Subject to Change (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American singer Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on September 23, 2022, through Black River Entertainment. Ballerini co-produced the album along with Shane McAnally, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, and Alysa Vanderheym. "Heartfirst" was released as its first single on April 8, 2022.
Ballerini first announced the album in July 2022. Ballerini had hinted that there was a collaboration on the album, and on September 8, 2022, confirmed that the song, "You're Drunk, Go Home" featured Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce. Ballerini co-wrote on fourteen tracks, and sole wrote one.
The albums track listing is "90s-inspired", and shows her growth as an artist. Some songs on the album are described as "breezy pop" and "super fun, honky tonk-style". Talking about the composition of the album, Ballerini explained to Billboard that she "intentionally wanted to write with more women this time. For me, when you are making a record about emotions, when you connect with a woman creatively, youâÂÂre gonna be able to tap into that in a whole different way". She noted that the writing process for her 2021 poetry book Feel Your Way Through influenced her songwriting for Subject to Change, stating that "I credit a lot of the openness and the more poetic side of the songwriting to the book. I feel like that opened my mind creatively and helped me work outside of the [standard song] structure. That creative freedom unlocked a part of me I hope to keep pushing in any kind of project that I do". She also described The Corrs, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Sixpence None the Richer and Sheryl Crow as key influences for the album.
Steven Thomas Ervin of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars. He says, "Subject to Change is simultaneously glossy and softly lit, an album with plenty of modern electric flair. " Compared to her previous album, Jeffrey Davies of PopMatters wrote that the album's material has "moved backward as bland" and described Subject to Change as Ballerini's most conservative work to date. However, he praised her vocals as the strongest they've ever been and observed that she is "is in her element musically." Rachel Kovach of The Penn calls it a "stellar album that is certainly Grammy worthy." Rolling Stone Dan Hyman said that the album is "mature and refreshing" and that it features some of her "most sonically progressive material to date."
The lead single "Heartfirst" was released on April 8, 2022. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and ultimately reached a peak of number 23. "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" was released on December 5, 2022, as the album's second single.
"Love Is a Cowboy" was released as the first promotional single on July 15, 2022. "The Little Things" and "What I Have" were also issued ahead of the album release.
On September 23, 2022, she appeared on Good Morning America and performed "Heartfirst". On September 27, 2022, Ballerini performed "Love Is a Cowboy" on The Late Late Show with James Corden. She performed "What I Have" on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 30, 2022
She promoted the album on the ten date Heartfirst Tour, which began on September 24, 2022, in New York City.
All tracks produced by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally, and Julian Bunetta, with the exception of "Love Is a Cowboy", produced alongside Jesse Frasure, and "Doin' My Best", produced alongside Alysa Vanderheym.
Vocals
Musicians
Production
Imagery