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Three months after their split, Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes were photographed taking a long, friendly walk through New York‘s SoHo neighbourhood on Wednesday afternoon — and within hours, the corners of the internet that have been quietly rooting for them got loud about it. The catch, according to multiple sources who spoke to People and Just Jared: they’re not back together. They’re just genuinely, comfortably, on speaking terms.
Here’s what actually happened, what insiders are saying about it, and the wider story of one of the more well-handled celebrity breakups of the past two years.
The Wednesday afternoon walk
Photographs that surfaced on Wednesday show the 32-year-old country-pop singer and the 33-year-old Outer Banks star walking side by side through SoHo, both in casual outfits — Ballerini in a dark leather jacket and jeans, Stokes in a long camel coat and baseball cap. The pair appeared to be in unhurried conversation, occasionally laughing, and made no obvious effort to avoid being photographed.
The walk lasted, by photographer accounts, around 45 minutes. The pair stopped briefly at a SoHo coffee shop near Prince Street, picked up takeaway, and continued on. There were no overt displays of physical affection — no holding hands, no arms around each other. Just two people walking through a neighbourhood, talking.
“They’re not dating again”
Within hours, the close-source quote that defined the news cycle was on the record. According to one outlet’s reporting, sources close to both Ballerini and Stokes were emphatic that this was not a reconciliation:
- “They’re on great terms, but they’re not back together.”
- “They’ve stayed friends since the breakup. This was just a catch-up walk.”
- “Both of them have been working a lot. It was the first time their schedules lined up in a while.”
That kind of source language — when both sides separately confirm the same not-dating framing — is generally a strong signal. If even one source had pushed the reconciliation angle, it would have leaked. None did.
A look back at the relationship
Ballerini and Stokes started dating in early 2023, going public at the CMT Awards that April. The relationship was, by celebrity standards, unusually low-drama. They appeared in each other’s social-media content. They co-attended awards. They were photographed on holiday. Both spoke publicly — on podcasts, in interviews — about the relationship in measured, healthy terms.
Their split was confirmed in late January 2026 — almost exactly three years later. Neither party gave a long-form interview. Neither blamed the other. The breakup statement, when it eventually came, attributed the end to schedules and geography rather than any single dramatic event. Ballerini was about to start a major tour. Stokes was committed to filming on the West Coast and the UK.
By the standards of celebrity breakups, it was almost suspiciously calm. Three months on, the SoHo walk appears to confirm the calm version of events: two people who liked each other, decided the relationship had run its course, and are now genuinely fine.
Where Kelsea Ballerini is now
Ballerini is at a quietly busy moment of her career. Her fifth studio album, Patterns, has been a sustained presence on the country and pop charts since its 2024 release. Her North American tour wraps in late summer 2026. She’s been hosting and performing across awards-season specials, and reportedly has a sixth album already in the early writing stages.
She has been dating-app-public — that is, not actively dating in any way that’s been visible to the press — since the split. The Wednesday walk is the first time she’s been photographed with Stokes since.
Where Chase Stokes is now
Stokes is in his post-Outer Banks career-pivot phase. The Netflix series, on which he played John B. Routledge, ended its run in 2025 after five seasons. Since then he’s been visibly choosing more grown-up film roles — including an indie psychological drama and a supporting part in a major-studio thriller, both currently in post-production.
He has, similarly, kept his personal life private since the breakup. He has not been linked to anyone publicly in the three months since.
Why this story has resonated
Celebrity-couple-stays-friends stories are unusually rare, which is part of why this one is travelling. Most high-profile breakups carry the residue of legal disputes, public sniping, or at minimum, a long PR-managed silence. Ballerini and Stokes seem to have done the rarest thing: they handled the end of the relationship the way most non-famous adults try to.
Whether that means they’ll eventually find their way back together — or whether this is just what a healthy ex-relationship looks like in the public eye — neither party seems eager to confirm. For the moment, the SoHo photos are exactly what they appear to be: two people on a walk, on speaking terms, three months out.
Frequently asked questions
Are Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes back together?
No. Sources close to both Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes have confirmed to multiple outlets that they are not back together. The Wednesday SoHo walk was characterised by insiders as a friendly catch-up, not a reconciliation.
When did Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes break up?
The pair confirmed their split in late January 2026, after roughly three years of dating. The breakup was attributed by both sides to scheduling and geographic pressures rather than any specific incident.
How long did Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes date?
They started dating in early 2023, going public at the April 2023 CMT Awards. They split in late January 2026, making the relationship roughly three years long.
Where were Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes seen?
The pair were photographed on a roughly 45-minute walk through the SoHo neighbourhood of New York City on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. They stopped briefly for takeaway coffee near Prince Street.
Are they still friends?
Yes. According to insiders quoted by multiple outlets, Ballerini and Stokes have stayed on good terms since the breakup. The Wednesday walk was the first time they had been photographed together since the split.
For more on the season’s celebrity relationship news, see our Celebrities section.
Watch the visual story: Kelsea Ballerini & Chase Stokes Walk — Web Story