♪ this is "nightline." >> byron: tonight, behind the scenes with country superstar kelsea ballerini. known for mega hits like "miss

me more." ♪ i miss me more ♪ >> byron: navigating the trauma of a messy and public divorce. >> i'm going to implode if i don't write about what's going on in my life right now. >> byron: how her pain became an anthem for others. >> i want to dig my heels in. i want to matter. funny family man. one on one with emmy award-winning jim gaffigan. >> i love my children so much, i want to get away from them. sometimes when people hear i have five kids, they think i'm good at parenting. kind of like zooming people with lots of cats are not crazy. >> byron: why he keeps his comedy clean. >> i curse in everyday life. but if i'm talking about mini muf muffins, it's not necessary to curse. >> byron: and shake it off. ♪ shake it off ♪ >> taylor swift fans did more than shake it off at two recent concerts. they may have triggered two minor earthquakes. arthritis pain?

we say not today. tylenol 8 hour arthritis pain has two layers of relief. the first is fast, the second is long-lasting. we give you your day back, so you can give it everything. tylenol. number one doctor recommended for arthritis pain. (owner) purina one... we switched and wow! from day 1, its proven natural nutrition supports charlie's strong immune system... and ginger's healthy heart. (vo) healthy differences today and for a lifetime. purina one. a difference from day one.

she was even inspired to train for a marathon. that lasted a day, but she was inspired. woolite protects your favorites from fading, pilling, and stretching. so you can wear them as long as you love them. ♪ >> byron: good evening. thank you for joining us. we begin with country music singer/songwriter kelsea ballerini. her new album with songs about her messy and public divorce has garnered raves and new fans. the tunes have also welcbecome anthem for others on the path

healing from heartbreak. >> i was like, i'm going to implode if i don't write about what's going on in my life. >> reporter: what do you say to those women who might be going through something that do connect with this new ep? >> i would say, listen to it top to bottom. because it's like a healing journey. >> reporter: it's been a whirlwind year for country star kelsea ballerini. from the lows of a very public divorce to the highs of a raw, heartfelt album that went viral. >> kelsea ballerini said -- ♪ i kissed someone new last night ♪ >> when were you going to tell me i was fast asleep on kelsea ballerini, because this song? >> reporter: her star still on the rise even after a decade in the music industry. known for hits like "love me like you mean it ♪ ♪ you gone that love me like you mean it ♪ >> reporter: collaborations with the chain smokers.

♪ tell me my head that thing in my chest ♪ ♪ got the hands round my neck this time ♪ >> reporter: what is she like on and off the stage? behind the scenes as she gets ready to perform in her hometown. >> this is, like, start of cma fest. shania. hometown show. mom's here, friends are here, everyone's here. it's chaotic. >> reporter: she'll be taking the stage just before another legend, shania twain. >> she invited me to sing with her a couple of years ago, we became friends. i've gotten to know her as a woman. also happens to be my hero. so that's pretty cool. >> reporter: we catch up with her just moments before she runs out on stage. did you take any tequila shots? >> i did. can you tell? >> reporter: no. >> great. >> reporter: what is your preshow prep? >> one, two, three!

>> it's not much. i have a little honey. sometimes tequila. hang out with the fans. not that exciting. it's not like rock star at all. >> reporter: ballerini says she's not a rock star. but fans would say otherwise. >> she's the best. >> she is the new generation's queen of country music. >> is anyone ready to put a hole in the bottle with us tonight, nashville? ♪ ♪ my head has a big hole but i'm gonna jump right in ♪ ♪ leading with my heart first ♪ >> i've wanted to sing this song in nashville since i wrote it. it's about a place right down the road. that i feel really happily far away from now.

if you're going through a season in your life that is big change, whether it's heartbreak or breakup or divorce or any kind of life change -- you're going to be okay. ♪ i kissed someone new last night ♪ ♪ and now i don't care where you're sleeping baby ♪ >> reporter: it all began when she started writing music at just 12 years old. >> that's the age where i got tall, boys got cute, everything's changing hormonally. and then my parents were getting divorced. and i'm an only child. it was just chaos. you know? and -- i couldn't really find anything to grab on to. i just started writing songs, and it became the branch in the water that i was like, oh, i'm safe now, i got it. you know? and it's been that ever since. >> reporter: but it wasn't until 15 that she convinced her mom to move from knoxville to nashville.

♪ for the next few years, performed at bars. 2013, at 19 years old, a big break, a record deal. >> i was like, i've got to do it. i can't half-ass it, i've got to do it. i just wrote full-time for a year. like, i knew that songwriting was my superpower and is. it's the thing that i value the most. >> reporter: a decade later, she used that superpower to get through one of the toughest moments of her life, splitting from her husband, morgan evans, after nearly five years of marriage. do you think you got married too young? >> well, i think to each their own. i know people that got younger than i did and are very happy. so i don't think there is a "too young." i think -- i don't regret anything, and i think that's important to say. ♪ i would have let go if you wanted me to ♪

>> reporter: her ex detailed his version of the divorce in a single titled "over for you" released in late 2022. ♪ how long has it been over for you ♪ >> reporter: ballerini responded to that question directly with six songs, including "mountain with a view." ♪ ♪ i think that this is when it's over for me ♪ >> reporter: and "penthouse." ♪ when you're playing home in a penthouse baby ♪ >> putting out a record, i'll going through a very public divorce, i don't get to hide, i'm on tour. i have to write about this so i'm going to push it down and explode one day. there's a lot of narratives, especially in country music, where it's like, screw you, i'm going to get a car and it's all your fault. i get down with those songs, i love them. but that wasn't my story, that wasn't what's happening. >> reporter: fans hanging on

every lyric, including the ones ballerini has changed, to reflect her healing and her new relationship with actor chase stokes who plays john beat on the netflix series "outer banks." ♪ >> we did notice last night, you changed a few lyrics in "penthouse." >> just a little cheeky. >> yes. you mentioned in one of your response john b. talk about your new relationship. you say your happy? >> i am. i'm really happy, yeah. i'm really trying to be in the moment, in the present. again, just like taking inventory of, am i being the most authentic and honest i've ever been in my life with everyone? my artistry, my friends, my partner? yeah. and that feels really good. >> reporter: stokes gushing about her to "entertainment tonight" just last month. >> she seriously is the best human being on planet earth.

she's so damn talented. just to see her music and her shine in the way she's getting in recent times, it's been beautiful. >> is there anything about yourself that surprised you recently? >> if you asked any of the people closest to me, if you said, what's her biggest downfall? they'd say, she's a chronic people pleaser. i have made choices, i have made public statements that go against making peace with people. and i never thought i would be able to do that, out of fear of ruffling feathers or out of fear of people not liking me or whatever it may be. and i'm getting better at it now. >> reporter: one of those moments came in april when ballerini brought out drag queens during her performance at the cmt awards after tennessee introduced legislation restricting drag performers. ♪ if you go down i'm going down too ♪ >> what made you decide to do that? >> i think that there is so much

hate and legislation and so push against the lgbtq+ community. and especially in the genre i'm in. i just don't stand for it. and want to be an ally, but i've always done it more quietly. and i just realized that sometimes in a climate like we're in, sometimes you've got to get a little louder. >> reporter: ballerini plans to keep making noise and music on stages across the country. we're backstage at the grand ole opry. >> yes, we are. >> reporter: including this very special one. she's the youngest female artist to ever be inducted into the grand ole opry. how does that feel? i mean, in over 100 years, that's remarkable. >> i was like, i don't believe in the "i made it" moment. i feel that's kind of when you get lady and comfortable. >> reporter: you still don't

believe you've made it? >> no, no. >> reporter: really? >> no, no. i do believe in moments that make you look up and go, i think i'm doing something right. >> do you know you're shaping the genre too? >> i think for a long time, i still walked in like i was new here. and i think i'm finally starting to be like, no i've been here a decade. i want to dig my heels in. i want to matter. >> byron: our thanks to rhiannon. coming up, funny family man. my conversation with comedie gaffigan. why he keeps his comedy g-rated and what he expects from his upcoming tour with jerry seinfeld. hot nuts and popcorn and savings. just like bundling your home and car with geico. yeah in fact, hot nuts -are like home insurance -i get it. the gecko explained it pretty clearly. -woah! -hey! i know you! yeah, hi. not you. the guy who helped me bundle my home and car.

he's great! thanks mate, i appreciate it! he probably thought you were somebody else. okay... see how much you could save by bundling with geico. my active psoriatic arthritis can make me feel like i'm losing my rhythm. with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, i'm getting into my groove. ♪(uplifting music)♪ along with significantly clearer skin... skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. skyrizi attaches to and reduces a source of excess inflammation that can lead to skin and joint symptoms. with skyrizi 90% clearer skin and less joint pain are possible. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. thanks to skyrizi, there's nothing like clearer skin and better movement... and that means everything.

♪nothing is everything♪ now's the time to ask your doctor about skyrizi. learn how abbvie could help you save. (cat 1) friskies world! now's the time to ask your doctor about skyrizi. the purr-fect reminder that... life's more fun in the deep end. (cat 2) yeah! so never stop exploring... always keep it real... (cat 1) and do whatever floats your boat - just like we do. (vo) feed their fantasy. ♪friskies♪

by treating it with linzess. then you could start proactively managing your constipation with belly pain, and begin to find yourself a little further away from the symptoms that keep coming back. say yess to linzess. linzess is not a laxative. it's a once-daily pill that helps you get ahead of your symptoms. it's proven to help you have more frequent and complete bowel movements. and helps relieve overall abdominal symptoms - belly pain, discomfort, and bloating. do not give linzess to children less than two. it may harm them. do not take linzess if you have a bowel blockage.

get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain, especially with bloody or black stools. the most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. if it's severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. these aren't all the side effects. imagine...what could relief from ibs-c mean for you? talk to your doctor and say yess to linzess. learn how abbvie and ironwood could help you save on linzess. ♪

we're back with an emmy award-winning comedian who's graced your screen and the stand-up stage for decades, back with his 10th comedy special, the one and only jim gaffigan. welcome to "nightline." >> thank you for having me. >> byron: you're getting ready to hit the road with jerry sign field, releasing a comedy special wide receiver you've got five kids at home. how do you find time for all that? >> well, you know -- some of it is, i love my children so much, i want to get away from them. and i also -- you know, jerry seinfeld, i feel like i should help him. i should help his career. i should get out there. i think i want to introduce america to this terrific comedic mind. i'd like him to experience some success. no, it's an incredible opportunity. by the way, you know, it is an ongoing balancing act, you know,

of work and family. you know, obviously the priority is work. no, obviously the priority is family. i love acting, but now that there's a strike, that's removed. so it's one of those things where every three months, i'm recalibrating. >> byron: there is the strike going on. your thoughts about that? and your peers and your profession right now with the sag-aftra strike going on? >> i'm a union guy, but i also feel as though, you know, these -- what the actors and the writers are asking for is not something that large. the business has shifted, and people have to adjust. and you can't do it without the writers and the actors. we should deal with this stuff. and i think that people should be honest. because it's a different landscape, being a working actor or a writer, than it was years ago.

>> byron: the new special "dark pale." let's take a look. >> sometimes when people find out i have five kids, they think i'm good at parenting. like assuming people with lots of cats are not crazy. i have no idea what i'm doing. there's no learning curve. it's not like you learn from one child, you can apply to another one. kids are annoying, they're individual humans. >> byron: your comedy is clean, yet you say the greatest comic ever was richard pryor, and his comedy was not clean. how do you decide to live in a lane you're in and be comfortable with that? >> well, i think comedians, what we love about richard pryor, what we love about chris rock or jerry seinfeld, is that there's an authenticity to how they approach things. and so, i mean -- i think comedians often get credit or criticism for doing something that is just who they are. i'm from a small town in the midwest. i curse in everyday life, but if

i'm talking about mini muffins, it's not necessary to curse. but that's what's authentic for me. i also love lewis black, and i want to hear him curse, i want to hear chris rock articulate things his way. because it's authentic for him. >> byron: you're 57 years old. you're having a wonderful career. did you imagine you'd be in this place? because you were a corporate guy. >> some of it is, i was very much raised to seek security. my father was the first to go to college. security was wearing a coat and tie. you know, i was in my early 20s and my mother died. it was this devastating thing that really, you know, made me question a lot of things. she died when she was 53. so if i had this desire to pursue stand-up and acting, i was going to go for it. but i did not have an expectation that i would be able to do stand-up or that i would

be an actor or that i would have ten comedy specials. i mean, 15 years ago, if you'd told me i would have ten comedy specials, i wouldn't believe it. >> byron: in addition to the special, you're heading on the road with jerry seinfeld. what's it like working with him? >> jerry and i have been doing shows together off at gotham comedy club, pop-in shows, us doing a set. we get to hang out and chat afterwards and talk shop. you know, some of it is, we talk about comedy the way i imagine football coaches discuss strategy on offense and defense. and it's this never-ending conversation. and jerry is a purist. so you're not distracted by gossip or some kind of trend. it's real theoretical comedy talk, which is fun. >> there's a lot going on in your life. what's next? >> i'm going to run for president.

no, i -- you know, for me, being the father of five kids, you know, it's like -- obviously that is my priority, right? i mean, that's the most important job i will fail at, right? but career-wise, you know -- i don't know. i mean, i've been around long enough to know that it's all about creative fulfillment, right? and that's really what i seek. all the other stuff is kind of inconsequential. >> you seem like a man at peace. >> you know, maybe i'm full. i don't know. no, i -- i'm very grateful. but you know, look, i've got teenagers. i'm filled with fear and anxiety. >> byron: fact, brother, understood. jim gaffigan "dark pale" streaming now on amazon prime. thank you so much. >> thank you so much, appreciate it. >> byron: coming up, "quake it off." did taylor swift fans trigger

two earthquakes during her concerts in seattle? my a1c was up here; now, it's down with rybelsus®. his a1c? it's down with rybelsus®. my doctor told me rybelsus® lowered a1c better than a leading branded pill and that people taking rybelsus® lost more weight. i got to my a1c goal and lost some weight too. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. gallbladder problems may occur. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. need to get your a1c down? you may pay as little as $10 per prescription.

most fragrance plug-ins just smell like fresh bathroom. new vibrant from air wick can truly elevate your living space. with two times the natural essential oil it's time to raise your fragrance expectations. vibrant from air wick.

diabetes can serve up a lot of questions, like, "what is your glucose?" and "can you have more carbs?" before you decide... with the freestyle libre 2 system know your glucose level and where it's headed. no fingersticks needed. manage your diabetes with more confidence. and lower your a1c. the number one doctor prescribed cgm. freestyle libre 2. try it for free at freestylelibre.us try it for free at that's why comcast business de is launching theal. mobile made free event. with our business internet, new and existing customers can

get one year of unlimited mobile for free. it's our best internet. powered by the next generation 10g network and with 99.9% reliability. plus one line of free mobile for an entire year. it's the mobile made free event-happening now. get started for just $49.99 a month. plus, ask how to get one free line of unlimited mobile. comcast business, powering possibilities.

♪ >> byron: finally tonight, of course there was lots of shaking going on during two taylor swift concerts in seattle. ♪ the thunder rattling your ground ♪ >> byron: swifties did more than rattle the ground during performances of fan favorites. seismologists say fans were dancing so hard, they caused seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3-magnitude earthquake on july 22nd and 23rd. they've been dubbed

"swiftquakes." the superstar had fans rocking out during back-to-back sold-out shows to hits like "shake it off." one swiftie noted, "i survived the great swiftquake of 7/23." ♪ ♪ shake it off shake it off ♪ >> byron: and that's "nightline" for this evening. watch full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here same time monday. thanks for the company, america. have a good and safe weekend.