Fans Speculate About Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Following The ‘Outer Banks’ Star’s Latest Instagram Post
Kelsea Ballerini recently performed at the National College Football Championship at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California where she headlined the…
Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini; Photos via Instagram
Kelsea Ballerini recently performed at the National College Football Championship at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California where she headlined the Allstate Championship Tailgate and stuck around to take in the game with Outer Banks stars Chase Stokes, Austin North, and Jonathan Daviss, social media personality Noah Beck, and more.
After the game, Ballerini, 29, and Stokes, 30, were pictured together in a group shot inside the Raising Cane’s suite in a photo shared by Todd Graves, Founder and CEO of Raising Canes Chicken Fingers.
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes commented on Graves’s photo. She shared three white hearts, while Stokes wrote, “Appreciate the hospitality my man!”
The photo sparked conversation around the web and in the CelebWivesofNashville forum on Reddit.
On Friday (Jan. 13), Stokes added to the speculation when he shared a “lil recap” on Instagram that featured a photo of him and Ballerini watching the game together. He tagged her in the post and she responded, “go vols 🙈,” staying true to her East Tennessee roots.
Fans flocked to the comments section of the post.
“KELSEA AND CHASE. 🚢,” wrote one Instagram user, using a ship emoji which seemingly references the commonly used term “shipping” that describes the “action of wishing for two people to enter a relationship,” according to Urban Dictionary.
Other users commented, “is this a soft launch” and questioned, “soft launch?”
Chase Stokes previously commented on Kelsea Ballerini’s recent photo dump on Instagram and the pair proceeded to banter back and forth within the comments.
2023 is off to a running start for Kelsea Ballerini, who enjoyed many highs and lows in 2022, including the release of her fourth studio album, a sold-out headlining tour, and more.
She also endured a public divorce from country star Morgan Evans. The couple’s divorce was finalized in mid-November of 2022 on the same day Ballerini earned a GRAMMY nomination and picked up the keys to her new home.
Kelsea Ballerini will bring her Heartfirst Tour to the United Kingdom. Kicking off on Feb. 23, the four-date run will visit Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and London.
The hitmaker will then embark on the second leg of her HEARTFIRST Tour, which will kick off on March 6 at History in Toronto, ON. The nine-show intimate outing is scheduled to continue through March 18, where the trek will wrap up in Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE.
Both of Ballerini’s upcoming stints are in support of her fourth studio album, Subject To Change, which arrived on September 23, 2022. The project features 15 tracks, including her current single “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too),” fan-favorite tunes “HEARTFIRST,” “What I Have,” “Doin’ My Best,” “Love Is A Cowboy,” as well as her collaboration with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce, “You’re Drunk, Go Home.”
“HEARTFIRST,” the lead single of Subject To Change, was recently nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY Awards in the category of Best Country Solo Performance.
Later this year, Ballerini will hit the road with her longtime friend and musical hero, and “Half Of My Hometown” collaborator, Kenny Chesney, on the I Go Back Tour. The trek will visit 21 cities and will kick off on March 25 in State College, PA.
“Music has taken me so many incredible places,” Ballerini said. “Around the world, singing with some of my heroes in pop, alternative and contemporary music, but singing with Kenny is going home. He was the only voice I heard on ‘half of my hometown,’ and when he comes in, it’s just like hitting the Knoxville city limits. So to be able to go out to those cities like the place he and I grew up with an artist who’s accomplished what he has, it’s a lot like going home.”
Upcoming Kelsea Ballerini Tour Dates
February
2 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK (w/ The Judds: The Final Tour)
3 – T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO (w/ The Judds: The Final Tour)
4 – Chaifetz Arena – St. Louis, MO (w/ The Judds: The Final Tour)
22 – O2 Ritz Manchester – Manchester, UK
23 – Queen Margaret Union – Glasgow, UK
24 – O2 Institute Birmingham – Birmingham, UK
25 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – London, UK
March
6 – Toronto, ON – History
7 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
8 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
10 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
11 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
12 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
15 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
17 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
25 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center*
30 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena*
April
1 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center*
6 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena*
8 – Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza*
12 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC*
14 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater*
16 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga
25 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena*
27 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena*
29 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum*
May
4 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The Mark*
6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena*
9 – Grand Forks, ND – The Alerus Center*
11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center*
13 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena*
18 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum*
20 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*
25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium*
27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf*
July
July 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hy-Vee Indy Race
For a complete list of upcoming tour dates, visit Kelsea Ballerini’s official website.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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