Kelsea Ballerini Reflects on Endings After Chase Stokes Split

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Kelsea Ballerini is shedding her skin. 

With the Lunar New Year approaching – the Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17th – the singer behind “Blindsided” shared a message looking back on how much things changed during the past year, the Year of the Snake.

Kelsea shared a message on Instagram saying that this past year forced many people to let go of burdens they didn’t even know they were holding onto. It brought unexpected closures, difficult lessons, and challenges to our patience, resilience, and beliefs. The growth that came from it wasn’t flashy or obvious; it was a quiet, internal, and often uncomfortable process.

Okay, so even though things were kinda rough, the message actually gave me hope! It made me feel like whatever changes were happening weren’t totally awful, and that there was a good side to it all. Seriously, it was like a little light in the darkness, and I clung to it! It just… framed everything in a way that made me think things could actually turn out okay, and that meant the world to me.

The message continued, “Look at how far you’ve come. You’ve grown wiser and stronger, and you now have a better understanding of yourself and what you deserve. The past year was a time of change, a chance to let go of the old you and become more authentic.”

It went on to say, “Just because something ended doesn’t mean it was supposed to last forever, and just because something caused you pain doesn’t mean it was meant to destroy you.”

To celebrate the Year of the Snake, the singer behind “Hole in the Bottle” also posted a photo of her snake-themed nail art.

Kelsea Ballerini recently shared thoughts about breakups just two weeks after confirming she and Chase Stokes had split again, following a brief reconciliation in December. Although she hasn’t directly addressed the breakup publicly, she’s hinted at her feelings about it.

Kelsea Ballerini recently went viral online after sharing her reaction to country singer Ashley Cooke’s song about a breakup.

In a clip posted to Instagram on February 9th, Ashley sang about the fallout from infidelity, with lyrics like, ‘Whisky nights and wandering eyes cause problems, hidden phones and denials raise suspicions.’ She continued, ‘Gossip spreads, and the truth comes out – you can’t break boundaries without consequences.’

Kelsea seemed to agree, simply writing “mmmhhhmmm” in the comments. Ashley responded, acknowledging Kelsea’s understanding with “@kelseaballerini you get it.”

To look back at Kelsea and Chase’s romance, keep reading…

 

On December 1st, 2022, Kelsea Ballerini sent a direct message to Chase Stokes at 1:30 a.m. She was out with friends at a bar and had been drinking at the time.

They first met in person on January 7, 2023, a date she now considers their anniversary.

Kelsea shared on the Call Her Daddy podcast in November 2023 that he silently got out of his Bronco, then immediately grabbed her face, kissed her, and pulled back, saying, ‘Thank God you’re real.’

Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.

The pair snuggled close to watch Georgia beat TCU at the 2023 College Football National Championship game, which was held in California.

In August 2023, Kelsea shared a TikTok video showing the start of her relationship. The clip was a throwback to January 7, 2023, when she was getting ready for her first date with him.

She shared a video with the caption, “Happy weekend! This is a video I sent to my best friend before my first date with Chase.”

Kelsea Ballerini showcased her outfit in a video set to her song “How Do I Do This,” which details the experience of going on a first date after a long time.

“Here’s the look, with the boots” Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.

She turned to show off her hairstyle—half up and half down—and explained, “I’m using this hair clip to try and look trendy.”

She kept talking to a friend, saying he was going to pick her up and they were going for sushi. She promised to call tomorrow with all the details.

She took a deep breath, raised a finger, and finally said with determination, “I can do this. I can do this.”

After a little playful movement, she explained that a date is simply going out to eat and chatting about your life. “It’s nothing to worry about,” she said.

Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.

Okay, so they’ve finally confirmed they’re dating! They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the CMT Music Awards down in Texas – it was a big moment, and everyone’s talking about it. It feels like they’re really putting it all out there now!

A few days later, the pair went to the opening night party for the Broadway show Shucked at Capitale in New York City.

Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.

The two attended Armani Beauty’s ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.

Kelsea was surprised and delighted when Chase unexpectedly showed up to greet her at the airport. Both of them shared sweet videos and photos of the heartwarming reunion online.

The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.

While in NYC to perform on TODAY, the singer scheduled in a date night with her No. 1 fan.

Kelsea shared on the show that she appreciates Chase’s support and understanding, describing him as a genuinely kind person.

I was so touched to see Chase celebrate Kelsea’s 30th birthday on September 12th! He shared a really sweet collection of photos and videos looking back at all her amazing moments – especially considering she’s a three-time Grammy nominee. It was a lovely way to mark the occasion.

“Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini,” he captioned the series. “i love you.”

The couple had a memorable day, marking Kelsea’s birthday with a coordinated appearance on the red carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

And, yes, they shared a birthday kiss. 

Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase’s 31st birthday days later.

Kelsea and Chase looked incredibly stylish at designer Giorgio Armani’s exclusive event in Venice, Italy.

The singer and the actor from Outer Banks posted pictures on Instagram from their vacation, showing them taking a cooking class and relaxing on the beach.

Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.

Kelsea planted a smooch on Chase’s cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.

In November 2023, Kelsea spoke with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast and shared that she was enjoying her sex life, simply stating, “I’m having a nice time.”

She explained that previously, her interactions felt like a show for the other person. Now, she says things are different and more genuine.

Before dating Chase, the musician hadn’t realized how important intimacy could be for building a strong connection with someone.

The Grammy-nominated artist used to believe doing things was simply about the company they kept. Now, they see it as a way to build connections with others.

“One year of lovin you,” the actor wrote. “P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you.”

Kelsea celebrated her anniversary with her close friend, Chase Stokes, sharing a sweet message online. She playfully thanked him for inspiring her to write love songs.

A year after calling dibs on each other’s hearts, they celebrated their love.  

Kelsea shared this romantic pic from their anniversary celebration.

Kelsea and Chase made a memorable first impression at the Met Gala, arriving at the Metropolitan Museum of Art dressed in matching outfits by Michael Kors for the opening of the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit.

Kelsea joined her boyfriend at the premiere of his Netflix movie Uglies.

Although Kelsea Ballerini didn’t win any of her three Grammy nominations, and she and Noah Kahan playfully acknowledged being beaten by Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, she still had a positive experience at the awards show.

After nearly three years together, the duo officially called it quits on their relationship.

She confirmed their reconcilation on New Year’s Eve.

Wow, what a year it’s been! I was really touched by Kelsea’s post on Instagram. She described it as a messy one, both personally and publicly, and how things felt beyond her control. But honestly, what really resonated with me was her simple message: she still believes in love! She believes in him, and she’s committed to changing old habits. It’s just so refreshing to see someone embrace love and growth, even after a tough time. It’s all she really wants to share about her personal life, and I totally get that. It’s a beautiful sentiment.

I was so shocked to hear that Kelsea and her husband split up again in February! It was especially surprising because she’d just told everyone they were doing really well together only days before. It’s just really sad news, honestly.

At the 2026 Grammys on February 1st, she shared that their relationship, which had its ups and downs, seemed more intense to others than it felt to them.

The singer shared with Entertainment Tonight that despite their recent breakup, her ex-partner was with her while getting ready for and attending the 2026 Grammys. She emphasized that she still believes in love, even after this experience.

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2026-02-17 17:18