How they met: Sparks fly at a football game
Chase Stokes, the star of Netflix’s hit show Outer Banks, is currently dating country music singer Kelsea Ballerini. The couple first sparked dating rumors in January 2023, when they attended the College Football National Championship Game together in Los Angeles. Stokes shared a photo of them cuddling up at the stadium on his Instagram, tagging Ballerini as the blonde girl leaning on his chest. Ballerini commented on the post with “go vols”, showing her support for her hometown team, Tennessee Volunteers.
How they confirmed: Making it official on the red carpet
The pair kept their relationship low-key for a few months until they made their red-carpet debut as a couple at the CMT Awards in June 2023. They looked stunning as they posed for the cameras, with Ballerini wearing a pink sequined dress and Stokes rocking a black suit and a white shirt. They also shared a sweet kiss on stage as they presented an award together.
How they celebrated: Showing PDA at the VMAs
Ballerini and Stokes continued to flaunt their love at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2023, where they showed a major PDA on the red carpet. They hugged, kissed, and smiled as they walked hand-in-hand, with Ballerini wearing a silver mini dress and Stokes sporting a black leather jacket and jeans. Stokes also wished Ballerini a happy 30th birthday on his Instagram, calling her “the most beautiful human inside and out” and “my best friend”.
How they support: Cheering each other on
Ballerini and Stokes have been supportive of each other’s careers, as they both have busy schedules. Ballerini is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who has released five albums and won several awards, including two ACM Awards and two CMT Awards. Stokes is an actor who rose to fame for his role as John B in Outer Banks, which has been renewed for a third season on Netflix. The couple often share their admiration for each other’s work on social media, posting cute messages and comments. They also make time for each other, as they have been spotted traveling together to various destinations, such as Nashville, New York, and Hawaii.
How they cope: Moving on from their exes
Ballerini and Stokes both had previous relationships before they found each other. Ballerini was married to fellow country singer Morgan Evans for nearly five years, before she filed for divorce in August 2022. Stokes dated his Outer Banks co-star Madelyn Cline, who plays his on-screen girlfriend, Sarah Cameron, for over a year before they announced their breakup in November 2021. The exes have remained cordial and professional, as they continued to film season 3 of Outer Banks together. Stokes said that he and Cline made a promise to each other to always honor the work, no matter what happens in their personal lives.