Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes are “not back together” despite a recent hangout in New York City, multiple sources tell Us Weekly exclusively.
“There’s always a feeling of unfinished business with them, and both feel it’s hard to fully close the door on the relationship,” one source explains to Us, noting that there haven’t been any discussions about “rekindling” their romance.
TMZ reported on Wednesday, April 29, that Ballerini, 32, and Stokes, 33, were spotted on a walk on the West Side Highway in NYC.
“Chase was visiting NYC for separate commitments and asked her to meet up,” the source continues. “They knew there was a chance they’d be seen but are OK with it since they are on good terms now.”
Prior to their brief reunion, Ballerini and Stokes went “two months” without communicating, the source tells Us.
“That did help a lot,” the insider continues. “They needed space and time to heal and are able to communicate better now, even as friends.”
Stokes “has expressed he wants to make it work,” the source says, but Ballerini is “focused on herself right now.”
The country singer recently moved to NYC for a “new era” and is “open to meeting new people,” the insider adds. “She’s having a lot of fun in the city right now, and it’s given her a renewed excitement about life.”
A second source shares something similar, telling Us that Stokes is “still holding out hope” for him and Ballerini to get back together.
“Kelsea has been in a great headspace since moving to New York City and starting a new chapter, so she’s hesitant to re-enter that cycle with Chase, though she does still care about him,” the second insider adds. “She’s done a lot of healing since their most recent breakup.”
Ballerini and Stokes first sparked romance rumors in January 2023 when he posted a photo of them cozied up together on Instagram. Since then, the couple have been in anon-again, off-again romance. Us Weekly broke the news in February that they had split for at least the third time.
Following their most recent breakup, Ballerini did three days of intensive therapy in Texas.
“I’m loving this chapter of life just because I really feel like I’m being really intentional about connecting to myself,” she said on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle last month. “Also, being off the road right now. This is my first time not touring in a while and being somewhere new and making new friends. I just haven’t had the time to invest in myself like that for a while.”
