Chase Stokes Celebrates Kelsea Ballerini's Birthday with Sweet Tributes and a Ben Stiller Cameo
Actor Chase Stokes ensured his partner, country star Kelsea Ballerini, celebrated her 32nd birthday with an abundance of public affection and special moments.
“Even though you insist you’re not thrilled about turning 32, I personally anticipate much more of these moments,” Stokes, also 32, wrote alongside an Instagram photo collection posted on Friday, September 12. He concluded his heartfelt message with, “Happy birthday, my love.”
The "Outer Banks" star shared a series of snapshots showcasing the couple, notably one picture where they were seated ringside at a New York Knicks match, inadvertently featuring a partially cropped Ben Stiller.
“My apologies, @benstiller,” Stokes quipped in the comments of his Instagram post, acknowledging the amusing accidental cropping of the actor.
Chase Stokes Delivered the Ideal Response When Kelsea Ballerini Initiated Contact Via DMs
Stokes and Ballerini’s romance began in early 2023, following their initial interaction on the popular social media app.
“I took the initiative and messaged him directly,” Ballerini disclosed during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in February 2023. “I dove headfirst into his direct messages. His username was ‘hichasestokes,’ so I simply sent a message saying, ‘Hi Chase Stokes.’”
Several months subsequent to that, the acclaimed country artist revisited Alex Cooper’s podcast to openly discuss the progression of their relationship.
“He possesses the highest emotional intelligence of anyone I’ve encountered,” she remarked during a November 2023 installment of the podcast. “I frequently tell him he’s like a character penned by a female author.”
Ballerini also shared that her perspective on intimacy transformed significantly after she began her relationship with Stokes.
“My previous experiences with it felt largely theatrical and primarily focused on satisfying the other individual,” Ballerini, who had been married to Morgan Evans for five years before their 2022 divorce, further elaborated. “It’s entirely different now. I hadn’t grasped how [intimacy] could genuinely foster a deep connection within a partnership. I always perceived it as merely an activity. … Presently, I understand it serves as a profound bond between individuals.”
The couple, Ballerini and Stokes, frequently provide glimpses into their romantic journey through social media platforms or during public appearances on the red carpet.
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Enjoy a Joint Outing at the 2025 ACM Awards
“There was one particular red-carpet event where our outfits appeared to be meticulously coordinated,” Stokes humorously told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview in March 2024, likely alluding to their coordinated red attire at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. “However, it was completely spontaneous. We don’t actively pursue matching ensembles. Instead, we aim for our individual styles to complement each other, but without deliberate coordination. We certainly strive to look good together.”
Beyond their fashion-forward public appearances, Ballerini recently offered Us insight into how their relationship has evolved over their two years together.
“You absolutely [challenge each other], otherwise it becomes monotonous, leading to stagnation, and that simply won’t sustain a relationship,” she revealed exclusively to Us in July. “Now that we’re two and a half years into this, [the relationship] has certainly transformed considerably from its initial stages. I believe we share many similarities — and it’s in our differences that we truly push each other to grow. … My sincerest wish is for him to experience all the wonderful things life has to offer.”
