Chase Stokes Subtly Shuts Down Kelsea Ballerini Breakup Rumors

Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes, 2023

Chase Stokes helped shut down rumors that he and girlfriend of two years Kelsea Ballerini have ended their relationship by sharing a photo of her beloved dog Dibs.

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini still have this feeling about one another.

The Outer Banks star subtly proved that he and the “Baggage” singer’s love is still going strong by sharing a sweet photo of her pup.

In the snap posted to his Instagram Story Aug. 3, Chase focused the camera on Kelsea’s dog Dibs, who sported a blue collar with someone’s hands holding onto him. The 32-year-old added a red heart emoji on the photo.

Chase’s hangout with Kelsea’s furry BFF arrived amid speculation that the couple—who confirmed their relationship in January 2023—had broken up because the singer had deleted a Fourth of July photo dump from her social media account that featured the Uglies actor.

Noting that Kelsea also delete some of her TikToks that included Chase, one user wrote on TikTok Aug. 1, “Things we currently know about the alleged Kelsea and Chase breakup.”

And the pair have since further quelled the split speculation. In addition to Chase’s photo, he and Kelsea, 31, were recently spotted having dinner together in Nashville, as documented by a fan on TikTok Aug. 4.

But a breakup isn’t the only rumor the couple have had to deal with this year, as many fans suspected Kelsea was pregnant after she canceled a few of her tour dates in February.

Chase Stokes, Dibs, Instagram StoryInstagram/Chase Stokes

Kelsea addressed the rumors at the time, responding to a TikTok comment in February that asked “Maybe pregnant?” with a video saying, “Or maybe it’s the flu.”

The “Cowboys Cry Too” singer added in the caption, “Anyway, feeling better and can’t wait to see you tonight Buffalo.”

And while the duo aren’t expanding their family just yet, Kelsea has already made Chase part of her songwriting process.

Kelsea Ballerini, Chase StokesKevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix

“‘First Rodeo’ is the first love song I wrote for Chase,” she shared on Today in October “Really, it’s essentially the first song where it’s kind of like, ‘OK, I feel a little fragile, I feel a little scared to open myself up to the capacity that I want to, but I love love, and I really love you.’”

She also revealed that “How Much Do You Love Me?” was inspired by him, telling fans at an October listening party for her album Patterns, “This song is the softest song on the album. I remember writing it downstairs on guitar and Chase was like ‘What’s that?’ And I was like, ‘This is a love song.’”