Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Share Sweet Tributes on Their First Dating Anniversary

One year ago exactly, Kelsea Ballerini stepped out in a sexy dress and cowboy boots for an epic first date with Chase Stokes.

It led to multiple more outings, inspired the country star's music and now, she and the Outer Banks actor are celebrating their first anniversary as a couple.

"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea wrote on Instagram Jan. 7. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."

Chase, 31, commented on his girlfriend's post, "I really really [red heart] you."

Kelsea, 30, posted several photos and videos of herself sharing sweet moments with the actor, including a clip of themselves in a car on the night they met. Chase also shared his own tribute to the singer on their anniversary.

"One year of lovin you," he wrote on Instagram. "P.s. told ya I wouldn't embarrass you."

As Kelsea and Chase quietly began dating in January 2023—two months after she finalized a divorce from Morgan Evans, the pair sparked romance rumors that month when they were photographed looking cozy at a football game. Chase confirmed their relationship a month later in a Today interview.

They have since appeared together several times at celebrity events and Kelsea has also shared glimpses of their road to romance. In August, she posted a TikTok containing a throwback video of herself preparing for the pair's first date, set to her song "How Do I Do This," which is about going on a first date after many years.

The following month, as part of a birthday tribute to Chase, the singer shared a screenshot of their first DMs, from December 2022. She has also spoken about their first kiss and sex life.

In December, Chase spoke about his relationship with Kelsea and what he loves about her. "The same person that I sit down in the living room with and have dinner on the floor with and who makes me laugh," he told Entertainment Weekly in a Dec. 14 article, "is the exact same person you're seeing on stage. There is no filter."

Look back at Kelsea and Chase's road to romance below:

The two celebrate the anniversary of their first date.

Kelsea shares this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.

"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea writes in her anniversary post. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."

"One year of lovin you," the actor writes. "P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you."

Kelsea revealed details of their sex life in November 2023, telling Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy, "I'm having a nice time."

"My experience with it was very performative and for the other person," she noted. "And it don't be like that anymore."

The musician didn't understand how sex could be "a real connector in a relationship" before dating him.

"I always thought that it was just something that you did because that's who you do it with," the Grammy nominee shared. "Now I realize it's a connector for people."

Kelsea plants a smooch on Chase's cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.

Kelsea and Chase are dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani's One Night Only event on in Venice, Italy. 

The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star share images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.

Kelsea shares this behind-the-scenes look from the event.

To commemorate Kelsea's 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posts a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee. 

"Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini," he captions the series. "i love you."

Kelsea unveils this pic on Chase's 31st birthday days later.

The two appear together at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Kelsea's birthday.

The two share a kiss at the event.

The two are spotted on a summer date in NYC, where she performs on TODAY.

"It's just nice to feel so supported and seen," Kelsea says on the show of Chase, "and, yeah, he's such a wonderful, wonderful human being."

The couple only have eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.

Chase shocks Kelsea when he unexpectedly greets her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion. 

The two attend Armani Beauty's ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.

Chase joins Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.

The pair officially step out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards.

The twosome attend the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at Capitale.

The two showcase their love on the CMAs red carpet.

Chase shares a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.

In August 2023, Kelsea posts footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023. 

"Happy weekend," she captions the post, "heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase."

Set to her song "How Do I Do This," which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea models her outfit in the video.

"Here's the look, with the boots" Kelsea says while checking herself out in a full-length mirror. Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she adds, "We've got the hair clip, because we're trying to be a cool girl."

She continues speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, "He's picking me up and we're going to a sushi place and I'll call you tomorrow and for a full update."

Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally says, "I can do this. I can do this." And, after doing a little dance, she proclaims, "It's just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?"

The two are photographed looking cozy at a football game.

Kelsea Ballerini slides into Chase Stokes' DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.

They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary. 

"He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me," Kelsea later recalls on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, "and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, 'Thank God you're real.'"

Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shares in September 2023.

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