A New Year, A Possible Second Chapter
After a brief split, the singer and actor are hinting at a reconciliation with heartfelt messages shared on social media.
- The pair, who initially confirmed their relationship in 2023, called off their romance in September.
- Both Ballerini and Stokes posted reflective messages on Instagram on Wednesday (Dec. 31) suggesting a renewed connection.
- Stokes emphasized accountability and leaning into love, while Ballerini spoke of a “messy year” and her belief in love.
- Ballerini recently asked fans to respect her privacy regarding her personal life.
The “Emerald City” singer and the Outer Banks star are sparking reconciliation rumors as they head into 2026. After calling it quits in September after three years of dating, both Ballerini and Stokes took to Instagram on Wednesday (Dec. 31) to share their perspectives on love and growth.
“Something I’ve learned this year: don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting,” Stokes wrote in a post featuring photos of him and Ballerini. “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. Happy new years.”
Ballerini, meanwhile, shared her thoughts via Instagram Stories, stating, “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. 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.”
She added with a touch of playful exasperation, “go kiss your person and stop speculating.”
The couple first publicly confirmed their relationship in 2023, making their red carpet debut at the CMT Awards that year. Their connection began in 2022 when Ballerini reached out to Stokes via direct message on social media, according to reports.
In early December, Ballerini asked her fans for privacy, stating, “I’m trying to make my personal life personal for now. Unless it comes from me, it’s not from me, and that is really important in protecting my peace right now.”
Ballerini’s most recent musical release is her six-song EP Mount Pleasant, which arrived in November. The EP followed her Top Country Albums No. 1 album, Patterns, released in 2024.
