{"id":261461,"date":"2026-09-05T02:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/05\/kelsea-ballerini-defends-stella-lefty-amid-grand-ole-opry-backlash-celebrate-music\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T02:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:38:12","slug":"kelsea-ballerini-defends-stella-lefty-amid-grand-ole-opry-backlash-celebrate-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/05\/kelsea-ballerini-defends-stella-lefty-amid-grand-ole-opry-backlash-celebrate-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelsea Ballerini Defends Stella Lefty Amid Grand Ole Opry Backlash: \u2018Celebrate Music\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Kelsea Ballerini<\/strong> <\/a>is coming to Stella Lefty<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s defence after the \u201cThinking \u2018bout You\u201d singer ruffled some feathers with her recent appearance at Grand Ole Opry.<\/p>\n

Lefty has been in the line of fire from some online critics after she made her Opry debut on Tuesday, September 1. The following day, the Opry shared footage via its Instagram account<\/a> of Lefty performing her hit \u201cBoston\u201d with two young St. Jude patients.<\/p>\n

The video received some negative comments, including accusations that Lefty is a \u201cnepo baby.\u201d (Lefty\u2019s dad is Eric Lefkofsky<\/strong>, the co-founder of Groupon and a CEO of a biotech company.)<\/p>\n

Others threw shade at the singer for using Noah Kahan<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cStick Season\u201d in the hit song while some people expressed their opinion that Lefty didn\u2019t deserve the honor of performing at the Nashville institution.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Kelsea Ballerini Is ‘Reconnecting’ With Her ‘Independence’ in New Chapter<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tKelsea Ballerini isn\u2019t afraid of reinventing herself \u2014 both on stage and off \u2014 and her current chapter in New York City is just the latest example. \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to have a little New York moment,\u201d Ballerini, 32, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Amplify Your Ambitions Singing Concert & Competition, presented by SoFi, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Commenting on the video, Ballerini, 32, clapped back at Lefty\u2019s haters.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpry member chiming in!!\u201d Ballerini wrote. \u201cYes, the Opry is about honoring the legacies and the people that have inspired both me and her. But, from different backgrounds and hometowns and generations, we can find ways to say and sing things that resonate with people that fill the seats\u2026and that is always the goal right?\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cLove Me Like You Mean It\u201d singer continued, \u201cThis backstage moment is beautiful. And y\u2019all in the comments continue to not honor the people the actual Opry house opens its arms to. It\u2019s about celebration of all kinds of country music\u2026new, old, traditional, current, however you wanna say it. It\u2019s all important, and it should all be able to be shared in our safest and most sacred stage in country music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ballerini further urged, \u201cCelebrate music like the Opry does. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"GettyImages-2263619798Kelsea-Ballerini-Defends-Stella-Lefty-Amid-Opry-Backlash.jpg\"<\/div>

\n Stella Lefty.<\/span> (Photo by Frazer Harrison\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In an additional comment, Ballerini continued to emphasize her point of view and stress that the performance was for a good cause.<\/p>\n

\u201cDOUBLING DOWN that this is a video of her singing to St Jude\u2019s patients,\u201d she added. \u201cYall go get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an interview with Vanity Fair<\/em> <\/a>published on August 21, Lefty addressed the \u201cnepo baby\u201d criticism leveled at her because of her father and his billionaire status.<\/p>\n

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