Photo: Getty Images
Kelsea Ballerini shared an adorable photo holding hands with Chase Stokes as she reflected on her trip to New York for her Saturday Night Live debut over the weekend. Ballerini posted content on her social media channels on Monday (March 6), including the snapshot taken from behind the couple, with Ballerini in a shimmering red dress with her hair pulled up. In the bottom left corner, she wrote, “hi chase stokes,” a reference to the Outer Banks actor’s Instagram handle (and Ballerini’s pickup line when she slid into his DMs).
Ballerini also shared photos with Kansas City Chiefs star and Super Bowl champ Travis Kelce, who also made his Saturday Night Live debut when he hosted the March 4 show. Ballerini took the stage to perform “Blindsided” — with a few added lyrics at the end — and “Penthouse,” both tracks from her 6-track EP and short film Rolling Up The Welcome Mat. Ballerini debuted the project on Valentine’s Day, telling her side of the story of her divorce from fellow singer-songwriter Morgan Evans.
Ballerini was rumored to date Stokes beginning in January, when Stokes posted a photo of the two next to one another at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. They attended the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 9. Ballerini confirmed later that they’d been talking since early December, and now she’s “just vibing” with him. Stokes, who recently shared a heartwarming photo of Ballerini kissing him on the cheek, hailed Ballerini a “QUEEN” as he shared one of her photos on his Instagram story.
Ballerini is gearing up for the next leg of her “HEARTFIRST Tour,” including a few sold-out dates. Watch her Saturday Night Live performances below.