Kelsea Ballerini performed an emotional rendition of her breakup ballad Blindsided as she took the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time to perform.
The songstress, 29 – who recently confirmed her relationship with Chase Stokes, 30, seven months after the demise of her marriage to singer Morgan Evans, 37 – took the stage in a form-fitting black bodysuit with transparent panels.
Blindsided details Ballerini’s failed marriage, as she sings: ‘I told you what I needed, didn’t have to read my mind / So, were you blindsided or were you just blind?’
The Better Luck Next Time hitmaker looked magnificent, with her blonde tresses cascading down her shoulders in light waves, before returning in a plunging white gown to sing Penthouse, from her 2023 album Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.
Ballerini was joined by NFL star Travis Kelce, who aced his SNL hosting debut with the help of his family.
Emotional: Kelsea Ballerini, 29, performed an emotional rendition of her breakup ballad Blindsided as she took the Saturday Night Live stage for the first time to perform
Chic: The singer – who recently confirmed her relationship with Chase Stokes, 30, seven months after the demise of her marriage to singer Morgan Evans, 37 – took the stage in a form-fitting black bodysuit with transparent panels
In her feelings: She later returned in a plunging white gown to sing another breakup song, Penthouse, from her 2023 album Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
Ballerini continued with the poignant lyrics, crooning, ‘Years of sitting across from me in therapy / I know the truth is hard to hear, but it wasn’t hard to find / Baby, were you blindsided or were you just blind?’
Blindsided appeared to be a response to Evans’ song Over For You.
‘As he’s putting out a song about being blindsided, he’s taking half the house that he didn’t pay for,’ Ballerini shared while appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast recently.
She later swept her beach waves into a chic ponytail for her second mesmerizing performance about the dissolution of a marriage, and the dividing up their possessions.
‘It hurts putting s*** in a box/ And now we don’t talk/ And it stings rolling up the welcome mat/ Knowing you got half.’
She went on, ‘I kissed someone new last night/ But now I don’t know where you’re sleeping, baby/ We got along real nice, until I wanted out, now I know you hate me.’
Ballerini was married to fellow country artist Evans, with whom she tied the knot in December 2017, before they dissolved their union this past November.
Meanwhile the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 33 – who’s hot off his Super Bowl LVII victory against brother Jason Kelce, 35 – was joined by his sibling as well as their parents, mom Donna and dad Ed.
Blindisded? Blindsided details Ballerini’s failed marriage, as she sings: ‘I told you what I needed, didn’t have to read my mind / So, were you blindsided or were you just blind?’
Split: Ballerini was married to fellow country artist Evans, with whom she tied the knot in December 2017, before they dissolved their union this past November
Sad: She later swept her beach waves into a chic ponytail for her second mesmerizing performance about the dissolution of a marriage, and the dividing up their possessions
Intense: ‘It hurts putting s*** in a box/ And now we don’t talk/ And it stings rolling up the welcome mat/ Knowing you got half’
Breakup story: She went on, ‘I kissed someone new last night/ But now I don’t know where you’re sleeping, baby/ We got along real nice, until I wanted out, now I know you hate me’
Kelce looked dapper as ever as he made his way onstage in an eggplant-toned suit and black t-shirt to deliver a hilarious self-deprecating opening monologue.
The Ohio born star was the first athlete to host the iconic comedy show since J.J. Watts took on the role in 2020.
‘I’m honored that SNL asked me to host. I was nervous about doing a monologue, but then I remembered, I’m pretty good with words,’ he said, opening up the show.
‘Like during games, I do these super eloquent pump-up speeches for my teammates,’ he went on, as a video of him during a football game flashed onscreen.
While trying to pump up his teammates Kelce simply repeated: ‘More, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more.’
‘Probably the coolest thing about this super bowl is that my whole family was there. I got to play against my brother Jason, who is an Eagle. And my mom was on TV more than both of us. My mom, dad, and brother are all here tonight.’
The camera then panned to athlete’s entire family sitting in the audience as they watched him speak.
‘You know, people keep asking me what it was like to beat my brother in the super bowl, and it was pretty awkward. Especially because after the game, we had to ride home together. Our mom drove us there in her mini van, just like the good old days.’
The host: Ballerini was joined by NFL star Travis Kelce, 33, who aced his SNL hosting debut with the help of his family
Fam’s here: The Kansas City Chiefs tight end – who’s hot off his Super Bowl LVII victory against brother Jason Kelce, 35 – was joined by his sibling and their parents, mom Donna and dad Ed
Dapper: Kelce looked dapper as ever as he made his way onstage in an eggplant-toned suit and black t-shirt to deliver a hilarious self-deprecating opening monologue
Nervous: ‘I’m honored that SNL asked me to host. I was nervous about doing a monologue, but then I remembered, I’m pretty good with words,’ he said, opening up the show
Funny: ‘Like during games, I do these super eloquent pump-up speeches for my teammates,’ he went on, as a video of him during a football game flashed onscreen
Motivational: While trying to pump up his teammates Kelce simply repeated: ‘More, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more’
Awkward: ‘You know, people keep asking me what it was like to beat my brother in the super bowl, and it was pretty awkward,’ he said
Not amused: ‘Even though his team lost after being up ten points at half, my brother is actually really happy for me. And he agrees that the ref made the right call,’ Travis added, as the camera panned to a stony-faced Jason
Finally cracked a smile: Jason managed to crack a smile at the end of the monologue, after Travis spoke about his failed dating reality TV show that no network is interested in
‘Even though his team lost after being up ten points at half, my brother is actually really happy for me. And he agrees that the ref made the right call. It was a holding,’ he said, as the camera panned to a stony-faced Jason.
‘Jason and I have been playing football together since we were little kids. And he was always better than me – at everything. In high school, he was an honor student, and I got kicked off the team because I failed French, and English too.’
‘And then, when we were in college, I actually got kicked off the team because I tested positive for marijuana. So it just goes to show you, if you smoke weed and are bad at school, you can win the super bowl twice,’ he joked.
Kelce wrapped up his monologue by referring back to an old dating reality TV show he was on.
‘This isn’t my first time hosting a TV show. I actually had my own dating show on E called Catching Kelce. It was like the Bachelor except instead of handing out roses, I handed out footballs, and instead of watching, people did not. Which was a little bit embarrassing.’
‘That show is owned by NBC universal, so it should be on Peacock, but Peacock said, “Nah, we good,”‘ Travis explained, as the camera panned to Jason, who burst out laughing.
‘I knew something would make him smile,’ Travis joked, before transitioning to his first skit.
The first skit started out at American Girl Cafe, with Travis playing a creepy single man wearing a pale pink suit as he joined two dolls at a table – with no other guests present.
Weird: The first skit started out at American Girl Cafe, with Travis playing a creepy single man wearing a pale pink suit as he joined two dolls at a table – with no other guests present
Confused: ‘So you’re not waiting for your daughter or your niece?’ the waiter asked, confused by the situation
His dolls: ‘Nope. It’s just me and the girls. This is Claire, that’s Isabelle,’ Travis said as he introduced the dolls
Picking up strange vibes: ‘And are you allowed within a thousand feet of a school?’ the waiter asked
Freaking people out: The management then asked security to escort Travis off the premises, after he continued to freak out other guests, however the guard got the wrong person, and ended up asking a woman to leave instead
‘So you’re not waiting for your daughter or your niece?’ the waiter asked, confused by the situation.
‘Nope. It’s just me and the girls. This is Claire, that’s Isabelle,’ Travis said as he introduced the dolls.
‘And are you allowed within a thousand feet of a school?’ the waiter asked.
‘Yes. Why?’
‘Just a standard question we ask all of our patrons. Can I start you out with something to drink?’ he said, and followed it up asking for ID.
‘And so you don’t have any other names you use, right? This is the name that would appear on any online court documents or registered on any government list?’ the waiter further inquired, suggesting the man was a registered offender.
Travis then stated, ‘FYI, don’t bring out any kids menus for the girls. Isabelle just had her period, and she thinks she’s a woman,’ he said, pointing to one of the dolls.
‘Wonderful. Thank you for telling me that. Let ………. Aroused. Nope. All clear. Okay. I’ll be back shortly,’ the waiter said, after checking under the table.
Travis was then approached by a female patron: ‘Hi. My daughter’s shy, but she wanted to know if your dolls wanted some of her pizza.’
Coach Kelce: He kept the laughs coming with the next skit as a motivational confidence coach, who instead physically and emotionally abused his clients
His method: He spoke to one of his male clients: ‘Put your hands up. I am going to strike, and when I strike, you deflect, and I want you to hit me back, and when you do, imagine I’m the voice in your head telling you you aren’t worth it. Now, are you ready?’
Knocked out: ‘I am red…’ the client replied, but was hit in the face before he could finish his sentence
Rough: ‘Too slow, fatso. Who’s next?’ Travis said, moving on to his next client
‘Thanks, but no thanks. They don’t need the calories, and frankly, neither does your daughter,’ he replied bluntly.
He was then approached by the manager: ‘Just a safety thing we do here. You mind always keeping both hands on the table, just so we know you’re not doing anything inappropriate under there? Sorry it’s a vestige of the covid era,’ she told him.
The management then asked security to escort Travis off the premises, after he continued to freak out other guests, however the guard got the wrong person, and ended up asking a woman to leave instead.
Kelce kept the laughs coming with the next skit as a motivational confidence coach, who instead physically and emotionally abused his clients.
‘I’m Kurt lightning, and I know why you all signed up for. You’re searching for confidence. The confidence of not only knowing you can defend yourself, but that you’re somebody worth defending. Say it with me, I am worth it,’ he started out the course.
He then spoke to one of his male clients: ‘Put your hands up. I am going to strike, and when I strike, you deflect, and I want you to hit me back, and when you do, imagine I’m the voice in your head telling you you aren’t worth it.’
‘Now, are you ready?’
‘I am red…’ the client replied, but was hit in the face before he could finish his sentence.
‘Too slow, fatso. Who’s next?’ Travis said, moving on to his next client.
Eulogy: The NFL star continued to entertain the audience as a young man giving a eulogy at the funeral of his girlfriend – to the surprise of her entire family
From nurse to lover! ‘For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Dylan. I was Glenda’s nurse, and we had an intimate loving relationship in her final months,’ he said as the shocked family listened
Last goodbye: ‘I thought she would be laid to rest how we all knew her. Ta da,’ he said, unveiling the woman sitting on a chair in a blue Tweedy Bird t-shirt with a cigarette in her mouth
Heaven: ‘I spent $30,000 on this, and that’s every penny that she had. And I’ll be damned if I spend it in vain. Y’all are going to sit back and watch your mama go to heaven,’ Travis said
The NFL star continued to entertain the audience as a young man giving a eulogy at the funeral of his girlfriend – to the surprise of her entire family.
‘I’m very honored to be here today as we finally remember mother, grandmother, and lover Ms. Glenda. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Dylan. I was Glenda’s nurse, and we had an intimate loving relationship in her final months.’
‘Wait. Mama started dating him?’ one of her kids asked. ‘Well, good for you, mama. That man is fine,’ another one answered.
‘I know how important Glenda was to you all, so I organized and funded this home going service in her honor. If you knew Glenda, you knew she was a free spirit.’
‘So I thought she would be laid to rest how we all knew her. Ta da,’ he said, unveiling the woman sitting on a chair in a blue Tweedy Bird t-shirt, with a cigarette in her mouth and a bottle of soda in her hand.
‘What the hell is this? This white boy got our dead mama sitting up!’ her kids said.
‘Yes. Yes, I do. Shades on, world out, puffing on a menthol, that’s my Glenda, he replied.
‘How could you do this to her? She looks crazy.’
‘Hey, I spent $30,000 on this, and that’s every penny that she had. And I’ll be damned if I spend it in vain. Y’all are going to sit back and watch your mama go to heaven,’ Travis said.
For rent: In another hilarious skit Travis played a ‘straight male friend’ available to rent for gay men in a commercial
Easier to deal with: ‘As much as these girls mean to me, sometimes I need a break. That’s when I discovered, straight male friend,’ a man in the commercial said
Low effort: ‘Straight male friend is a low-effort, low-stakes relationship that requires no emotional commitment, no financial investment, and other than the occasional video game outburst’
The straight friend: ‘So if you’re a gay man who needs a break, come enjoy the casual relationship gay women have known about for years. Straight male friend’
In another hilarious skit Travis played a ‘straight male friend’ available to rent for gay men in a commercial. The commercial started out with Bowen Yang playing a gay man at lunch with female friends.
‘Like most gay men, I have a lot of straight female friends, and I love my girlies, but they can be a lot, both financially, and emotionally,’ he explained.
‘As much as these girls mean to me, sometimes I need a break. That’s when I discovered, straight male friend,’ he went on, as the camera panned to Travis who was sitting on the couch and playing a video game .
‘Straight male friend is a low-effort, low-stakes relationship that requires no emotional commitment, no financial investment, and other than the occasional video game outburst.’
‘Straight male friend is easy, and even if he’s having a tough time emotionally, he’ll never bring me into it,’ Yang went on. ‘Straight male friend isn’t perfect and may ask blunt questions about your sex life.’
‘So do gay guys like when a guy has a big one, or is it a bad thing?’ Travis inquired. ‘Depends on the guy,’ Bowen replied, before addressing the camera again.
‘He’s only asking because he’s honestly curious, and there’s something sweet about that. Does straight male friend provide the same deep relationship I have with my girls? No. Does straight male friend know my last name? No. That’s kind of the beauty of it.’
‘So if you’re a gay man who needs a break, come enjoy the casual relationship gay women have known about for years. Straight male friend.’
The ex: Kelce kept up the energy in the next scene as Heidi Gardner’s ex-boyfriend, three years after their breakup
New girlfriend: They ended up bumping into each other at a bar, as Heidi discovers her ex is now engaged to another woman
Tears: She bursts into a flood of tears but pretends to have an eye condition instead of admitting to crying
Ouch: ‘Remember I just had that thing with my eyes where I have to poke at them’
Shocker: Abby continued to cry even harder when she found out Travis’ lady was pregnant, however she then shocked Travis by introducing her own boyfriend to him
Her man: Her man turned out to be Travis’ brother Jason. ‘Hey, bubba. Sorry I’m late. Is this guy bothering you? Do you need me to beat him up? Because I definitely could,’ Jason asked
Now he’s crying: ‘Wait. That’s your boyfriend? It’s totally cool,’ Travis replied as he burst into tears
Kelce kept up the energy in the next scene as Heidi Gardner’s ex-boyfriend, three years after their breakup. They ended up bumping into each other at a bar.
‘Whoa, Abby, it’s been a minute. What’s new?’ he asked her.
‘I’m actually in the best place I have been in a long time. I’m with someone new, and life is pretty rad. How have you been? You look like hell. Just kidding. You look awesome,’ she replied.
Suddenly, another woman approached. ‘Hi, babe. This is Madison,’ he said, introducing her.
‘Oh, you two are together. Congrats. You got yourself a stunning girlfriend,’ Heidi replied. ‘This is my fiance,’ he corrected her, making her burst into a flood of tears. ‘Abby, are you crying?’
‘No. Remember I just had that thing with my eyes where I have to poke at them.’
‘I don’t. But if you say so,’ he replied. Abby continued to cry even harder when she found out Travis’ lady was pregnant.
But finally she got a hold of herself, ‘Okay. Look. None of that matters now, because like I said, I’m in a relationship, and it’s so good. He’s a little bit older, and he’s totally ripped.’
She was then joined by her man – who turned out to be Travis’ brother Jason. ‘Hey, bubba. Sorry I’m late. Is this guy bothering you? Do you need me to beat him up? Because I definitely could,’ Jason said.
‘Wait. That’s your boyfriend? It’s totally cool,’ Travis replied as he burst into tears.
Criminal lover: Kelce continued to keep the jokes coming as he played the criminal lover of a married woman
Nice tune: The woman and her husband decided to break the news to the kids by singing a song about it
Cool with it: ‘Even though we still love each other and now she’s giving our bed to another, but I’m cool with it, and I watch, I watch from the corner,’ the dad sang
Cheating: ‘Wait, mom, you’re cheating on dad?’ the kids asked confused
The other man: They then realized the man sitting in their dad’s chair and playing a video game was the lover
Upset: The kids then told the parents that they can do whatever they want, as long as they don’t touch the grand kids’ college fund
It’s gone: To that the parents sang: ‘The money’s all gone now’ before the mom revealed she was pregnant with the lover’s child
Kelce continued to keep the jokes coming as he played the criminal lover of a married woman. The woman and her husband decided to break the news to the kids by singing a song about it.
They sang: ‘We have been drifting apart from one another, even though we still love each other and now she’s giving our bed to another, but I’m cool with it, and I watch, I watch from the corner.’
‘Wait, mom, you’re cheating on dad?’ the kids asked confused. ‘God, no. Didn’t you hear the part where he said he’s cool with it?’ the mom clarified.
They then realized the man sitting in their dad’s chair and playing a video game was the lover.
‘His name is Sucre, and he’s a felon, he’s explored my whole body like Magellan. he plays streets of rage two and then he pleasures me in bed,’ the mom sang, as the dad added, ‘and I’m cool with it and I watch, I watch from the corner.’
‘I don’t understand why you’re so pumped about watching from the corner,’ his kids interjected.
‘So, what, you’re in a throuple now with a man named Sucre Wolodarsky?’ the kids asked.
‘Damn, you guys are being mad annoying right now. How many times do your parents have to say this? The next part of the song will explain everything,’ Travis replied, annoyed.
The kids then told the parents that they can do whatever they want, as long as they don’t touch the grand kids’ college fund. To that the parents sang: ‘The money’s all gone now’ before the mom revealed she was pregnant with the lover’s child.
Cuddles: The next skit had Heidi and Travis cuddling together in bed after a hookup, before a man burst through the door
Hinge date: ‘I’m Garrett from hinge. We had plans for 7:00 at Buccacinos,’ the man stated
Scared: ‘Dude, you broke into my house. I don’t even know you,’ she said
On parole: As Heidi contemplated calling the cops Travis replied: ‘No, no, you can’t. I’m not supposed to be here. I can’t even leave the state because of my parole’
A throuple? The man then had a spicy idea: ‘I have been thinking a lot about it, and I’m open to being a throuple’
Agreed: Although the couple were hesitant at first, they eventually allowed him to scoot into bed right next to them
The next skit had Heidi and Travis cuddling together in bed after a hookup. ‘God, you know, I bailed on a date tonight because of you?’ she told him.
‘Oh, your bad. Now, come on. Should I make some pancakes? Daddy’s special recipe,’ Travis said, before a man burst through the door.
‘What are you doing in my house?’ she asked him. ‘Who is that?’ Travis asked.
‘I’m Garrett from hinge. We had plans for 7:00 at Buccacinos,’ he replied. ‘What? Kyra, this is the guy you blew off?’ Travis asked.
‘Afraid so. Now I’m here, and you’re in bed with like a Hemsworth brother I didn’t know about? How do you think that makes me feel?’ the man replied.
‘Dude, you broke into my house. I don’t even know you,’ she said. The man then went into the bathroom as Heidi contemplated calling the cops.
‘No, no, you can’t. I’m not supposed to be here. I can’t even leave the state because of my parole,’ Travis replied.
Meanwhile in the bathroom the man talked to himself: ‘Garrett, I know your feelings are hurt, and that’s hard, but no matter what, you cannot kill.’
He then exited, and told the couple: ‘I have been thinking a lot about it, and I’m open to being a throuple.’ Although the couple were hesitant at first, they eventually allowed him to scoot into bed right next to them.
Reality show: The show wrapped up with a skit about a dating reality TV show
The rules: The reules of the game state that everyone had to abstain from phsyical intimacy. Despite it being only 24 hours, it turned out that one pair already broke the rules
Confused: However when the couple were revealed, the rest of the house was confused by the pairing
What’s going on: ‘You could have snogged anyone, and you went with Glenn?’ they asked Travis confused
The show wrapped up with a skit about a dating reality TV show.
‘Welcome back to “Too Hot to Handle,” where the accents are all over the place, but the premise is simple. Abstain from physical intimacy, and you’ll win 200 Gs. Can you believe Netflix has made five seasons of this?’
Despite it being only 24 hours, it turned out that one pair already broke the rules.
However when the couple were revealed, the rest of the house was confused by the pairing.
‘You could have snogged anyone, and you went with Glenn?’ they asked Travis confused.
‘It’s not my fault. There’s something about her. Listen to her voice,’ he replied.
The hosuemates were then informed of another rule break by the couple.
‘I’m sorry. I’ve just never met anyone like Glenn. She’s so unpredictable,’ Travis explained himself, before Glenn began to nibble on his arm in front of all the other housemates.
Nibble: ‘I’m sorry. I’ve just never met anyone like Glenn. She’s so unpredictable,’ Travis explained himself, before Glenn began to nibble on his arm in front of all the other housemates
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