Kelsea Ballerini Recalls Bidding on Date with Craig Conover onSouthern Charm: ‘It Haunts Me Forever’

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelsea Ballerini; Craig Conover.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Kelsea Balleriniis still haunted over the fact that she andCraig Conoveralmost went on a date.While appearing in a clip forCosmopolitan’s “Cheap Shots” game show on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the country singer, 31, was asked about her appearance onSouthern Charmapproximately a decade ago.Ballerini began reading a card with a fan question asking about “season 2, episode 11,” but immediately seemed to know where the topic was headed before reading it aloud.“Oh God,” she said as she slumped into her chair. “It haunts me forever.”Though she was only allowed 30 seconds to respond, the “Better Luck Next Time” singer insisted on setting the record straight.“I don’t remember, because I know I’m timed, but I have to tell this story to clear this up,” she said when asked how much she bid for a date with the Bravo reality star, 36.According to Ballerini, she was unaware that the television show was filming that night and had been there to perform at a radio event as a new artist.“I was on [a] radio tour, and I was doing a show for the radio station on a boat and they were filmingSouthern Charmon the boat, and I didn’t know that, so I was just there,” the singer said.Kelsea Ballerini, 2024 CMA Awards.Jason Davis/WireImageBallerini said she was simply playing “Love Me Like You Mean It” for the exposure, when unbeknownst to her, her label decided it would be a great idea to add her to the hit Bravo show.“I didn’t know,” she said, adding that she was “pushed into frame” to be on camera.In the scene, Ballerini shyly laughs in a room full of people as an auctioneer ups the price for Conover.Ultimately, theVoicestar said she and Conover never went out together and what would have been their date was “auctioned off” on the radio station “for charity.”“A winner from the radio station got it,” Ballerini said. “Everything is great as it turns out.”Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini at The 67th Annual Grammy Awards.Francis Specker/CBS via GettyThe “Legends” singer is currently datingOuter BanksactorChase Stokes. She revealed in January 2023 that their romance sparked after sheslid into his DMs.Conover has been having less luck lately — recently splitting from his fellow Bravo starPaige DeSorboafter three years together.“I will say downloading Raya was my first step into admitting to myself that I was not in a relationship anymore,” he said during a Galentine’s Day appearance atOcean Casino Resortin Atlantic City on Feb. 14.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I don’t think a dating app is for me. I think I’m gonna meet someone out in a bar or in life,” Conover continued.The Bravo stars broke things off in November though he recently revealed he’d alreadypurchased an engagement ringfor her.Moving forward, he’s hoping that the next time he finds love it’s “in person,” rather than on an app.

Kelsea Balleriniis still haunted over the fact that she andCraig Conoveralmost went on a date.

While appearing in a clip forCosmopolitan’s “Cheap Shots” game show on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the country singer, 31, was asked about her appearance onSouthern Charmapproximately a decade ago.

Ballerini began reading a card with a fan question asking about “season 2, episode 11,” but immediately seemed to know where the topic was headed before reading it aloud.

“Oh God,” she said as she slumped into her chair. “It haunts me forever.”

Though she was only allowed 30 seconds to respond, the “Better Luck Next Time” singer insisted on setting the record straight.

“I don’t remember, because I know I’m timed, but I have to tell this story to clear this up,” she said when asked how much she bid for a date with the Bravo reality star, 36.

According to Ballerini, she was unaware that the television show was filming that night and had been there to perform at a radio event as a new artist.

“I was on [a] radio tour, and I was doing a show for the radio station on a boat and they were filmingSouthern Charmon the boat, and I didn’t know that, so I was just there,” the singer said.

Kelsea Ballerini, 2024 CMA Awards.Jason Davis/WireImage

Jason Davis/WireImage

Ballerini said she was simply playing “Love Me Like You Mean It” for the exposure, when unbeknownst to her, her label decided it would be a great idea to add her to the hit Bravo show.

“I didn’t know,” she said, adding that she was “pushed into frame” to be on camera.

In the scene, Ballerini shyly laughs in a room full of people as an auctioneer ups the price for Conover.

Ultimately, theVoicestar said she and Conover never went out together and what would have been their date was “auctioned off” on the radio station “for charity.”

“A winner from the radio station got it,” Ballerini said. “Everything is great as it turns out.”

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini at The 67th Annual Grammy Awards.Francis Specker/CBS via Getty

Francis Specker/CBS via Getty

The “Legends” singer is currently datingOuter BanksactorChase Stokes. She revealed in January 2023 that their romance sparked after sheslid into his DMs.

Conover has been having less luck lately — recently splitting from his fellow Bravo starPaige DeSorboafter three years together.

“I will say downloading Raya was my first step into admitting to myself that I was not in a relationship anymore,” he said during a Galentine’s Day appearance atOcean Casino Resortin Atlantic City on Feb. 14.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I don’t think a dating app is for me. I think I’m gonna meet someone out in a bar or in life,” Conover continued.

The Bravo stars broke things off in November though he recently revealed he’d alreadypurchased an engagement ringfor her.

Moving forward, he’s hoping that the next time he finds love it’s “in person,” rather than on an app.

source: people.com