Chase Stokes' Tender Birthday Tribute to Kelsea Ballerini Precedes Shock Breakup News

Chase Stokes expressed deep admiration for Kelsea Ballerini only seventy-two hours before news of their separation became public.

“My final week as a thirty-one-year-old was enjoyable,” Ballerini, who recently turned 32, posted on her Instagram on Thursday, September 11, accompanied by several current pictures.

Stokes, 32, was the initial person to comment on Ballerini’s post, offering a subtle response.

The following day, he conveyed his personal birthday wishes to the country music artist.

Chase Stokes Posted a Homage to Kelsea Ballerini 48 Hours Prior to Separation Announcement

“Despite your repeated statements about not being enthusiastic for age 32, I personally anticipate more moments like these,” the Outer Banks star penned on Friday, September 12. “A joyful birthday to you, my darling.”

A representative for Ballerini subsequently verified to Us Weekly on Sunday, September 14, that the pair had ended their relationship. Neither Ballerini nor Stokes has publicly commented on the breakup since.

Ballerini began her relationship with Stokes in the initial months of 2023, after finalizing her divorce from Morgan Evans.

“I initiated contact by messaging him directly,” Ballerini revealed on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in February 2023. “I simply plunged straight in. His username was ‘hichasestokes,’ and I merely wrote, ‘Hello Chase Stokes.’”

Later in the same year, Ballerini appeared again on Alex Cooper’s podcast, providing additional details about her romance.

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes End Relationship After Two Years Together

“He possesses the highest emotional intelligence of anyone I have encountered,” she stated during a November 2023 installment of the podcast. “I consistently tell him he embodies a character penned by a female author.”

Ballerini also mentioned that her perspective on intimacy evolved after her connection with Stokes.

“My previous encounters with it felt largely theatrical and focused on pleasing the other individual,” Ballerini confessed. “That is no longer the case. I hadn’t grasped how [intimacy] could serve as a genuine bond within a partnership. I consistently perceived it as merely an activity one engaged in. … Presently, I understand it acts as a unifying element for individuals.”

The Chronology of Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes' Romance

In the period following, Ballerini and Stokes regularly provided insights into their romantic journey through social media platforms and during public appearances.

“One must [challenge each other], otherwise it becomes uninteresting, leading to stagnation, and that won't succeed,” Ballerini exclusively shared with Us in July. “Given we are two and a half years into this, [the relationship] presents quite differently now compared to its outset. I’m not sure, but I believe we share many similarities — and where we diverge, those are the areas where we push each other. … I simply wish him every positive outcome in life.”

The artist behind “How Do I Do This?” additionally revealed to Us aspects of Stokes’ surprising abilities that impressed her.

“He is an exceptionally talented vocalist and a very skilled guitarist,” Ballerini remarked playfully. “Honestly, I am concerned he might usurp my profession.”