Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes had mixed feelings about crossing paths at the same event two months after their split.
“Kelsea and Chase kept their distance and did not interact at the Fashion Trust Awards last night,” a source exclusively tells Luxury Handbag Shopping. “They knew each other were going to be there but stayed on opposite sides of the room.”
The insider adds that Ballerini, 32, and Stokes, 33, are “both still healing” after their breakup.
“There’s lingering hurt, but also love, making the situation complicated for both of them. Both are feeling mixed emotions about seeing each other,” the source concludes.
Ballerini and Stokes walked the red carpet separately at the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards on Tuesday, April 7. The country singer opted to wear a white halter dress with a sheer skirt and feathered belt, while the Outer Banks star sported a gray gingham suit with a matching belt wrapped around his waist.
The outing came two months after Luxury Handbag Shopping confirmed that Ballerini and Stokes had called it quits for the third time.
The former couple’s on-off relationship began in January 2023 and remained steady until September 2025, when a rep for Ballerini confirmed to Us that she and Stokes had split. The breakup didn’t last long, as Stokes and Ballerini were spotted together in Scotland the following month.
In November 2025, multiple sources confirmed to Us that Stokes and Ballerini had reconciled — only for the pair to split for the second time later that month.
Stokes and Ballerini debuted their romance once again on New Year’s Eve 2025.
“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 via Instagram wrote alongside a photo of herself kissing Stokes. “But what I’ll say, and all I really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that I really love love. I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns. Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.”
Following the exes’ third and most recent split in February, a source exclusively told Us that the dynamic between Stokes and Ballerini had “shifted.”
“[They] never really got back to how it was in the beginning,” the source shared. “Kelsea’s career has been more demanding recently and had caused distance, which was an issue at one point. The allure and excitement of the relationship wore off, and there were also too many ongoing trust issues that Kelsea can’t get past. She didn’t fully trust him, which sucked.”
Neither Ballerini nor Stokes has directly addressed their breakup. However, Ballerini shared a cryptic message about “endings” just weeks after the split.
“This year asked you to shed layers you didn’t even realize you were still carrying,” the post began. “It brought endings you didn’t expect, lessons you didn’t ask for, and moments that tested your patience, strength, and faith. Growth was not loud. It was uncomfortable. It was quiet. It was internal. But look at you. You’re still here. Wiser. Stronger. More aware of who you are and what you deserve.”
The post continued, “Not everything that left was meant to stay. Not everything that hurt was meant to break you. As this chapter closes, take a deep breath. Honor what you survived. Honor what you learned. Honor who you’ve become. You didn’t just make it through. You evolved. Be ready for Fire Horse Year.”
