**The Definitive Timeline of Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini’s Relationship**
*16 min read*
On Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, *Outer Banks* star Chase Stokes posted a photo to his Instagram Story of singer Kelsea Ballerini giving him a kiss on the cheek. The pair, long rumored to be dating, have since confirmed their romance. In the intimate photo, Stokes was smiling with his eyes closed, cuddling Ballerini.
Both Stokes and Ballerini have ended some high-profile relationships in recent years. In November 2022, Ballerini reached a settlement in her divorce from ex-husband Morgan Evans, whom she married in 2017. Stokes was previously linked to *Outer Banks* co-star Madelyn Cline, whom he dated for about a year and a half before confirming their breakup in November 2021. Despite their split, they remained on good terms and continued filming the third season together.
Stokes told *Entertainment Weekly*, “Mads and I have been working together now for 30 episodes, and we made a promise to each other before we even started dating that the work was always going to come first. And that no matter what happens in our personal lives, and the ways that life sometimes takes you in different directions, that we’re always going to honor the work. That stayed 100 percent truthful this season.”
—
### January 2023
Stokes posted a cozy photo with Ballerini while watching the college football national championship game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where Georgia played TCU. The image was part of a carousel captioned, “Lil recap.”
Around the same time, Ballerini shared her own photos with the caption, “New boot goofin.” In one image, she wore a baseball cap representing her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, prompting Stokes to comment, “I like dat hat ma’am.”
Later that month, the two were spotted together in a Nashville bar. However, a source told *Us Weekly* that they were not officially dating yet, explaining, “Chase and Kelsea have been flirting back and forth since meeting through friends at the College Football National Championship Game in L.A., but they’re not together. They both think the other is very attractive, so you never know [what could happen].”
—
### February 2023
Ballerini appeared on the *Call Her Daddy* podcast, sharing that she was “having fun” after her divorce and admitted to sliding into Stokes’s DMs. She told host Alex Cooper, “I was ready to open back up. I just felt, why not? I’ve never really dated; I don’t know how it works. I’m like, ‘Let’s just put ourselves out there; let’s just vibe.’ And it’s been fun.”
Her Instagram move was partly motivated by a reluctance to use dating apps. The two began following each other and chatting. Ballerini revealed her first message: “His handle is ‘@hichasestokes,’ and I said, ‘Hi, Chase Stokes.’”
That same month, Stokes told *People*, “We have just been spending some time together. Kelsea is a lovely, lovely girl. She’s great. We’re having a good time.”
Following the announcement that Ballerini would be the musical guest on *Saturday Night Live* on March 4, Stokes expressed to *Extra*, “She’s an incredible human being. I adore her to death. This is a huge moment for her. So, I’m just very, very proud of her.”
In late February, Ballerini shared a picture of her and Stokes’s hands holding seashells on the beach, captioning it her camera roll has been “cute” lately. Stokes reshared the photo to his Instagram Story.
—
### March 2023
Stokes confirmed they were officially dating during an appearance on *The Today Show*. When host Sheinelle Jones mentioned Ballerini’s upcoming *SNL* performance and referred to their relationship, Stokes simply nodded in agreement.
Asked if he was a fan of her music, he replied, “Absolutely I’m a fan. Yeah, who isn’t a fan?”
On March 1, a source told *Entertainment Tonight*, “Kelsea is focusing on the good things in her life and her relationship with Chase. They’re having a great time together. Chase has been super supportive of her, and they are there for each other both professionally and personally.”
Ballerini made her *Saturday Night Live* debut on March 4; earlier that day, they were seen walking hand-in-hand through New York City, dressed casually for the late winter weather.
During her set, Ballerini performed “Blindsided,” a song from her recently released EP *Rolling Up the Welcome Mat*, reportedly about her ex-husband Morgan Evans.
—
### April – May 2023
The couple attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical *Shucked* in New York City, and later made their official red carpet debut at the 2023 CMT Music Awards in April.
In May, Stokes and Ballerini visited her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, further confirming the seriousness of their relationship.
—
### July – August 2023
In a *Stylecaster* interview in July, Ballerini opened up about their relationship. “The thing that we’ve decided… is when you’re with someone that you feel secure with and that you’re proud to be with, why not share it?” she said. She also joked, “He’s also a Virgo; we’re both Labrador Retrievers in human form.”
Later in July, they attended Armani Beauty’s Acqua Di Gio and Gen A party in Malibu, sharing some PDA on the red carpet.
In early August, they attended a screening of Ballerini’s *Rolling Up the Welcome Mat* short film in New York. On August 19, Ballerini shared a throwback video of herself getting ready for their very first date, nervously describing the plans to her best friend.
—
### September 2023
On September 12, Ballerini and Stokes attended the MTV Video Music Awards together, sharing a kiss on the red carpet. The event coincided with Ballerini’s 30th birthday, and she told *Entertainment Tonight* about spending the weeks leading up to it surrounded by loved ones, including Stokes.
Stokes revealed they had been dating for about nine months, admitting he gave himself a pep talk before their first date: “Don’t screw this up! Because I kind of knew before then, I was like, ‘Uh oh, I really like this girl.’”
On September 16, Ballerini celebrated Stokes’s 31st birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post, which included screenshots of their first DM exchange dating back to December 1, 2022. Stokes replied to the post commenting, “My human,” with a heart emoji.
—
### November – December 2023
The couple walked the red carpet at the 2023 CMA Awards on November 8 in Nashville.
On the November 29 episode of *Call Her Daddy*, Ballerini spoke candidly about her sex life with Stokes. She contrasted it with previous relationships where intimacy felt “performative” and explained how being with Stokes allowed her to see sex as a meaningful connection rather than a show.
She also recounted their initial crystal-clear emotional connection after their first in-person meeting: “He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me. And he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, ‘Thank God you’re real.’”
—
### January 2024
On January 7, both Stokes and Ballerini posted Instagram carousels celebrating a year together. Ballerini’s caption read, “a whole trip around the sun with my bestie. @hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs.” Stokes commented, “I really really ❤️ you.”
His own post included sweet photos of the couple, captioned, “One year of lovin you ❤️ p. s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you 🥰.”
—
### March – May 2024
In March, Stokes responded to fans accusing him of oversharing their relationship, clarifying that Instagram offers only a “glimpse” of their life together and that he values his privacy deeply.
He also shared how they handle long-distance date nights via FaceTime, picking cuisines and coordinating drinks to make it special despite the miles.
On April 7, the couple attended the CMT Music Awards. Ballerini hinted at a possible musical collaboration with Stokes, praising his singing voice and sharing her desire to have him record harmonies under a pseudonym.
In May, they made their Met Gala debut. Ballerini dazzled in a sheer Michael Kors gown adorned with flowers, while Stokes went shirtless under a black sequin suit. Stokes was seen holding her dress train as they walked the steps and carrying her jacket on the red carpet.
Later that month, Ballerini shared a carousel featuring a love letter Stokes wrote, expressing pride and affection, accompanied by wine, chocolates, and sunflowers.
—
### October 2024
During *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*, Stokes shared stories about their early relationship. He revealed that his mother was a fan of Ballerini before knowing he was dating her, playing her music casually at home.
He also recounted a rough patch when he was hospitalized with a staph infection while filming in Bulgaria, which led to miscommunication with Ballerini. “She thought I had ghosted her,” he said, but they soon cleared things up.
Stokes described their bond as not only romantic but a deep friendship with genuine mutual admiration.
Later in October, Ballerini spoke to *People* about how Stokes supports her creatively and praised his authenticity as an actor.
On October 16, Stokes appeared in Ballerini’s music video for “First Rodeo.”
On October 25, Ballerini revealed at “A New York Evening With Kelsea Ballerini” that they were living together. She said, “Oh, we’re unpacked, baby!”
—
### November 2024
On November 29, Ballerini shared photos from a family Thanksgiving gathering, including several featuring Stokes. The couple appeared affectionate and relaxed as they celebrated.
—
### April – July 2025
In an April interview with *People*, Ballerini emphasized communication as the foundation of their relationship. She described their love as steady and practical, noting they both value working on themselves and their partnership, including attending therapy together.
She praised their mutual understanding as creatives, respecting each other’s artistic processes and ambitions.
In May, they attended the Academy of Country Music Awards in Frisco, Texas. Ballerini wore a nude sequin gown while Stokes donned a classic black suit. The couple appeared affectionate and supportive on the red carpet. Ballerini was nominated in four categories, including Entertainer of the Year.
By July, Ballerini told *Us Weekly* that their relationship had evolved over two and a half years. She described how their similarities and differences challenge and strengthen them and how their career schedules complement each other. “He has a really heavy summer through fall shooting, so he was such a grounding support system for me during that tour,” she explained.
—
### August – September 2025
On August 3, Stokes posted a photo featuring Ballerini’s dog and her hand, quietly confirming they were still together amid breakup rumors.
On September 13, Stokes shared a loving tribute to Ballerini on her 32nd birthday with a carousel of photos captioned, “Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, I’d say I’m lookin forward to more of this. happy birthday my love ❤️.”
However, on September 15, Ballerini’s representative confirmed to *People* that the couple had decided to part ways after nearly three years of dating. A source told the publication, “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.”
Later reports by *Us Weekly* indicated Ballerini initiated the break-up conversation, citing frequent arguments and poor communication exacerbated by their busy travel schedules.
—
### November 2025
Despite their split, on November 7, Stokes and Ballerini were spotted together at Kiba Smash Burger in Dubrovnik, Croatia. An eyewitness told *People* they were holding hands, talking closely, and looked “very cute” as they walked toward Old Town.
—
This timeline highlights the journey of Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini’s relationship — from early flirtations to public confirmations of love, meaningful milestones, and their eventual decision to part ways. Their story is one marked by mutual respect, creative synergy, and a deep personal connection that lasted nearly three years.
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a43083359/chase-stokes-kelsea-ballerini-complete-relationship-timeline/
