rundown
Officials have revealed how Kelsea Ballerini ended up getting back together with Chase Stokes after their breakup in the fall of 2025.
The couple announced they were back together on New Year’s Eve.
A source spoke of Ballerini’s optimism for her new chapter, saying, “She lights up when she talks about him. They’re all hopeful that things will work out this time.”
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes ended 2025 by announcing their reconciliation. Ballerini wrote on her Instagram Story, “It’s been a troubling year for the mind, a troubling year for what comes in from the outside, and a troubling year for the way it has gotten out of our hands. But what I want to say is, and I don’t want any more of my All I want to share with you forever is that I truly love love. I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns. Come on, kiss your man and stop speculating.”
A source told Us Weekly more about Stokes and Ballerini’s decision to try again after splitting in the fall. Sources say the singer feels like the Outer Banks actor is her “soulmate.”
“She lights up when she talks about him,” the source added. “They’re all hopeful that things will work out this time.”
As Ballerini hinted on Instagram, they’re approaching their rekindled romance cautiously, keeping it more private.
“They are moving more carefully and deliberately,” the official explained. “After a very messy breakup, they took time in real time to figure out what they actually wanted.”
Stokes began “very honest conversations” about his relationship with Ballerini. “They are both heartbroken over how things ended and Chase wanted to clear the air,” the source said. “They took responsibility on both sides and took the time to understand what went wrong in the first place.”
The more they talk, the more they remember “why they came together in the first place,” the source added. “In order to protect what is being rebuilt and avoid outside noise and pressure, we have decided to keep our love story more private for now. Although it is still in the early stages, we are rebuilding trust and communicating better. We hope that their relationship will work out in a healthier way than before.”
Ballerini and Stokes were first romantically linked in the winter of 2023, but the country singer’s rep confirmed to People that they had broken up in September 2025.
When Ballerini and Stokes announced their reunion on Dec. 31, Stokes spoke about his reflection and the efforts he is focusing on getting better. “What I learned this year is not to take advantage of the most beautiful things that are fleeting in 33 years of life,” he wrote. “Take responsibility and learn from your mistakes. Cherish love and say it often. 2026 is my year of growth, my year of truth. Start here, start now. Happy New Year ❤️”
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