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:
January 2024: Happy Anniversary
The two celebrate the anniversary of their first date.
January 2024: Watching the Sunset
Kelsea shares this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.
January 2024: Naughty Selfie
"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea writes in her anniversary post. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."
January 2024: Chase's Anniversary Post
"One year of lovin you," the actor writes. "P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you."
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."
November 2023: Loving Like They Mean It
Kelsea plants a smooch on Chase's cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.
September 2023: A Black Tie Affair
Kelsea and Chase are 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 share images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.
September 2023: All Smiles
Kelsea shares this behind-the-scenes look from the event.
September 2023: Birthday Love
To commemorate Kelsea's 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posts a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee.
"Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini," he captions the series. "i love you."
September 2023: Couple's Selfie
Kelsea unveils this pic on Chase's 31st birthday days later.
September 2023: Red Hot
The two appear together at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Kelsea's birthday.
September 2023: Red Carpet Romance
The two share a kiss at the event.
August 2023: NYC Date Night
The two are spotted on a summer date in NYC, where she performs on TODAY.
"It's just nice to feel so supported and seen," Kelsea says on the show of Chase, "and, yeah, he's such a wonderful, wonderful human being."
August 2023: Ciao Bella
The couple only have eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.
July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise
Chase shocks Kelsea when he unexpectedly greets her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion.
July 2023: PDA Alert
The two attend Armani Beauty's ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.
May 2023: Hometown Visit
Chase joins Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.
April 2023: Red Carpet Debut
The pair officially step out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards.
April 2023: Broadway Baby
The twosome attend the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at Capitale.
April 2023: Award Show PDA
The two showcase their love on the CMAs red carpet.
February 2023: Instagram Cuteness
Chase shares a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.
January 2023: First Date Nerves
In August 2023, Kelsea posts 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 captions 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 models her outfit in the video.
"Here's the look, with the boots" Kelsea says while checking herself out in a full-length mirror. Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she adds, "We've got the hair clip, because we're trying to be a cool girl."
She continues 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 says, "I can do this. I can do this." And, after doing a little dance, she proclaims, "It's just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?"
January 2023: Romance Rumors
The two are photographed looking cozy at a football game.
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Kelsea Ballerini slides 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 recalls 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 shares in September 2023.