Wikipedia

Unapologetically

(Redirected from Machine Heart (Kelsea Ballerini song))

Unapologetically is the second studio album by American singer Kelsea Ballerini. It was released on November 3, 2017, through Black River Entertainment. Reaching the top 10 on the US Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums chart, the album was nominated for Best Country Album in 2019 Grammy Awards.

Unapologetically
Standard cover
Studio album by
Kelsea Ballerini
ReleasedNovember 3, 2017 (2017-11-03)
Length41:31
LabelBlack River
Producer
Kelsea Ballerini chronology
The First Time
(2015)		 Unapologetically
(2017)		 Kelsea
(2020)
Singles from Unapologetically
  1. "Legends"
    Released: June 7, 2017
  2. "I Hate Love Songs"
    Released: March 12, 2018
  3. "Miss Me More"
    Released: October 15, 2018

Background and development

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After moving to Nashville at the age of 15, Ballerini continued writing songs and later signed a publishing deal with Black River Entertainment at 19.[1] Following the success of her debut album The First Time (2015), which produced the chart-topping singles "Love Me Like You Mean It" and "Dibs", Ballerini began working on her second studio album. She stated that the project would aim to reflect her growth both as an artist and as an individual, while signaling a new creative direction.[2]

Expected to feature collaborations with songwriters such as Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne, and Luke Laird, the record would continue her collaboration with producer Forest Glen Whitehead, according to Ballerini.[1] She described the project as her "first intentional album", noting that she took a more active role in its writing and production compared to her previous work.[3]

Composition

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Unapologetically traces the course of Ballerini's love life, which Gayle Thompson of The Boot described as a "12-track journey" from heartbreak to "happily-ever-after" with the singer's husband, Morgan Evans.[4] Discussing the album's writing process, Ballerini said she aimed to maintain consistency between her personal life and artistic identity, writing songs that were "very open and honest".[5] She had also stated that the record would remain rooted in country music, despite incorporating pop-leaning material.[1]

In an interview with Variety, she emphasized her openness to blending genres, citing influences from pop, rap, and rock music, while maintaining a foundation in songwriting and her Southern upbringing, adding that the album exists "on that line" between country and pop.[6] While preparing the album, she said it would reflect the previous two years of her life, including a breakup and personal growth, as well as a new relationship with Evans.[1] Unapologetically was also described by her as a "labor of love", exploring themes that range from heartbreak and loss to new romance and enduring relationships.[7]

Promotion

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During a Good Morning America performance on July 25, 2017, Ballerini announced the title and release date of Unapologetically.[8][9] In August, the album's track listing was first revealed to her fans during a four-day check-in event over the mobile app Swarm.[10] The album's deluxe edition with four new bonus tracks, including a cover version of "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac and duet with the Chainsmokers, was released on October 26, 2018.[11][12]

Teasing the lead single of Unapologetically, "Legends", on May 29, 2017, Ballerini premiered the track at The Bobby Bones Show on June 7.[13] It was released digitally on the same day,[14] sent to country radio station on July 10.[15] The song became Ballerini's fourth number one hit on the Billboard's Country Airplay chart for the week dated February 24, 2018.[16] The title track "Unapologetically" was released as the first promotional single on August 11, the day when the album became available for pre-order on Amazon and iTunes.[17][18] Ballerini premiered an acoustic version of the track at USA Today on November 2[19] and at Radio Disney Country in 2018.[20] The album's second promotional single, "High School", written by herself, was released on September 22.[21][22] "Miss Me More" served as the album's final promotional single on October 20.[23] "I Hate Love Songs" was released on March 12, 2018, as the album's second single.[24] It reached a peak of number 25 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.[16] "Miss Me More" was released as the third single from the album on October 15.[12] It reached a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.[16]

In October 2017, Ballerini announced the Unapologetically Tour, describing it as a continuation of a "new chapter" in her career. It began on February 8, 2018 at Alabama Theatre in Birmingham and concluded on April 27 at Stagecoach Festival.[25][17] American singers Walker Hayes and Bailey Bryan were announced that they would join in the tour; the former was a supporting act, while the latter participated in her Ryman Auditorium on Valentine's Day concert.[25]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.3/10[26]
Metacritic74/100[27]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[28]
Digital JournalA[29]
Evening StandardStarStarStar[30]
The New York Times70/100[a]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarHalf star[32]
Paste8.1/10[33]

At review aggregation website Metacritic, Unapologetically has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 4 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]

Paste writer Robert Ham spoke about Unapologetically, "it's more country by reputation—and the artful twang in Ballerini’s voice—than in sound. But within the album, the songs eschew lovesick notions and bitter revenge fantasies", noting that, "Unapologetically gains in strength as it goes along, mirroring Ballerini’s push away from a particular lover and towards the welcoming arms of a new beau."[33] Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed two songs from the album on his top 10 list of Ballerini's best songs: "Legends" at number three and the title track at number four.[34] Writing for Vulture, Frank Guan noted that Unapologetically leaves listeners "more confident in her presence and artistry than ever before", while suggesting that broader mainstream recognition may depend on her ability to further develop her artistic identity.[35]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Result Ref.
2019 Grammy Award Best Country Album Nominated [36]

Commercial performance

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Unapologetically debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 with 44,000 album-equivalent units, including 35,000 pure album sales.[37] It remained her highest charting album until her fifth studio album Patterns (2024).[37] Unapologetically has sold 156,700 copies in the United States as of October 2019.[38]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Kelsea Ballerini, with additional co-writers as noted, except "Landslide" (written by Stevie Nicks) and "This Feeling" (written by Alexander Pall, Andrew Taggart and Emily Warren).

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Graveyard"
3:46
2."Miss Me More"
3:12
3."Get Over Yourself"
3:20
4."Roses"
2:57
5."Machine Heart"
3:09
6."In Between"
3:29
7."High School" 3:55
8."End of the World"
3:28
9."I Hate Love Songs"
3:11
10."Unapologetically"
  • Lindsey
  • Whitehead
3:38
11."Music"
3:23
12."Legends"
  • Lindsey
  • Whitehead
4:03
Total length:41:31
Deluxe edition[39]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Fun and Games"
  • McAnally
  • Whitehead
3:00
14."I Think I Fell in Love Today" 2:32
15."Landslide" (live from Nashville) (Fleetwood Mac cover) 3:17
16."This Feeling" (The Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini) 3:17
Total length:53:37

Personnel

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Adapted from AllMusic.[40]

  • Kelsea Ballerini - lead vocals
  • Ross Copperman – drum programming
  • Zach Crowell – acoustic guitar
  • Jennifer Denmark – background vocals
  • Kris Donegan – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • David Dorn – keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer, synthesizer strings
  • Fred Eltringham – drums
  • Nicolle Galyon – background vocals
  • Lee Hendricks – bass guitar
  • David Hodges – acoustic guitar
  • Evan Hutchings – drums
  • Hillary Lindsey – background vocals
  • Jason Massey – brass arrangements, drum programming, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, organ, string arrangements, background vocals
  • Rob McNelley – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Lindsey Rimes – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming, string arrangements, background vocals
  • Jimmy Robbins – acoustic guitar, piano, drum programming
  • Adam Shoenfeld – electric guitar
  • Derek Wells – electric guitar, steel guitar
  • Forest Glen Whitehead – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, mandolin, background vocals
  • Nir Z. – drums

Charts

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Certifications

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List of certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[54] Platinum 80,000‡
United States (RIAA)[55] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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  1. ↑ Although The New York Times did not explicitly score the album,[31] Metacritic marks their score as 70 out of 100.[27]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 Weiner, Natalie (October 13, 2016). "Kelsea Ballerini on What Inspired Next Album, Her 'Version of Country' & Being Compared to Friend Taylor Swift". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (May 8, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Is Now 'Fully Immersed' in Crafting Her Sophomore Album". The Boot. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ Hyman, Dan (November 2, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini on 'Loss, Life, Love' of New Album Unapologetically". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (December 15, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini's Favorite Song on Unapologetically? It's ..." The Boot. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  5. ↑ Abbey, Alison (October 13, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Unapologetically Talks New Music, Love and Growing Up". Parade. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  6. ↑ Willman, Chris (November 3, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini on Her New Album, Working With Hitmakers and the Line Between Pop and Country". Variety. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (November 3, 2017). "Interview: Kelsea Ballerini Lets Fans Into Her Life on Unapologetically". The Boot. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Stecker, Liv (October 30, 2017). "Everything We Know About Kelsea Ballerini's Sophomore Album, Unapologetically". The Boot. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  9. ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (July 25, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces New Album Unapologetically & Details the Self-Discovery Journey Behind It". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (August 5, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Cover for Sophomore Album Unapologetically". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ Despres, Tricia (September 25, 2018). "Kelsea Ballerini Releasing Unapologetically Deluxe Version With New Songs". Taste of Country. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Lisa Konicki (September 25, 2018). "Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Next Single 'Miss Me More' and Brings Deluxe Album To Fans [Listen]". One Country. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  13. ↑ Stecker, Liv (June 7, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Drops 'Legends', First Single From Sophomore Album [Listen]". The Boot. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ Gugala, John (June 26, 2017). "Hear Kelsea Ballerini's Wistful New Song 'Legends'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Single Releases". MusicRow. January 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  17. 1 2 Thompson, Gayle (October 30, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces Headlining 2018 Unapologetically Tour". The Boot. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ McKenna, Brittney (August 11, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Details New Album Unapologetically, Shares Title Track". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  19. ↑ McDermott, Maeve (November 2, 2017). "Premiere: Kelsea Ballerini gives Unapologetically an intimate acoustic performance". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ McKenna, Brittney (January 3, 2018). "Watch Kelsea Ballerini Sing Shimmering Acoustic 'Unapologetically'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ Bruner, Raisa (September 21, 2017). "Country Star Kelsea Ballerini on Her Songwriting Breakthrough in 'High School'". Time. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  22. ↑ Stefano, Angela (September 22, 2017). "Hear Kelsea Ballerini's New Song 'High School'". The Boot. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Asserts Her Independence on New Song, 'Miss Me More' [Listen]". Taste of Country. October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Single Releases". MusicRow. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  25. 1 2 Reuter, Annie (October 30, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces 2018 'Unapologetically' Tour Dates". The Boot. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Unapologetically by Kelsea Ballerini reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 "Reviews for Unapologetically by Kelsea Ballerini". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  28. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (c. 2017). "Unapologetically - Kelsea Ballerini". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  29. ↑ Papadatos, Markos (November 4, 2017). "Review: Kelsea Ballerini beautiful on new studio album Unapologetically (Includes first-hand account)". Digital Journal. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  30. ↑ Smith, David (November 4, 2017). "Albums of the week: Maroon 5, Stereophonics and Kelsea Ballerini". Evening Standard. Kelsea Ballerini: Unapologetically. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  31. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (November 1, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Upends Country Music's Patriarchy on Unapologetically". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  32. ↑ Levy, Joe (November 9, 2017). "Review: Kelsea Ballerini's Latest Crosses Country-Pop Boundaries". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  33. 1 2 Ham, Robert (November 1, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini: Unapologetically Review". Paste. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  34. ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (August 21, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  35. ↑ Guan, Frank (November 3, 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Strikes a Careful Balance on Unapologetically". Vulture. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Nominees". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  37. 1 2 3 Caulfield, Keith (November 12, 2017). "Sam Smith's 'The Thrill of It All' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  38. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (October 21, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 21, 2019". RoughStock. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Unapologetically (Deluxe Edition) by Kelsea Ballerini". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on July 14, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Unapologetically - Kelsea Ballerini". AllMusic. Credits. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Kelsea Ballerini – Unapologetically". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  42. ↑ "ARIA Report (Issue #1446)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  44. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 13, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 10/11/2017 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  46. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 10/11/2017 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart on 10/11/2017 – Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Top Independent Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  52. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Top Independent Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Kelsea Ballerini – Unapologetically". Music Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  55. ↑ "American album certifications – Kelsea Ballerini – Unapologetically". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
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