Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes split after three years of togetherness

Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes are no longer a couple. After nearly three years together, the country singer and the Outer Banks star have called it quits, according to multiple reports.

The news broke just days after Chase publicly celebrated Kelsea’s 32nd birthday with a heartfelt Instagram post, making the breakup even more surprising for fans.

In the post, he shared several photos from their time together and wrote, “Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, I’d say I’m looking forward to more of this. Happy birthday my love.” That message now reads like a bittersweet goodbye.

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Why Kelsea and Chase Split

Sources close to the pair told People the two “gave it their all” but ultimately couldn’t make it work. “They’re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t. It happens." one source said. Neither Kelsea nor Chase has publicly commented on the split or shared reasons behind it, leaving fans speculating about what went wrong.

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Just a few days before, on September 12, the couple appeared very much in love. Chase’s post gave a glimpse into their candid and fun moments, now a reminder of the effort both put into the relationship.

The Distance Factor

Kelsea and Chase had spoken openly about managing their relationship while juggling demanding careers. Last year, Chase told People that they had a rule of never going more than three weeks without seeing each other. “We don’t BS each other. If we need to make the effort to show up when one’s across the country, we do it."

"The amount of effort that we put into our careers, we should be doubling that in our personal lives. It’s about really putting in effort, and it’s not always easy and it’s not always convenient, but having a big, beautiful life didn’t come from convenience or ease," Chase added.

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The couple even tried virtual date nights, once attempting to sync up a movie from afar, though it ended in laughter rather than success.

Kelsea and Chase first went public in early 2023, with Kelsea confirming the relationship shortly after. Fans had hoped they would be one of the rare Hollywood couples to last.