Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes are ringing in the new year as a newly reunited couple.
Country singer Ballerini and actor Stokes were together for almost three years. before they separated in September 2025a rep for Ballerini confirmed to TODAY.com.
On December 31, Stokes and Ballerini posted photos from the same sunset photoshoot on their Instagram pages.
Ballerini shared a photo of herself and Stokes in silhouette and a caption that reflected on her year of ups and downs and the lessons she learned from it.
“A messy year for the heart, a messy year for the outside world, a messy year for how it became an image beyond our control,” she said.
Ballerini went on to share a message about how she chooses to share her personal life in the future. “But what I will say, and all I really want to share indefinitely in my personal life, is that I truly love love. I believe in her, I believe in him and I believe in breaking patterns. Now go kiss your man and stop speculating,” she said.
Meanwhile Stokes shared a carousel of photos on his Instagram a grid where the two of them and Ballerini were hugging. He also wrote a caption reflecting on the new year and the place of love in his life.
“I learned something this year: don’t use the most beautiful things that are fleeting in 33 years of life. Take responsibility, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often. 2026 is my year of growth, my year of truth. I'll start here, I'll start now. Happy new years,” he said.
Neither Stokes nor Ballerini have officially stated that they are a couple or mentioned each other's names in the caption. TODAY.com has reached out to Ballerini for comment.
The first star of the series “Outer Banks” confirmed that he and Ballerini are dating during a TODAY talk in March 2023. They then made their red carpet debut at the CMT Music Awards in April 2023.
Ballerini shared the glowing news about their relationship on TODAY in August 2023.
“I'm so happy,” she said. “It's nice to feel so much support and attention. He's such a wonderful, wonderful person.”
She spoke out after their split in September 2025 asking for peace.
“Let's stay. Please,” she wrote in the caption of the photo. Tik Tok video.
