Nearly two years after Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes‘ DMs to meet the actor, which sparked their romance, the couple have now taken a big step forward.
During promotion for her new studio album, Patterns, the singer-songwriter confirmed that she and her beau have moved in together.
The 31-year-old singer-songwriter continued on in promo mode when she attended A New York Evening With Kelsea Ballerini on Friday at the Grammy Museum and Collective by 92NY in New York City on Friday.
The four-time Grammy-nominated musical artist hit the red carpet and then sat down to dish on the making of the record, her creative process, and a little about her personal life.
While doing promo in recent days, she opened up about her new song Baggage, which actually teases the major milestone in the couple’s new life together: ‘Oh, we’re unpacked, baby!’ Ballerini told People.
Kelsea Ballerini, 31, attended A New York Evening with Kelsea Ballerini in New York City on Friday, as part of her promotion for her new studio album, Patterns
The musician and the Outer Banks star started dating in January 2023 soon after Ballerini slid into his DMs to try and meet the actor, the couple are seen in March
While arriving for Friday’s album release event, Ballerini first hit the red carpet in an all-black ensemble consisting of skintight pants and a plunging top.
She also threw in a pair of black pump to the fashion mix, while keeping the accessories to a bare minimum.
Rounding out her overall look, the What I Have star had her blonde tresses pulled back off her face in a loose bun.
After strutting her stuff on the red carpet, she also took to the stage to talk about Patterns with moderator Melena Ryzik in front of fans and journalists.
After the intimate conversation about her life and Patterns, she then did a performance at The 92nd Street Y: David Geffen Stage at Kaufman Concert Hall.
Patterns consists of 15 new songs, and is said to delve into such personal subject matter as love, vulnerability, and female friendships.
While promoting Patterns the previous night at the Spotify special release party at the Carlyle Hotel, the country pop star revealed the connection of Baggage to her romance with Stokes.
Just one look at the lyrics to her new song Baggage and it’s easy to make the connection of the storytelling to her romance with Stokes.
Kelsea sings in the new song, ‘Boy, I know the weight and gravity / Of keychains with same keys / But if you want that welcome mat / Then roll it up with me / Clear out a drawer, clear out a shelf / I wouldn’t wanna do it with anybody else / I got baggage, but I’m moving in.’
‘It’s kind of that juxtaposition of what I am, who I am, and this is what I bring to the table, and I’m not going to apologize for the path that’s gotten me here,’ she shared. ‘I’m proud of my journey and take it or leave it, but I hope that you’ll take it.’
While arriving for Friday’s album release event, Ballerini first hit the red carpet in an all-black ensemble consisting of skintight pants and a plunging top
Showing her sense of humor, the Tennessee native posed alongside her cardboard cut-out
After strutting her stuff on the red carpet, she took to the stage to talk about Patterns
Ballerini released her fifth studio album consisting of 15 songs on Friday
The couple have been dating since January 2023; seen in April
Ballerini began the promotional push for the new songs over the summer, releasing the singles Cowboys Cry Too, a collaboration with Noah Kahan, and Sorry Mom.
Baggage — which the singer describes as ‘blissful acceptance’ — is one of the standout tracks on Patterns, which she released on Friday, October 25.
After that brief virtual encounter in December 2022, Ballerini and Stoke would meet in person for the first time in early January 2023.
The Miss Me More singer is set to celebrate the release of Patterns again when she hits the stage for a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden on October 29, which will also serve as the start of her first-ever headlining arena tour in January.
Stokes began his career with a number of small roles in high-profile shows like Stranger Things (2016), Daytime Divas (2017), and Tell Me Your Secrets (2021), but most people know him for his breakthrough role on the Netflix action-adventure series Outer Banks (2020-present).
