Kelsea Ballerini demonstrates how you shoot your shot!
The country star paid tribute to boyfriend Chase Stokes for his 31st birthday Sept. 16, sharing a slew of couples pics on Instagram as well as a curious extra image: A screenshot of the DMs that launched their romance.
On Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:07 a.m., Kelsea wrote to Chase in a private Instagram message, "hiii chase stokes." He responded more than two hours later, at 3:17 a.m., "Hey there how u doin." Later that morning, at 11:38 a.m., the singer wrote to him, "i'm kels, nice to meet you," adding a blushing smiling face. Chase liked the DM.
Kelsea, 30, captioned her Instagram post, "Happy birthday, my sweet virgo. @hichasestokes."
Chase commented, "My human," adding a red heart emoji.
The singer had revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast in February that she and the actor began communicating in December 2022—four months after she announced her split from husband Morgan Evans after almost five years of marriage.
"I slid into his DMs," she said. "I was just like, 'I'm not gonna get on an app.' And honestly, he shoots in Charleston and my manager lives there and he put the bug in my ear. He was like, 'You know who's really cute? When you're ready. Chase.' And I was like, 'You're so right.'"
She continued, "I've never seen the show but I just knew of him and yeah, I followed him and he followed me and I just swan dove right on in. His handle is @hichasestokes and I said, 'Hi Chase Stokes.'"
This is not the first glimpse into the early days of the pair's relationship. In August, Kelsea shared a TikTok containing a never-before-seen throwback video of herself preparing for her first date with Chase.
The two sparked romance rumors in January when they were photographed looking cozy at a football game. In February, Chase shared a pic of the two showing some PDA and the following month, confirmed on Today that he is dating Kelsea. The couple made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2023 CMT Music Awards in April. Earlier this week, the actor accompanied Kelsea to the 2023 MTV VMAs.
Look back at Kelsea and Chase's road to romance below:
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes' DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.
They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary.
"He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me," Kelsea later recalled on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, "and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, 'Thank God you're real.'"
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.
January 2023: Romance Rumors
The two were photographed looking cozy at a football game.
January 2023: First Date Nerves
In August 2023, Kelsea posted footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023.
"Happy weekend," she captioned the post, "heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase."
Set to her song "How Do I Do This," which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea modeled her outfit in the video.
"Here's the look, with the boots" Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.
Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she added, "We've got the hair clip, because we're trying to be a cool girl."
She continued speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, "He's picking me up and we're going to a sushi place and I'll call you tomorrow and for a full update."
Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally said, "I can do this. I can do this."
And, after doing a little dance, she proclaimed, "It's just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?"
February 2023: Instagram Cuteness
Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.
April 2023: Award Show PDA
The two showcased their love on the CMAs red carpet.
April 2023: Broadway Baby
The twosome attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at Capitale.
April 2023: Red Carpet Debut
The pair officially stepped out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards.
May 2023: Hometown Visit
Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.
July 2023: PDA Alert
The two attended Armani Beauty's ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.
July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise
Chase shocked Kelsea when he unexpectedly greeted her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion.
August 2023: Ciao Bella
The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.
August 2023: NYC Date Night
The two were spotted on a summer date in NYC, where the singer performed on TODAY.
"It's just nice to feel so supported and seen," Kelsea said on the show of Chase, "and, yeah, he's such a wonderful, wonderful human being."
September 2023: Red Hot
The two appeared together at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Kelsea's birthday.
September 2023: VMAs PDA
The two shared a kiss on the red carpet.
September 2023: Couple's Selfie
Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase's 31st birthday days later.
September 2023: Birthday Love
To commemorate Kelsea's 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posted a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee.
"Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini," he captioned the series. "i love you."
September 2023: All Smiles
Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.
September 2023: A Black Tie Affair
Kelsea and Chase were dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani's One Night Only event on in Venice, Italy.
The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star shared images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.
November 2023: Loving Like They Mean It
Kelsea planted a smooch on Chase's cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.
November 2023: Sex Confession
Kelsea revealed details of their sex life in November 2023, telling Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy, "I'm having a nice time."
"My experience with it was very performative and for the other person," she noted. "And it don't be like that anymore."
The musician didn't understand how sex could be "a real connector in a relationship" before dating him.
"I always thought that it was just something that you did because that's who you do it with," the Grammy nominee shared. "Now I realize it's a connector for people."
January 2024: Chase's Anniversary Post
"One year of lovin you," the actor wrote. "P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you."
January 2024: Naughty Selfie
"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea wrote in her anniversary post. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."
January 2024: Watching the Sunset
Kelsea shared this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.
January 2024: Happy Anniversary
The two celebrated the anniversary of their first date.
September 2024: Red Carpet Date Night
Kelsea joined her boyfriend at the premiere of his Netflix movie Uglies.
September 2025: Break Up
After nearly three years together, the duo officially called it quits on their relationship.