Kelsea Ballerini Reveals How Moving to New York After Chase Stokes Split Helped Her ‘Connect to Herself’: ‘Loving This Chapter of Life’

Country star Kelsea Ballerini has lifted the lid on how she is embracing the latest chapter of her life in New York City after relocating to the Big Apple following the end of her on-again, off-again romance with Chase Stokes.

The "Blindsided" singer, 32, and Stokes, 33, called time on their romance in February after nearly three years—having reunited for several months following an initial split in September 2025.

Shortly after the latest separation, Ballerini—who had been living in Nashville, TN, at the time—chose to relocate for a change of scenery. She packed her bags and moved to Manhattan, where she now says she has had the perfect opportunity to really "connect" with herself.

During an appearance on "Today with Jenna & Sheinelle," Ballerini gushed about her life in the city, telling hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones: "I'm loving this chapter of life just because I really feel like I'm being really intentional about connecting to myself."

Ballerini added that taking a break from traveling and touring in favor of settling down in one location has also done wonders for her mental health—while providing her with the opportunity to forge new friendships.

"Also, being off the road right now, this is my first time not touring in a while and being somewhere new and making new friends. I just haven't had the time to invest in myself like that for a while," Ballerini added.

While Ballerini did not mention Stokes by name, she revealed that she did some intensive work on herself in the wake of the breakup, revealing that she underwent a three-day therapy treatment in Texas not long after their split.

"I just did a three-day intensive in Dallas, like, nine hours of therapy every day," she admitted.

"It's just, again, a better understanding of myself and why I am a people pleaser. I'm learning that about myself. I think in this chapter of my life, again, I'm kind of like, 'You know what, I don't want to give anyone else the power to tell me how I should feel about myself or my choices or the life that I choose to lead.'"

Ballerini and Stokes sparked dating rumors in January 2023 after the "Outer Banks" actor—who had previously been in a relationship with his co-star Madelyn Cline—shared an adorable Instagram snap of the pair cuddling.

Stokes and Ballerini then made their envy-worthy romance official by sharing a slew of photos of each other on their social media accounts, while also making their red-carpet debut as a couple in April 2023.

By October 2024, the former lovebirds had taken their relationship to the next level by moving in together in a Los Angeles dwelling, with Ballerini telling People: "We're unpacked, baby!"

However, less than 12 months after celebrating that relationship milestone, a spokesperson for the singer has confirmed to the same outlet that she and Stokes had ended their romance.

“They’re two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t. It happens," a source close to the couple told the outlet.

The insider did not share any other details about the reasons for the split, which stunned fans—particularly given that Stokes had posted a gushing birthday tribute to Ballerini just days before the news was revealed.

"Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, I'd say I’m lookin forward to more of this," he wrote alongside a gallery of photos of the couple. "Happy birthday my love."

In September 2024, Stokes had opened up to People about how the couple kept their relationship strong by "never going more than three weeks" without seeing each other.

"If we need to make the effort to show up when one's across the country, we do it. The amount of effort that we put into our careers, we should be doubling that in our personal lives," he said.

One month later, the duo confirmed that they were residing together in a property in Los Angeles, where Ballerini was filming "The Voice."

Despite moving, the couple said that they were keeping their "Nashville mentality."

Just five weeks after they reconnected, the couple revealed that they had once again broken up—this time for good.

The singer holds the keys to multiple Nashville properties, including a townhouse she snapped up in 2017 before marrying Morgan Evans.

Ballerini's townhouse is reportedly located in the Icon complex, which is known as "Nashville's hippiest neighborhood."

Units in the building feature 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, sweeping balconies, and walk-in closets.

The building also boasts a fitness center, a courtyard pool, and an outdoor area with a fireplace.

In 2020, Ballerini and Evans purchased a Nashville home, which they put on the market when they divorced in 2022.

After the divorce was finalized, Ballerini told "Call Her Daddy" host Alex Cooper that she bought the house and he had contributed to it, but "not equal."

However, she wanted to avoid "public alimony hearings indefinitely," she said. “I was like, ‘Give him the house. I want out.’”

Months later, Ballerini purchased a home from fellow artist Kacey Musgraves.

“We didn't use real estate agents. It was woman to woman. And she was like, ‘This was my healing house,'" Ballerini said.

Ballerini picked up the 3,500-square-foot home for $2.5 million.

Meanwhile, it's unclear if Stokes boasts the same impressive property portfolio as his now-ex, as the actor is not known to own a home but instead splits his time between Charleston, SC, and California.