Kelsea Ballerini Subtly Supports Ex Chase Stokes After Breakup

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Kelsea Ballerini Gets Emotional in First Performance After Chase Stokes Breakup

Kelsea Ballerini is rolling out the support for ex Chase Stokes.

Just one month after the country singer and actor split, Kelsea extended a subtle olive branch to the Outer Banks star as he celebrated his latest venture.

Chase announced his latest collaboration with Zenni Optical in an Oct. 14 Instagram post alongside a carousel of photos of him modeling the specs.

“Been working on something I’m really proud of,” the 33-year-old wrote. “A new chapter, new vibes, new frames I designed with @zennioptical. Check out my latest collection at Zenni.com.”

Kelsea, 32, showed her support by liking the post.

The gesture came one month after a rep for Kelsea confirmed to E! News that she and Chase ended their nearly three-year relationship.

Prior to the news of their breakup, Chase penned a sweet tribute to Kelsea in honor of her birthday, briefly putting an end to speculation that they called time on their romance.

“Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, I’d say I’m lookin’ forward to more of this,” he wrote on his Instagram Sept. 12 alongside pics of the pair. “Happy birthday my love.”

While Kelsea nor Chase have spoken publicly about the split, the “Hole in the Bottle” singer took the stage a week after the news broke. During her performance of her breakup anthem “Penthouse” Kelsea became visibly emotional as she sang, "I kissed someone new last night, But now I don't know where you're sleeping, baby,” before slouching down and receiving the crowd’s applause.

Jason Davis/WireImage

But Kelsea clearly wants to heal in private, as she recently had a fierce message for people sharing information about her personal life and violating her space.

"CC: speculators, ‘sources’, and hidden cameras outside the hair salon,” she captioned a Sept. 23 video posted to TikTok, set to Ariana Grande's "Shut Up." “Let us be. please.”

Took look back at Kelsea and Chase’s romance, keep reading…

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

December 2022: Shooting Her Shot

Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes' DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.

They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary.

"He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me," Kelsea later recalled on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, "and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, 'Thank God you're real.'"

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

December 2022: Shooting Her Shot

Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.

Instagram

January 2023: Romance Rumors

The two were photographed looking cozy at a football game.

Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini

January 2023: First Date Nerves

In August 2023, Kelsea posted footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023.

"Happy weekend," she captioned the post, "heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase."

Set to her song "How Do I Do This," which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea modeled her outfit in the video.

"Here's the look, with the boots" Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.

Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she added, "We've got the hair clip, because we're trying to be a cool girl."

She continued speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, "He's picking me up and we're going to a sushi place and I'll call you tomorrow and for a full update."

Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally said, "I can do this. I can do this."

And, after doing a little dance, she proclaimed, "It's just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?"

February 2023: Instagram Cuteness

Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

April 2023: Award Show PDA

The two showcased their love on the CMAs red carpet.

Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images

April 2023: Broadway Baby

The twosome attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at Capitale.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

April 2023: Red Carpet Debut

The pair officially stepped out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards.

Instagram

May 2023: Hometown Visit

Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Armani beauty

July 2023: PDA Alert

The two attended Armani Beauty's ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.

Instagram/Chase Stokes

July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise

Chase shocked Kelsea when he unexpectedly greeted her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion.

Photo by Kristy Sparow/Variety via Getty Images

August 2023: Ciao Bella

The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.

Gotham/GC Images

August 2023: NYC Date Night

The two were spotted on a summer date in NYC, where the singer performed on TODAY.

"It's just nice to feel so supported and seen," Kelsea said on the show of Chase, "and, yeah, he's such a wonderful, wonderful human being."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV

September 2023: Red Hot

The two appeared together at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Kelsea's birthday.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV

September 2023: VMAs PDA

The two shared a kiss on the red carpet.

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: Couple's Selfie

Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase's 31st birthday days later.

Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: Birthday Love

To commemorate Kelsea's 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posted a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee.

"Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini," he captioned the series. "i love you."

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: All Smiles

Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

September 2023: A Black Tie Affair

Kelsea and Chase were dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani's One Night Only event on in Venice, Italy.

The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star shared images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.

John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA

November 2023: Loving Like They Mean It

Kelsea planted a smooch on Chase's cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.

Leah Puttkammer/FilmMagic

November 2023: Sex Confession

Kelsea revealed details of their sex life in November 2023, telling Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy, "I'm having a nice time."

"My experience with it was very performative and for the other person," she noted. "And it don't be like that anymore."

The musician didn't understand how sex could be "a real connector in a relationship" before dating him.

"I always thought that it was just something that you did because that's who you do it with," the Grammy nominee shared. "Now I realize it's a connector for people."

Instagram / Chase Stokes

January 2024: Chase's Anniversary Post

"One year of lovin you," the actor wrote. "P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you."

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Naughty Selfie

"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea wrote in her anniversary post. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Watching the Sunset

Kelsea shared this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Happy Anniversary

The two celebrated the anniversary of their first date.