Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Call It Quits After Nearly Three Years

Lead Country star Kelsea Ballerini and “Outer Banks” actor Chase Stokes have ended their nearly three-year romance, their representatives confirmed on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Nut Graf The split marks the end of one of entertainment’s most visible relationships, which began after Ballerini slid into Stokes’s DMs in December 2022 and went public at the CMT Awards in April 2023. Fans were stunned just days after Stokes’s affectionate Instagram birthday tribute to Ballerini on September 12.

Breakup Announcement

  • A rep for Ballerini told People that “they’re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t. It happens.”
  • Neither party has commented publicly beyond the representative’s statement, and no reason for the split was disclosed.

Public Displays of Affection Turned Sour

  • On September 12, Stokes shared a heartfelt post celebrating Ballerini’s 32nd birthday, writing, “Even though you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, I’d say I’m looking forward to more of this. Happy birthday, my love.”
  • Two days later, fans noticed Ballerini had removed photos of Stokes from her Instagram, fueling breakup speculation.

Relationship Timeline

  • December 2022: Ballerini slides into Stokes’s Instagram DMs, saying, “Hi, Chase Stokes.”
  • January 2023: The couple is first spotted together at the College Football Playoff National Championship.
  • February 2023: Ballerini confirms the relationship on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, admitting she hadn’t even watched Stokes’s show before DMing him.
  • April 2023: The pair make their red-carpet debut at the CMT Awards.
  • Throughout 2023-2025: The couple frequently shares public displays of support at award shows, concerts and on social media.

Fan Reaction Social-media comments ranged from heartbreak to disbelief:

  • “What?? I was expecting an engagement announcement!!!”
  • “Say sike right now because I can’t take more bad news.”
  • “How did they go from this to breaking up?”

What’s Next Both Ballerini and Stokes head into their projects separately: Ballerini continues to promote her upcoming album and fall tour dates, while Stokes prepares for the release of the final season of “Outer Banks.”

Subhead: Moving Forward The end of their relationship underscores the challenges of maintaining a high-profile romance amid busy careers. As fans process the news, both artists are likely to reflect on their time together through upcoming interviews and, in Ballerini’s case, potentially through new music.