Kelsea Ballerini has a lot to look forward to in 2026 — including plenty of PDA.
“2026 INS,” Ballerini, 32, began a lengthy list via Instagram on Sunday, January 4, that featured decluttering, “taking dogs everywhere,” doing Pilates, writing “handwritten thank you’s and yay you’s” notes, karaoke nights, red light therapy and “keeping some things for yourself.”
Among Ballerini’s wish list for the new year also includes “PDA 😘,” “the law of attraction [to] manifest good s***” and making sure to check in on “friends, lovers, fathers, mothers and yourself.”
The Mount Pleasant musician’s desire for PDA-packed outings in 2026 comes amidst her recent reunion with actor Chase Stokes. While the pair broke up last fall, they confirmed on New Year’s Eve that they were giving their romance another shot.
“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 via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, December 31. “What I’ll say, and all I really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that I really love love.”
She continued, “I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns. Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.”
Ballerini uploaded a pic cuddling with Stokes, 33, who shared the same image on his social media account.
“Something I’ve learned this year: don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting,” Stokes captioned a carousel of the PDA pics. “Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often. 2026 my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now.”
Ballerini and Stokes started dating in January 2023, which was the country singer’s first relationship since finalizing her divorce from Morgan Evans the year prior.
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes navigated many ups and downs in their two-year relationship. The country singer and the Outer Banks star were first linked in January 2023 after they were spotted together at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Los Angeles. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a […]
“I was ready to open back up [after my divorce]. I just felt, ‘Why not? I’ve never really dated. I don’t know how it works,’” Ballerini previously said on “Call Her Daddy” podcast in February 2023. “I’m like, ‘Let’s just put ourselves out there. Let’s just vibe.’ And it’s been fun. I slid into his DMs. I just swan dove right on in. His handle is ‘hichasestokes’ and I just said, ‘Hi Chase Stokes.’”
After two years of dating and countless red carpet appearances, Us Weekly confirmed in September 2025 that Stokes and Ballerini called it quits.
“It was a hard split,” a source told Us at the time. “They had been arguing a lot recently, and their communication wasn’t great in the last month. They were both traveling so much and trying to juggle everything, and the arguments piled up.”
Within weeks, Ballerini was spotted hanging out with the Outer Banks actor in Scotland and Croatia. Their reunion, however, was seemingly short-lived.
“Don’t believe the media,” Stokes cryptically wrote via his Instagram Stories in November 2025, insinuating he and Ballerini called it quits again. “I’m blocked, I did nothing wrong. Sorry ❤️. I tried. I’m sorry for those who believed in us. It is what it is. Onwards and upwards.”
Neither Ballerini nor Stokes have further revealed how they rekindled their connection the following month.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usmagazine.com ’
