New year, new beginnings came true for Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini. After announcing their split in 2025, Stokes and Ballerini are entering the new year side by side after a turbulent few months apart.
The former “The Voice” coach and “Outer Banks” star have confirmed their reconciliation through separate Instagram posts shared on Wednesday, December 31, months after announcing their breakup in September 2025.
Stokes Shares Personal Lessons From a Transformative Year
Stokes, 33, shared a deep message alongside a series of photos featuring Ballerini, 32, giving fans a closer glimpse at the lessons he says shaped his year.
“Something I’ve learned this year: don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting. Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often,” he wrote.
He concluded the post with a message about looking ahead. “2026, my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now. Happy new years.”
The photos Stokes shared offered moments of joy that captured their relationship and love. One photo captured the couple hugging sweetly on a porch. Others capture them hugging while facing the camera, and Ballerini holding a dog dressed in a fluffy brown coat.
The post confirms that putting their past behind them, they have decided to give love another shot.
Ballerini Reflects on Love After a Difficult Year
GettyBallerini gave a closer look at her life and what led to their reunion after parting ways. She took to Instagram to share a story that read:
“Messy year for the heart, messy year for the outside coming in, messy year for the way it became an out of our hands portrayal of it,” she wrote over a photo of the couple embracing against a sunset backdrop.
She added a more personal note about how she now approaches her private life.
“But what I’ll say, and all I really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that I really love love. I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns.”
She closed with a direct message to fans: “Now go kiss your person and stop speculating,” Ballerini wrote, adding a kissing emoji.
A Look Back at Their Relationship and Time Apart
GettyJanuary 2023: Stokes and Ballerini were first linked after the “Outer Banks” actor shared a photo of the two attending the Georgia vs. TCU game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
April 2023: The couple makes it official— publicly confirms their relationship when they appear together at the CMT Awards. See the photos here.
September 2025: A representative for Ballerini told People that the couple had ended their relationship after nearly three years together. A source said at the time, “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.”
Early November 2025: Reconciliation rumors emerged after a People report quoted a source who saw the two dining together in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
“After they got up, they walked together hand in hand towards Old Town. They looked very cute,” the source said.
November 20, 2025: Stokes shared a series of cryptic Instagram Stories that appeared to signal closure. E! Online shared Stoke’s messages that read: “Don’t believe the media. I’m blocked, I did nothing wrong,” he wrote in one post, followed by, “Sorry ❤️ I tried.”
In another message, he added, “I’m sorry for those who believed in us. It is what it is. Onwards and upwards.”
December 2025: Ballerini addressed public speculation about her personal life, writing, “Unless it comes from me, it’s not from me. And that is really important in protecting my peace right now.”
Without explicitly stating it, both Stokes and Ballerini marked the start of 2026 with posts that made one thing clear: they are together again.
