Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Celebrate First Anniversary: ‘Thanks for Making Me Write Love Songs'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini.Photo:Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram

Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram

Kelsea BalleriniandChase Stokesare celebrating one year of dating!

Ballerini affirmed her boyfriend’s positive influence on her craft in her caption, writing, “A whole trip around the sun with my bestie.@hichasestokesthanks for making me write love songs. 🤍.”

Stokes sweetly replied on the post, “I really really ❤️ you.”

The “Love Me Like You Mean It” singer also shared an adorable throwback video on her Instagram Story, capturing “the night we met.” In the clip, she and Stokes can be seen sitting in a car dancing and singing along to her hit “Heartfirst.”

Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes.Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram

Stokes marked their first anniversary with an Instagram post of his own. Like his girlfriend, he shared a series of candid photos of the pair, showing off their goofy sides.

“One year of lovin you ❤️,” he wrote. “p.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you 🥰.”

Ballerini commented on the post, “Sure do love you 🤍.”

Ballerini and Stokes first sparked dating rumors in January 2023 when heshared a cozy photoof them together at the Georgia vs. TCU game at SoFi Stadium in California.

“I’ve never seen his show, but I just knew of him, and I just swan dove right on in,” Ballerini recalled at the time.

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini.Taylor Hill/WireImage

Taylor Hill/WireImage

She said that when she messaged Stokes, she was feeling ready to “open back up” following her2022 divorcefrom fellow country musicianMorgan Evans.

“I just felt, why not? I’ve never really dated; I don’t know how it works,” she explained. “I’m like, ‘Let’s just put ourselves out there; let’s just vibe.’ And it’s been fun.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The pair made theirred carpet debutas a couple at the 2023 CMT Awards in April. Weeks later, Stokes adorably commented on one of Ballerini’sInstagramposts, telling her, “I really ❤️ u.”

The performer shared a small glimpse into their romance in August 2023, gushing in aTodayshow interviewthat Stokes makes her “so happy.”

“It’s nice to feel so supported and seen,” she also said of her boyfriend. “He’s such a wonderful, wonderful human being.”

source: people.com