Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates Her 30th Birthday With BF Chase Stokes on the VMAs Red Carpet

Kelsea Ballerini and boyfriend Chase Stokes made a major splash at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 12. The pair walked the red carpet together on Tuesday night in matching red outfits and stopped to kiss and pose together for the cameras. Ballerini is scheduled to perform during the award show, while Stokes, who stars on “Outer Banks,” was there as her very supportive plus-one. During the preshow, Ballerini spoke to host Kevan Kenney and dropped some major news: it’s also her 30th birthday.

Talking to Kenney together, Ballerini said it was her idea for both of them to wear red, though Stokes hinted there was a “long story” behind their twinning moment. Ballerini added that he got her a “really personal and really sweet” birthday present.

Ballerini and Stokes, 30, first sparked relationship rumors earlier this year and were spotted hugging at LAX airport on Jan. 29. During a February episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Ballerini revealed that she first connected with Stokes when she slid into his DMs, explaining, “His handle is ‘hichasestokes,’ so I said ‘Hi Chase Stokes.'” She said at the time that they first started talking in December 2022.

Stokes and Ballerini made their red carpet debut at the CMT Awards on April 3. They also appeared at an Armani Beauty event this July.

Ballerini was previously married to fellow country singer Morgan Evans for five years; they divorced in summer 2022. In February, she released an EP of songs inspired by the split, “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” and this August, she released an extended version titled “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good).”

See the photos of Stokes and Ballerini’s night ahead.