Who Is Morgan Evans? 5 Things About Kelsea Ballerini’s Ex-Husband – Hollywood Life

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Morgan Evans is in a new chapter. After spending much of the past few years reflecting on his divorce from Kelsea Ballerini, the Australian singer has shifted his focus toward moving forward — both personally and professionally. He previously revisited the end of their marriage in his YouTube docuseries Over for You, where he spoke candidly about healing, growth, and rebuilding after the split.

Evans has returned to releasing new music and, in 2025, confirmed he is dating fellow country singer Laci Kaye Booth, with the pair making their red carpet debut at the CMA Awards. While Ballerini has continued to process the end of their marriage through her music, Evans has taken a quieter approach, channeling his experiences into his work and forward momentum.

Now, Evans is looking ahead. He’s been releasing new music, teasing upcoming projects, and stepping back into the spotlight with a renewed sense of direction. While Ballerini has continued to process the divorce through her music, Evans has kept his perspective measured, choosing to focus on his career and what comes next.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Australian singer and songwriter.

1. He was married to Kelsea Ballerini for almost 5 years. 

Morgan’s ex-wife is none other than Kelsea, who he married in 2017 after dating for one and a half years. They met, appropriately enough, while co-hosting Australia’s Country Music Channel Awards in Morgan’s homeland in March of 2016. He proposed that Christmas, and they were married a year later in Mexico on Dec. 2, 2017. Their romance was profoundly musical, with Morgan inspiring several of the songs on Kelsea’s sophomore album, Unapologetically, which was released in Nov. 2017. They were even dog parents together, sharing a pet named Dibs.

But it wasn’t meant to be, and in August 2022 they announced their split. “This is now public record so I wanted you to hear from me directly that I am going through a divorce,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “This deeply difficult decision is the result of a journey of love, growth and effort that has ultimately come to an end.” They finalized their divorce in November of 2022.

He admitted in the fifth YouTube episode (released Feb. 28, 2023) that he “feels pretty good, considering everything,” while admitting he has “a long way to go. But I’m a long way from where I was three weeks ago,” he added.

The singer and the country icon divorced in November of 2022, and she’s been talking a lot about the marriage and the fallout after the split. Morgan, however, pushed back. “If this is what she needs to heal, I hope it helps,” he wrote in part, in a Feb. 21 Instagram post. “All I ask is if that you’re on my pages, please don’t be mean. Don’t be mean to Kelsea, don’t be mean to each other. Life’s too short.”

2. He started playing music as a teenager.

Morgan grew up in Australia and performed his first show at the age of 13. In high school, he formed a rock group called Extortion, which won a high school band competition in 2002. The band was renamed to Solver in 2006. Morgan won a music competition in 2007, which allowed him to fly to Nashville and record his first single.

3. He’s released several successful albums & EPs.

Morgan’s debut EP, Big Skies, was released in 2007. He didn’t put out his next two until 2012, though, and they were released just eight months apart. He won the award for New Artist of the Year at the 2013 CMC Awards, and dropped his debut albums, Morgan Evans, in 2014 in Australia. He announced the release of EP The Country and the Coast in September of 2021. And most recently, he dropped a YouTube docuseries in 2023 centered on his marriage to Kelsea.

4. He relocated to Nashville.

After several years of success in Australia, Morgan moved to Nashville for good and signed with Warner Music in 2017. He released “Kiss Somebody” that year, and has been seeing growing success. Morgan told HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY in 2018 that his album at the time included several “pure love songs” written about his famous ex-wife.

5. He’s toured with names you’ve definitely heard of.

Morgan opened up for Taylor Swift on the Australian leg of her Red tour. He’s set to open up for Chris Young on his Losing Sleep tour later this year, as well.