It’s official: Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes have ended their relationship after nearly three years together.
A representative for Ballerini confirmed to People Sunday that the country musician and Stokes, an actor best known for his starring role on Netflix’s “Outer Banks,” had split.
“They’re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t,” a source close to the couple told the outlet. “It happens.”
Still, the news caught many fans off-guard, given that Stokes had acknowledged Ballerini’s 32nd birthday with a carousel of sweet photos on Instagram just two days prior.
“Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, id say I’m lookin forward to more of this,” the caption read. “Happy birthday my love.”
Fans were quick to point out the curious timing of Stokes’ post in the comments.
“Guys I need answers. Who else is here looking for ANSWERS!?” one person wrote.
Joe Scarnici via Getty Images
Added another, “Please say its a prank or just a temporary break…”
Ballerini and Stokes were first romantically linked in the media in January 2023, just months after Ballerini finalized her divorce from fellow musician Morgan Evans after five years of marriage.
About a month later, Ballerini appeared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast where she acknowledged she was “having fun” after her divorce and confirmed she’d slid into Stokes’ DMs.
“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,” she explained. “I’ve never seen his show, but I just knew of him, and I just swan-dove right on in.”
Around the same time, Stokes told People that he and Ballerini had been “spending some time together.”
“Kelsea is a lovely, lovely girl. She’s great,” he added. “We’re having a good time.”
Speaking to Us Weekly in July, Ballerini reflected on her relationship with Stokes, and hinted that the two could be in it for the long haul.
“I think we’re two and a half years in, so [the relationship] looks a lot different now than it did in the beginning,” she told the outlet. “I don’t know, I think we’re really similar — and in the ways that we’re different, that’s where we challenge each other. … I just want all the good things in the world for him.”
