In a heartfelt New Year's Eve social media reveal, actor Chase Stokes has confirmed the rekindling of his on-and-off romance with country pop star Kelsea Ballerini. The pair, whose nearly three-year relationship has weathered two messy breakups and reconciliations, appear to be giving love another try as they step into 2025.
A Sunset Declaration and New Year's Resolutions
The Outer Banks star, 33, marked the occasion by sharing a series of intimate photographs with his 32-year-old partner. The images captured a romantic moment against a stunning sunset backdrop, with one showing Stokes hugging Ballerini from behind and kissing the side of her head.
In his caption, the actor reflected on the past year, vowing to 'learn from mistakes' and 'take accountability'. He wrote that a key lesson was to not take for granted life's most beautiful, fleeting moments. Stokes declared his resolution to 'lean into love and say it often', proclaiming that 2026 would be his 'year of growth' and 'year of truth'.
Ballerini's Own Messy Year and Belief in Love
Ballerini echoed the sentiment on her own social media page, describing the past 12 months as a 'messy year for the heart'. The Love Me Like You Mean It singer, however, emphasised her enduring faith in romance.
'I really love love,' she stated. 'I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns.' Her post included a silhouette photo of the couple kissing in front of the same sunset, concluding with the advice: 'Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.'
A Rocky Road to Reconciliation
This reconciliation follows a turbulent period for the couple. They first met in late 2022 and went public at the 2023 CMA Awards. After breaking up in September 2024, reconciling, and then splitting again in November, sources indicated they were dating again but without formal labels.
An insider revealed the situation was 'very touchy' but that both individuals wanted to be together, a feeling heightened around the holiday season. This reunion comes just weeks after Ballerini's solo 'revenge dress' appearance at the 2024 CMA Awards in November, where she walked the red carpet without Stokes.
The couple's history includes a previous split reportedly fueled by Stokes' jealousy, which Ballerini's friends saw as an opportunity for her to find someone more suitable. Ballerini was previously married to singer Morgan Evans, with their divorce finalised in November 2022.
