Kelsea Ballerini & Chase Stokes Fuel Engagement Rumors with Intimate Red Carpet Reveal

Country star Kelsea Ballerini and actor Chase Stokes are once again sparking romance buzz—and this time the clues stretch from Nashville’s CMA Awards carpet to the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik. Just two months after confirming their split, eyewitnesses saw the pair holding hands at Kiba Smash Burger in Croatia on Nov. 7 while Stokes filmed the final season of Outer Banks. The duo reportedly strolled toward Old Town arm-in-arm, looking “very cute,” reigniting talk of an on-again relationship. The timing couldn’t be juicier for fans. Ballerini walked the 2025 CMA Awards red carpet solo on Nov. 19, dazzling in a sheer crimson gown and fielding questions about her love life. Although Stokes skipped country music’s biggest night, his digital presence loomed large: just days earlier he clapped back at TikTok commenters speculating her new lyrics reference his ex-costar Madelyn Cline, writing, “These comments are f---ing weird. Grow up”. Ballerini’s latest single “I Sit in Parks,” released the same day as the Croatia sighting, headlines her six-track Mount Pleasant EP due Nov. 14. The song explores alternate-life daydreams, motherhood, and the ticking “body clock”—fueling speculation it reflects the couple’s recent break and possible reconciliation. Industry buzz grew louder when Patterns, her 2024 album inspired heavily by Stokes, scored a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Country Album on Nov. 15. Insiders say the breakup in September stemmed from conflicting schedules rather than lost affection, and that therapy sessions during their relationship laid “solid groundwork” for communication. With Outer Banks wrapping and Ballerini off tour until early 2026, calendars may finally align. What’s next? Ballerini heads to New York for Rockefeller Center’s tree-lighting performance, while Stokes promotes the Outer Banks finale. Whether they appear together or keep fans guessing, one thing is certain: every public move—from TikTok defenses to European date nights—keeps the Kelsea-Chase storyline front-and-center in pop-culture conversation, just in time for cuffing-season headlines and year-end music awards chatter.