Originally appeared on E! Online
Kelsea Ballerini isn’t going down without Chase Stokes.
Three months after the “Cowboys Cry Too” singer and Outer Banks actor broke up following more than two years of dating, the pair announced that they had reconciled.
“Messy year for the heart, messy year for the outside coming in, messy year for the way it became an out of our hands portrayal of it,” Kelsea wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 31. “But what i’ll say, and all i really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that i really love love. I believe in it, i believe in him, and i believe in breaking patterns.”
The 32-year-old—whose rep confirmed their breakup to E! News in September—shared the message alongside a snap of her and Chase embracing sweetly in front of the setting sun. She concluded her message, urging fans to “go kiss your person and stop speculating.”
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For Chase’s part, he shared the same photo on Instagram, along with his biggest takeaways from 2025.
“Something I’ve learned this year: don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting,” he captioned his post. “Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often.”
Looking forward, he added, “2026, my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now. Happy new years.”
The 33-year-old also posted more photos of Kelsea, including one of him with his arm around her from behind, and they pose in front of a mountainous tree-lined landscape. In another, the “Love Me Like You Mean It” singer kissed her sweet dog Dibs on the forehead.
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The couple’s latest update comes less than two months after they first sparked reconciliation rumors when videos of them moving and grooving to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in November began circulating on social media.
Nonetheless, Kelsea and Chase had remained quiet about their relationship, with Kelsea sharing a message for fans curious about their split.
“If i had one favor, it would be honoring that im trying to make my personal life personal for now,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories in December. “Unless it comes from me, its not from me. and that is really important in protecting my peace right now.”
As Kelsea and Chase continue to love each other like they mean it, keep reading for a look back at their romance.
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes’ DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.
They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary.
“He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me,” Kelsea later recalled on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, “and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, ‘Thank God you’re real.'”
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.
January 2023: Romance Rumors
The two huddled up to watch the University of Georgia dominate Texas Christian University at the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship in California.
January 2023: First Date Nerves
In August 2023, Kelsea posted footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023.
“Happy weekend,” she captioned the post, “heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase.”
Set to her song “How Do I Do This,” which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea modeled her outfit in the video.
“Here’s the look, with the boots” Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.
Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she added, “We’ve got the hair clip, because we’re trying to be a cool girl.”
She continued speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, “He’s picking me up and we’re going to a sushi place and I’ll call you tomorrow and for a full update.”
Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally said, “I can do this. I can do this.”
And, after doing a little dance, she proclaimed, “It’s just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?”
February 2023: Instagram Cuteness
Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.
April 2023: Red Carpet Debut
The pair officially hard launched their pairing, stepping out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards in Texas.
April 2023: Broadway Baby
Days later, the duo attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at New York City’s Capitale.
May 2023: Hometown Visit
Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.
July 2023: PDA Alert
The two attended Armani Beauty’s ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.
July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise
Chase shocked Kelsea when he unexpectedly greeted her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion.
August 2023: Ciao Bella
The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.
August 2023: NYC Date Night
While in NYC to perform on TODAY, the singer scheduled in a date night with her No. 1 fan.
“It’s just nice to feel so supported and seen,” Kelsea said on the show of Chase, “and, yeah, he’s such a wonderful, wonderful human being.”
September 2023: Birthday Love
To commemorate Kelsea’s 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posted a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee.
“Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini,” he captioned the series. “i love you.”
September 2023: Red Hot
Making it a red-letter day, the pair celebrated Kelsea’s birthday by coordinating on the carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs.
September 2023: VMAs PDA
And, yes, they shared a birthday kiss.
September 2023: Couple’s Selfie
Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase’s 31st birthday days later.
September 2023: A Black Tie Affair
Kelsea and Chase were dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani’s One Night Only event in Venice, Italy.
The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star shared images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.
September 2023: All Smiles
Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.
November 2023: Loving Like They Mean It
Kelsea planted a smooch on Chase’s cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.
November 2023: Sex Confession
Kelsea revealed details of their sex life in November 2023, telling Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy, “I’m having a nice time.”
In the past, “my experience with it was very performative and for the other person,” she noted. “And it don’t be like that anymore.”
The musician didn’t understand how sex could be “a real connector in a relationship” before dating Chase.
“I always thought that it was just something that you did because that’s who you do it with,” the Grammy nominee shared. “Now I realize it’s a connector for people.”
January 2024: Chase’s Anniversary Post
“One year of lovin you,” the actor wrote. “P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you.”
January 2024: Naughty Selfie
“A whole trip around the sun with my bestie,” Kelsea wrote in her anniversary post. “@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs.”
January 2024: Happy Anniversary
A year after calling dibs on each other’s hearts, they celebrated their love.
January 2024: Watching the Sunset
Kelsea shared this romantic pic from their anniversary celebration.
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