Kelsea Ballerini Recalls Bidding on Date with Craig Conover on Southern Charm: ‘It Haunts Me Forever’

Kelsea Ballerini is still haunted over the fact that she and Craig Conover almost went on a date. 

While appearing in a clip for Cosmopolitan’s “Cheap Shots” game show on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the country singer, 31, was asked about her appearance on Southern Charm approximately a decade ago. 

Ballerini began reading a card with a fan question asking about “season 2, episode 11,” but immediately seemed to know where the topic was headed before reading it aloud.

“Oh God,” she said as she slumped into her chair. “It haunts me forever.”

Though she was only allowed 30 seconds to respond, the “Better Luck Next Time” singer insisted on setting the record straight. 

“I don’t remember, because I know I’m timed, but I have to tell this story to clear this up,” she said when asked how much she bid for a date with the Bravo reality star, 36.

According to Ballerini, she was unaware that the television show was filming that night and had been there to perform at a radio event as a new artist. 

“I was on [a] radio tour, and I was doing a show for the radio station on a boat and they were filming Southern Charm on the boat, and I didn’t know that, so I was just there,” the singer said. 

Ballerini said she was simply playing “Love Me Like You Mean It” for the exposure, when unbeknownst to her, her label decided it would be a great idea to add her to the hit Bravo show. 

“I didn’t know,” she said, adding that she was “pushed into frame” to be on camera. 

In the scene, Ballerini shyly laughs in a room full of people as an auctioneer ups the price for Conover. 

Ultimately, the Voice star said she and Conover never went out together and what would have been their date was “auctioned off” on the radio station “for charity.”

“A winner from the radio station got it,” Ballerini said. “Everything is great as it turns out.”

The “Legends” singer is currently dating Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes. She revealed in January 2023 that their romance sparked after she slid into his DMs.

Conover has been having less luck lately — recently splitting from his fellow Bravo star Paige DeSorbo after three years together.

“I will say downloading Raya was my first step into admitting to myself that I was not in a relationship anymore,” he said during a Galentine’s Day appearance at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on Feb. 14.

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.

“I don’t think a dating app is for me. I think I’m gonna meet someone out in a bar or in life,” Conover continued.

The Bravo stars broke things off in November though he recently revealed he’d already purchased an engagement ring for her.

Moving forward, he’s hoping that the next time he finds love it’s “in person,” rather than on an app.