Kelsea Ballerini Reflects on Unexpected 'Endings' After Chase Stokes Split

Kelsea Ballerini is reflecting on new beginnings following her most recent split from Chase Stokes.

Ballerini, 32, took to her Instagram Story on Monday, February 16, to share a photo of her nails featuring a red snake design in honor of “the final day of the Year of the Snake.” She then reposted a cryptic message about entering the next Lunar New Year cycle, the Year of the Fire Horse, which began on Tuesday, February 17.

“This year asked you to shed layers you didn’t even realize you were still carrying,” the post began. “It brought endings you didn’t expect, lessons you didn’t ask for, and moments that tested your patience, strength, and faith. Growth was not loud. It was uncomfortable. It was quiet. It was internal.”

The message continued, “But look at you. You’re still here. Wiser. Stronger. More aware of who you are and what you deserve.”

Why Did 'Heartbroken' Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Get Back Together?

The post added that the Snake Year was “about transformation, about shedding old skins so you could step into something truer. Not everything that left was meant to stay. Not everything that hurt was meant to break you.”

The post concluded, “As this chapter closes, take a deep breath. Honor what you survived. Honor what you learned. Honor who you’ve become. You didn’t just make it through. You evolved. Be ready for Fire Horse Year.”

Us Weekly previously confirmed on February 6 that Ballerini and Stokes, 33, split for the third time following a brief reconciliation.

“Kelsea and Chase have broken up again,” a source told Us at the time. “It happened just the other day.”

The source added that Ballerini was “taking it better” than she had in the past and was officially “done” with their relationship, but Stokes “still isn’t ready to give up” on their romance.

JC Olivera/Getty Images

Ballerini and Stokes, who began dating in 2023, previously split in September 2025. They reconciled about one month later, with eyewitness Gemma Kennedy exclusively telling Us the pair were spotted near Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle.

The reunion didn’t last long, however, with a source exclusively telling Us in November 2025 that Ballerini and Stokes had split for the second time. According to an insider, things had gotten “rocky and complicated” for the exes.

In a surprising twist, the on-again, off-again couple shared photos together on New Year’s Eve in December 2025, revealing yet another reunion.

“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,” Ballerini wrote alongside a photo of herself kissing Stokes. “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. Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.”

Chase Stokes Shared Tribute to Kelsea Ballerini 2 Days Before Split News

Ballerini later stepped out solo at the 2026 Grammys before posing for a selfie with Stokes’ ex Madelyn Cline.

Following news of Stokes and Ballerini’s third breakup, an insider exclusively told Us on February 9 that the “dynamic totally shifted” between the pair while navigating their ups and downs and “it was never the same.”

“Something felt a little more off this time around, almost like they were forcing things again,” the insider added. “Kelsea’s career has been more demanding recently, and had caused distance, which was an issue at one point. The allure and excitement of the relationship wore off and there were also too many ongoing trust issues that Kelsea can’t get past. She didn’t fully trust him, which sucked.”