Running into your ex at a splashy industry event two months after a messy split? Not exactly a rom-com. Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes both hit the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards this week and, per people who were in the room, they did the mature thing: stayed far, far apart.
The vibe at the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards
According to Us Weekly, Ballerini, 32, and Stokes, 33, knew the other would be at the ceremony on Tuesday, April 7, but kept to opposite sides of the room and did not interact. One source summed up where they are right now: both are still healing, there is lingering hurt and still some love, and seeing each other stirred up mixed emotions.
They arrived solo and walked the carpet separately. Ballerini wore a white halter dress with a sheer skirt and a feathered belt. Stokes went with a gray gingham suit cinched with a matching belt at the waist.
Where things stood going into the night
This was their first public near-collision since Us Weekly confirmed in February that they had broken up for the third time. Neither has directly addressed that split, but a source told the outlet the dynamic had changed for a while: the relationship never fully got back to its early groove, Ballerini’s schedule had become more demanding (which created distance), the initial spark faded, and ongoing trust issues lingered. The way it was put: she didn’t fully trust him, and that was a problem.
The long, winding timeline (yes, it’s a lot)
- January 2023: They start dating.
- Through September 2025: Steady, until Ballerini’s rep confirms a breakup.
- October 2025: They’re spotted together in Scotland.
- November 2025: Multiple sources say they’re back on, then they split again later that month.
- New Year’s Eve 2025: They resurface as a couple publicly.
- February (after that): Third and most recent split.
- April 7: Both show up at the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards and keep their distance.
About that NYE reset: Ballerini put it in her own words at the time, posting a photo of a kiss with a caption that tried to set boundaries while also making it clear where her heart was.
"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. Now go kiss your person and stop speculating."
The post-breakup message
Weeks after the February split, Ballerini shared a longer reflection about endings, growth, and moving into a new chapter. It read like someone trying to close the book without burning it.
"This year asked you to shed layers you didn’t even realize you were still carrying. 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."
"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."
Bottom line: they’re not pretending to be besties in public, and it sounds like there’s still a lot to process on both sides. Given the timeline above, that tracks.