The performance took place amid Ballerini’s dog’s cancer diagnosis, making it deeply emotional for the country star.
Kelsea Ballerini opens up about the moment she broke down while helping her The Voice team member Angie Rey prepare for her performance in the Knockouts round.
On Monday, March 29, Rey delivered a next-level performance of Cody Johnson’s “Dirt Cheap,” that not only changed the trajectory of her journey on the competition show but also showed the world that her storytelling is unmatched.
Kelsea Ballerini; Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
Before taking the stage in front of the panel of The Voice coaches, the songstress was seen rehearsing with her coach, Ballerini. Rey explained that she chose to deliver her rendition of this heartfelt tune because of the personal connection she shares with the lyrics that remind us how some of the smallest things in life are the most valuable.
“This song is about the idea that memories are worth a lot more than just money. I know my parents worked so hard to make our house our home. I remember us playing games and we danced together in this kitchen and we planted flowers together. There’s actually my handprints in the concrete in the backyard. That’s the value of a memory is like this place holds everything,” she stated proudly.
Ballerini admitted that hearing Rey sing this tune marked the first time she really noticed her raw storytelling abilities because “this song doesn’t have too much of a dynamic, and so she was really forced to make it all about the story.”
There are so many powerful lines in this song, but one in particular caused Ballerini to suddenly burst into tears. She revealed that hearing Rey sing, “And over there, under that wide oak tree/ Beneath the cross is where my best buddy’s buried,” caused her to breakdown as it references a man talking about his late dog being buried in the backyard of his house. At the time, the “Baggage” singer had just learned that her beloved 9-year-old dog, Dibs, had been diagnosed with heart cancer.
After seeing the episode air this week, she took to social media to explain that there was a lot more that took place in that moment that viewers didn’t get to see in the final cut.
“I just want to say that this was the week dibs my fur baby was diagnosed with heart cancer and we didn’t know if it was days or weeks or anything more. Angie picked one of the best storytelling country songs I’ve heard in a long time, with a line about the favorite dog being buried, and it was hyper emotional timing for me,” she shared.
THE VOICE — “The Knockouts Premiere” Episode 2709 — Pictured: Angie Rey — (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)
Ballerini admits she “tried my best” to be present and be a good leader for Rey, the reality is she was really struggling on the inside. Rey openly shared that one of the things she loves most about Ballerini is the fact that she is “real and authentic” and views being vulnerable as “strength.” So even though she was supposed to be looking to Ballerini for guidance in that moment, she knew the right thing to do was be there for her fellow country singer.
“Angie really gave me the grace to be human, and was a friends to me in that moment,” Ballerini continued in her message. “I can’t say enough about not only the talent on this show, but the heart that you get to see on screen, but also so much that is beyond.”
As of March 20, Ballerini revealed that Dibs had underwent another round of chemo and was being the “strongest boy.” She concluded her most recent message by letting fans know that he is still “living beautifully” and is residing at home with her mom while she is on the road.
THE VOICE — “The Knockouts Premiere” Episode 2709 — Pictured: (l-r) Angie Rey, Iris Herrera — (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)
Angie Rey’s kindness and undeniable storytelling appeared to impress all four of The Voice coaches, as each of them were locked into her knockouts performance on Monday night. Unfortunately, she lost the round to fellow contestant Iris Herrera, meaning it would have been the end of her time in the competition had coach Michael Bublé not used his steal on her.
“I wanted her to be able to hug her coach before she came to win the show with her new coach,” Bublé joked. “I stole Angie because she’s a modern country artist, she fills that country void on my team and there’s no ending to where this woman can go.”
The Voice continues next Monday, April 7 for The Knockouts Part two, when Adam Levine, Michael Bublé, Kelsea Ballerini and John Legend each pair two artists to perform solo against each other and then choose a winner to move on to the playoffs.
