Lifestyle Beauty & Style Celebrity Hair Kelsea Ballerini's Big Haircut Was a 'Spur of the Moment' Decision: 'A New Chapter' (Exclusive) "I didn't tell anyone," the country singer tells PEOPLE of her decision to cut her hair into a chic wavy lob By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 8, 2023 11:16AM EDT Photo: Kelsea Ballerini Instagram; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images Kelsea Ballerini's new shorter hairstyle marks a "new chapter" for the singer. While chatting exclusively with PEOPLE about her partnership with Sonic for the fast food chain's new campaign, the summer “drinks remix," the country singer, 29, also opened up about cutting her hair, which she said was a "spur of the moment" choice. "I chopped it," Ballerini said of her previous long blonde locks. "I went to my hair girl to get my roots done and ended up chopping it off." "I didn't tell anyone," she continued. "I left and I called my manager and I called my boyfriend [Chase Stokes] and I was like, 'I just chopped my hair off.' They're like, 'You go, girl.' And I was like, 'Fair enough.' " Added Ballerini: "[It's a] new chapter, you know, so why not? It grows back." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Kelsea Ballerini Debuts Chic Wavy Lob: ‘In with the New' Ballerini debuted her dramatic, chic wavy lob hairstyle in an Instagram post late last month. “They say to get out with the old, you get in with the new 😉,” she captioned a carousel of fun selfies and videos highlighting her new look. The "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" singer-songwriter tagged Nashville hairstylist Marissa Martin on her first shot of the 'do. In the comments section, Outer Banks actor Stokes, 30, wrote to his girlfriend: "I’m fine I’m fine I’m not fine 🤤." Kelsea Ballerini Instagram Kelsea Ballerini Says It's 'Beautiful' to Let the Highs and Lows of Life 'Both Have Space' (Exclusive) Elsewhere in her conversation with PEOPLE, Ballerini also chatted about embracing the duality of life and grappling with the highs and lows she deals with every day. "There's such space for both to be happening at the same time," Ballerini said of the good and bad. "I think, for a long time, I thought you can't have wonderful big things happening while dealing with turmoil." Noting that she has since "learned that two things can be true at the same time," the "Peter Pan" crooner continued, "That's kind of just the point of life, always." "Just finding time for both, finding time to celebrate the wins, and finding time to grieve whatever it is that might be changing or dying out in your life — I think it's beautiful to let both have space," added Ballerini. Close