Ballerini's had a hell of a year — one that she's pored over, dissected, and graciously shared more about through her latest projects. Much like her friend Taylor Swift, the star has never shied away from playing with different pop sensibilities throughout her country-heavy catalog — but it's Ballerini's brutally honest and deeply personal songwriting that's resonated the most with her loyal fanbase.

If you look closely enough at Ballerini's career, you'll see a pattern of just how much personal connection plays a role in the singer's life, whether it be in her songs, her relationship with fans, or even in her brand collaborations — as evidenced by her newest partnership with Sonic. Ballerini recently teamed up with the fast-food chain for a summer "drink remix" that allowed the star to infuse her own go-to flavors into one of the brand's most staple drinks: the Ocean Water. True to her reputation, the campaign represented something much bigger (and frankly much more personal) for Ballerini.

"I actually have very real memories growing up with Sonic. My high school in Knoxville was like 0. 3 miles from a Sonic, and it's one of those sensory things where when I taste an Ocean Water, I taste high school — it's such a strong memory for me," Ballerini tells POPSUGAR. "We would go there after school or if we got to leave early or before games, that was always the spot that everyone would congregate. So, when they approached me about doing a remix, I was like [firstly] this brings me back to such a beautiful place in my life. And [secondly] I'm currently remixing a record too, so it felt very aligned with where I was at musically."

Sonic tapped Ballerini along with other artists like Lainey Wilson, JP Saxe, and Metro Boomin to participate in the campaign, and her refreshing rendition of the Ocean Water includes unique added flavors like blue raspberry and lime.

To celebrate her limited-time collaboration with Sonic, we had the opportunity to chat with Ballerini about her specially curated drink for the brand, plus everything else that she considers to be an essential in her day-to-day — from an astrology app to a comfy orthopedic pillow and even a designer duffel bag that was gifted to her by friend and former touring buddy, Rascal Flatts (casual!). Keep reading to shop her picks.

Despite her best efforts to break the habit, Ballerini admits that the first thing she does when she wakes up is reach for her cell phone (same). But rather than spending her morning aimlessly scrolling through social media, she prefers to opt for something more productive, like The Chani App ($12). "She [app founder, Chani Nicholas] has a beautiful meditation on there, and you can listen to or read your horoscope for the day or the week. She also has breathing exercises. So, I think whatever I'm looking for that day — whether I wake up anxious and I need a breathing moment or need to set intentions for the day or I'm just curious as to what astrologically is going on for me that week — I can rely on the app."

Pro Tip: Per the Apple Store, the Chani App is rated as the top astrology app for mindfulness, manifestations, self-discovery, and more. The app is free to download, but in-app purchases are available for those who want to pay for a premium membership and get access to added perks.

Ballerini says that her specially curated Sonic Ocean Water Soft Drink With Blue Raspberry and Lime ($4) boasts flavors that are designed to make you feel like you're "on vacation." "I wanted it to feel extra summery because Ocean Water already has kind of like a coconuty vibe. So, I wanted to add lime because to me lime is just summer time — [it feels] like you're sitting by the pool — and the blue raspberry adds something a little sweeter."

Pro Tip: An Ocean Water isn't the only thing Ballerini likes to add to her Sonic order. "They have really good tots and they have really, really good chili dogs. If I'm in a specific mood, I will roll up and get a chili dog, without question," she says.

While Ballerini admits that her workout journey is always "evolving and changing," she's become a particular fan of Pilates workouts — so much so that she recently added this Lagree Shop The Micro Deluxe Pilates Machine ($1,890, originally $1,995) to her home gym setup. "Just for me and my body, I've found that it works really well," she says. "And I have an instructor — her name's Joy — and she kicks my butt but we have a really nice time together doing it."

Pro Tip: This Deluxe Pilates Machine bundle includes one micro base, one rear platform, one set of micro cuffs/universal cuffs and footstraps, three micro straps, and one universal bungee with a micro bungee attachment. You also have the option to buy the accessories separately in case you need a replacement or extra set.

As one of the biggest country-music stars in the world, Ballerini's job understandably takes her all over the world — which is why she loves having this Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandoulière 50 Monogram Canvas Duffle Bag ($2,500) in tow for any of her jet-setting adventures. The bag was actually a gift from fellow musician and friend Rascal Flatts, whom Ballerini opened for back in 2014. "It was like my first big girl tour, and at the end of it, they gifted me a Louis Vuitton luggage set. And I remember at the time — I had never owned anything designer — and it was so precious to me that I refused to actually travel with it, because I didn't want it to get scuffed up or damaged," Ballerini says. Pro Tip: Since then, she's become more comfortable with taking the personal carry-on bag on the road, and even took it along on one of her "favorite trips ever" to Napa last year. "I went to Napa with like six of my girlfriends. I love Napa, I love wine — it's no secret. But there was just something really specific about that trip because we were all kind of in the same space within all of our like respective careers, and we're all just [caught up] in the grind — it was all of us really coming up for air at the same time and just having these beautiful heart to heart conversations."

As she's grown up (and encountered plenty of sleepless nights), Ballerini has discovered the importance of creating a solid sleeping routine — which now involves having this Dosaze Contoured Orthopedi

c Pillow ($120) in her bed at all times. "This is 30," Ballerini jokes. "She is orthopedic. She is gorgeous, and she gets the job done. My neck has never felt better. I love it."

Pro Tip: While this particular pillow is designed with orthopedic benefits in mind, Dosaze also offers a number of other pillow types that range from a therapeutic wedge pillow to an adjustable, foam-filled pillow.