Fans have been rooting for Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes since the couple first sparked dating rumors in early 2023.

By that point, the country star had already been through a lot romantically. Ballerini was just 22 when she met fellow singer-songwriter Morgan Evans, whom she married in 2017 and later divorced in 2022 — a painful process which she documented on her EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat. Stokes was also previously in a high-profile public relationship, having dated his Outer Banks costar Madeline Cline for more than a year before their split in 2021.

But after private dates turned to red-carpet appearances and sweet interview moments, fans knew that Ballerini and Stokes had found love again in each other. The pair have not shied away from expressing their love for each other in public and on social media, emphasizing how supportive they are of each other and their willingness to make their relationship last — even after it hit a rough patch in late 2025. The couple briefly broke up toward the end of the year, making for a confusing few months before announcing their renewed romance by the time 2026 came around (but more on that later).

From their cutest moments to big anniversaries and a little bit of on-and-off drama, the musician and actor have made for one of the most beloved and talked-about couples in the entertainment business. Take a look at how their dynamic has evolved over the years by checking out Billboard‘s timeline of their relationship below.