LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Nick Jonas described how performing a duet with Kelsea Ballerini turned "tragic" on stage. The 'Only Human' singer spoke candidly about his "worst moment" on liveTV and how it prompted him to seek counseling in the Jonas Brothers' latest interview on the 'Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard' podcast.
According to reports, Nick and Ballerini had previously done "couple performances together." The 'Jealous' singer-songwriter remembered joining the country diva at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards to play guitar and sing a duet of her famous song 'Peter Pan' off her debut studio album 'The First Time' after reflecting on an incident that occurred during a Cole Porter tribute where he fumbled the words.
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'Really tragic guitar solo debacle'
Three years had passed since the separation of the Jonas Brothers in 2013, and Nick was preparing to release his second solo album titled 'Last Year Was Complicated' at the time of the performance. Ballerini, who is now 29, had released her debut album 'The First Time', which included 'Peter Pan', a year earlier. "A really tragic guitar solo debacle... happened on live TV," Jonas, 30, said while recounting the 2016 event on Monday, May 22, 2023, episode of 'Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard'. "In retrospect, I can kind of laugh about how big I thought it was. But it did travel more than I wish it would have, and it did cause me to go to therapy," he added.
'I rehearsed it a million times'
The duo earlier had "a couple performances together," according to the 'Levels' singer. "Kelsea and I had a couple performances together, and this was one of them. I come out for my thing. I rehearsed it a million times. I'm feeling really confident about it — not even really thinking about it like it's a thing that's going to be problematic," Nick stated.
'I hit a wrong note and blacked out'
"I started off, it was fine and as I walked towards her, I just went completely blank and I hit a wrong note and blacked out basically and clocked that it was wrong and I couldn't stop." Years later, the 'Camp Rock' actor said he still "can't really figure out exactly what happened" to lead to the gaffe, adding that he was "rushed to a plane" right away and had no opportunity to reflect on what had happened.
'It was a really traumatic moment'
"Til this day and hours after unpacking it, I can't really figure out exactly what happened, but I was rushed to a car and rushed to a plane right after it," added the singer. "I looked at my manager and said, 'I think that was bad.' I was, like, in shock kinda. It was a really traumatic moment that shaped the pressure I put on myself to be perfect and to always be on," Nick said, as cited by People.
How did Ballerini react?
'2021 Remember This Tour's opening act for the Jonas Brothers was the 'Rolling Up the Welcome Mat' singer, who also performed a duo version of the 2016 song 'Close' by the 'Waffle House' musician. "I’m a huge fan of him. I was a huge Jonas Brothers fan, unapologetically, when I was 12 or 13. His solo stuff is just incredible and it was really cool to collaborate with him on the awards. I’d totally do more with him if I could," Ballerini told The Hollywood Reporter after the 2016 ACMs. "I thought, 'If I mess up, he has me.' It kind of eased my nerves a bit. He’s such a sweet dude. We’ve known each other for a year, so it wasn’t a weird, 'Hey, I’m Kelsea. Hi, thanks for singing.' It was a little more casual, which was good," she said.
How did social media react?
As soon as the mistake was made, Nick gained notoriety, and fans poked fun at the singer for his error. Some internet users at the time even created guitar instructions showing how to play the incorrect version. However, the New Jersey native did his best to laugh along with the jokes, as reported by US Magazine. Recent responses reveal that Twitter users have made fun of Nick again for his statement regarding therapy.
'It put me into therapy as well'
A user tweeted, "It put me into therapy as well." Another wrote, "Ayo, his solo was funny af but mistakes happen, i think he got bullied enough." One user trolled, "Oh no. I had a bad day at work. I need a therapist!" "The went to therapy after listening," remarked another. One person claimed, "Not mentally connecting with the audience." "Shoulda sent him to Music School..." penned another.
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