Kelsea Ballerini’s Dog Dibs Dies After Cancer Battle

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Kelsea Ballerini will be calling Dibs for life.

The country singer announced with sadness that her dog, Dibs, passed away after fighting cancer.

She announced on Instagram January 8th that her beloved dog, Dibs, had passed away. She shared that he spent his final days enjoying the sunshine in his backyard, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

Kelsea explained that her dog, Dibs, had a huge influence on her life, even inspiring a line in her 2023 song “Penthouse”: “I bought the house with a fence / Enough room for some kids, a backyard for Dibs.”

It’s impossible to fully express how much he means to me, but I wouldn’t have gotten through the last decade without him. He’s truly my best friend, and I believe our souls are connected for life. His impact is too big for just a few pictures or a caption, but here are some happy memories of Dibs.

The 32-year-old shared adorable photos of herself cuddling with her dog and playing on the beach. In a message to her fans, she expressed her gratitude for all the love her dog receives, calling it the greatest gift and saying she feels incredibly lucky to be his owner.

No one expressed their love for him more openly than his boyfriend, Chase Stokes, who wrote “My sweet sweet boy” in the comments.

After Dibs died, friends expressed their sympathy, and Lili Reinhart wrote a message saying, “I’m so sorry for your loss, to you and Chase.”

Kelsea brought the puppy home in 2015, naming him after her then-new song “Dibs.”

I was riding on the bus with my bandmates, and I suddenly started thinking about what to name my dog,” Kelsea recalled on 99.5 KD Country WKDP. “We started brainstorming names, and I suggested ‘Dibs.’ They all told me it was a terrible idea and said they wouldn’t let me name the dog that!

The artist known for “Baggage” initially chose the name Knox as a nod to her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. However, she decided on a different name after meeting with the animal’s breeder.

Kelsea recalled someone saying, ‘Look, I shouldn’t say anything, and I know you’re planning to name him Knox, but ‘Dibs’ would be a really good name.’ Kelsea thought it was a sign, and it felt extra special because it happened the same week her song ‘Dibs’ was released on the radio and she brought her puppy home. It’s a nice little coincidence she always remembers.

In 2024, Kelsea Ballerini’s dog received a diagnosis of heart cancer that couldn’t be surgically treated. He spent his final year enjoying life to the fullest, including watching Kelsea as a coach on The Voice, joining her on tour for her album Patterns, and celebrating one last Christmas – a time Kelsea playfully referred to as “a very merry dibsmas & christmas indeed” on Instagram.

Read on for a look at other celebrities’ unbreakable bonds with their pets.

The actress from Euphoria shared photos of her new dog, Sully, in April 2025. In an Instagram post, she described him as her close companion on and off set, sharing that they enjoy activities like bowling, napping, playing in the water, and traveling together.

Brie, already a mom to her dog Six-Thirty, introduced her new puppy on Instagram in October 2024, sharing that she was thrilled to welcome a new “star” into her family.

In February 2024, the actor from Yellowstone shared a photo of his new dog on Instagram, and expressed how much he already loves him.

The actress, known for her role in Sex and the City, adopted a kitten just like the one her character, Carrie Bradshaw, takes in during season two of And Just Like That.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a late-night talk show host had a special guest join him for his at-home opening monologue: his dog, Gary! Gary playfully crashed the performance, becoming an unexpected and charming part of the show.

Taylor Swift is well-known for her love of cats, and many fans adore her pictures with her cat, Meredith. She even showed just how much she loves them by appearing in the movie Cats.

The Big Bang Theory actress has many four-legged friends keeping her busy at home.

Just sharing this photo again! Happy birthday to my sweet dog, my little goose! I love you so much!

Dogs will always be there for you! The Friends star loves cuddling up to her dog Clyde.

The makeup mogul is a proud parent to multiple Pomeranians.

This YouTuber’s cat, Frankie, is a master at jumping into photos! Frankie and his brother, Declan, are internet stars themselves, with almost 200,000 followers on their Instagram account.

Before we work out, we always play ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ by Joe Walsh and then playfully wrestle around. My dog is full of energy and clearly feeling good today—apparently he caught a lizard! He’s also clever enough to know when I lie down, it means we’re about to play. Time to get started!

The Euphoria actress shared how much she misses her dog, saying she’ll be reunited with him in about three days. She used the hashtag #NoonyinNY, likely referring to her dog’s name and location.

“Nothing beats riding your horse on the beach,” the Hunger Games alum joked.

This family is crazy about their bulldogs, King Maximus and Princess Alexus! The pups are so popular, they even have their own Instagram page.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson surprised his wife, Ciara, with a new puppy! He announced the adorable addition to their family with a sweet photo and the caption, “New Pup Alert!!! Welcome to the Wilson Family!”

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2026-01-09 06:17