Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes have ended their relationship after nearly three years, a representative for the singer confirmed to People on Sunday.
“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 People. “It happens.” The confirmation came after fans noted the timing of Stokes’s recent public birthday message to Ballerini.
The split surprised some followers because Stokes, known for his starring role on Netflix’s Outer Banks, posted a carousel of affectionate photos to Instagram celebrating Ballerini’s 32nd birthday two days before the announcement. “Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, id say I’m lookin forward to more of this,” he wrote in the caption, prompting fans to ask questions in the post’s comments.
Ballerini and Stokes were first linked publicly in January 2023, months after Ballerini finalized her divorce from fellow country musician Morgan Evans following a five-year marriage. Ballerini has previously described the early days of the relationship as spontaneous, telling the Call Her Daddy podcast that she had slid into Stokes’s DMs because she was “having fun” post-divorce and wanted to “put ourselves out there.”
Stokes acknowledged their early connection to People around the time they were first linked, saying the two had been “spending some time together.” In July, Ballerini told Us Weekly that the relationship had evolved over about two and a half years and that she and Stokes challenged one another in ways that felt constructive. “I just want all the good things in the world for him,” she said then.
Public reactions to the split ranged from surprise to requests for clarification, with some fans calling the timing of Stokes’s birthday post puzzling. Representatives for Ballerini and Stokes did not immediately provide additional comment beyond the confirmation reported to People.
The couple’s relationship had drawn attention for the contrast between Ballerini’s country music profile and Stokes’s television fame. Media coverage documented their public outings and joint appearances over the course of the relationship, and both had spoken to outlets about enjoying time together and supporting one another’s careers.
As of Sunday, no further details about the circumstances of the break were disclosed by either party. Both Ballerini and Stokes have continued to work on their respective projects; Ballerini has remained active in music and touring, while Stokes has ongoing acting commitments. The representatives’ confirmation to People marks the first official acknowledgment of the split.