Country music star Kelsea Ballerini had to unexpectedly cut her Thursday night performance short, ending the show after just five songs from her setlist. The 31-year-old artist canceled her performance at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, citing illness that left her unable to continue the show.
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After performing several songs, the “Cowboys Cry Too” singer abruptly left the stage. Then a crew member stepped on to deliver some bad news to the audience.
“This is a conversation I did not want to have tonight,” the crew member told the disappointed fans in footage shared on social media. “She just can’t finish, she is too sick, and we’ve given everything, we’ve tried to do it, and we unfortunately cannot finish the show tonight.”
“I do not know much beyond that. We are going to look at options and you will be receiving emails. Beyond that, there is not much that I can say right now,” the crew member somberly added.
Kelsea Ballerini, honorary Buffalonian, had to cut it short tonight but she will be back. pic.twitter.com/bf2lMZBHXg
— Rob Banks (@RobBanks_WYRK) February 7, 2025
However, there’s an old adage in show business: “the show must go on.” Though many fans likely would expect Ballerini to just take a shot of whiskey and soldier on, she did the next best thing. She took to social media, assuring her fans that she’d make up the performance date.
Kelsea Ballerini Promises to ‘Pull Out Every Stop’ For Disappointed Fans
“Buffalo, I am so so sorry that I could not finish the show tonight,” Ballerini explained in a video posted to X. “I am sicker than I’m trying to be, and I did not want to let anyone down tonight, and I just got through the first few songs and I couldn’t do it. And I am so sorry, but I never want to give you a half-ass show.”
— Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) February 7, 2025
“We are rescheduling tonight, Buffalo, tomorrow, Pittsburgh, and the next day, Toronto, to the end of the tour and I will make them the best shows I’ve ever played in my whole life, and I will pull out every stop for you, and I will make it so worth it.”
“I’m going to go rest now, and get better, so I can really show up for the rest of this tour, and I hope you understand, and thank you for the grace to be human and I love you,” Ballerini added.
Meanwhile, the venue Ballerini ducked out on quickly announced that her jilted fans could make new arrangements to see her perform.
“RESCHEDULED! Kelsea Ballerini to April 11, 2025 Due to illness, the Kelsea Ballerini date scheduled for Feb. 6, 2025 has been rescheduled to April 11, 2025. Ticket buyers should be on the lookout for an email with more information. Hold on to your tickets, they will be valid for the new dates,” the KeyBank Center posted on X.
Hey, even cowgirls get a sick day now and then.