Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes’ relationship may have famously started with a direct message, but Ballerini had an impression of him well before that. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 30, Ballerini shared a story she had never told before.
In 2021, she was on an early morning flight when she overheard Stokes, seated behind her, interacting with a fan. Ballerini, who was getting ready to sleep, noticed a young girl approach Stokes, visibly excited and nervous. Despite the early hour, Stokes was kind, giving her his full attention and engaging with her in a heartfelt way.
Kelsea reveals she noticed Chase’s graciousness on an early flight in 2021
Curious, Ballerini glanced back through the gap in her seat to see who was so gracious. Recognizing Stokes, even though she hadn’t watched Outer Banks, she tucked away the moment as a rare look at his character.
For her, seeing his thoughtful interaction was “a beautiful thing,” and left her with the impression that Stokes was a genuinely good person. Reflecting on their eventual connection, Ballerini laughed about how fate works, explaining that she later decided to reach out to him by sending a DM.
The singer also took a moment to clarify a recent comment she made about not watching Outer Banks. A self-described “true crime girly,” she doesn’t watch much television outside of crime shows.
When she and Stokes started dating, he was frequently recognized by fans as “John B,” his character on the show. She initially promised to start watching the series, but Stokes responded that he appreciated her getting to know him “human to human” rather than as his on-screen persona. Ballerini added that she’s been to the Outer Banks set and has seen firsthand the world Stokes is part of.
