Chase Stokes is displaying a dramatic new look after getting back together with Kelsea Ballerini.
The Outer Banks star took to Instagram to reveal he ‘crashed out’ and got a buzz cut.
‘Crashed out so hard, I shaved my head (again),’ he captioned the New Year’s Eve post alongside a pair of starburst emojis.
The snapshot also featured the words, ‘TIME TO BE FUNNY ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOW,’ in bold caps.
Stokes was pictured in shadow wearing shades against a setting sun, his short, evenly cut hair clearly outlined.
It’s hardly surprising the actor, 33, needed to do something drastic after the romantic upheavals he’s had with the country pop star, 32, including two messy breakups and eventual reconciliations – the latest reconciliation happening right in time for the holidays.
Chase Stokes took to Instagram to reveal he ‘crashed out’ and got a buzz cut amid his reconciliation with Kelsea Ballerini
Stokes and the country pop star had two messy splits before their latest reconciliation; pictured on May 8, 2025
In his previous New Year’s Eve message, Stokes shared a series of photos of the pair enjoying a snug embrace as the sun went down in a blaze of orange.
He was sporting his new buzz cut and had his arms wrapped her as he kissed the side of her head, and Ballerini beamed a big smile behind her sunglasses, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
After revealing that his on-and-off romance of nearly three years with Ballerini was back on, he vowed to ‘learn from mistakes’ in his new year’s resolution.
He wrote in his caption that ‘something I’ve learned this year’ is ‘don’t take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting.’
His plan of action going forward included: ‘Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often.’
Then he announced that 2026 would be his ‘year of growth’ and ‘year of truth.’
‘Starting here, starting now. Happy new years,’ he finished, adding a red heart emoji.
Another photo showed them leaning towards each other, while a third picture showed Ballerini with her dog and planting a kiss on her precious pooch’s head.
No doubt Stokes had to do something drastic and shave his head after the romantic obstacles he’s hadÂ
The Outer Banks actor revealed he and Ballerini were back together in a previous New Year’s Eve post
The on-again couple enjoyed a romantic moment as the sun set in a blaze of orange
Ballerini – pictured with Stokes on April 7, 2024 – previously said their chemistry was ‘hot’ when they first met
Other photos in his thoughtful post also included him spending time with his family and hugging a friend.
Ballerini shared her side of the love story on her own Instagram page, revealing that she had a ‘messy year’ prior to their end-of-year reconciliation.
She also stated how much she ‘really loves love,’ ‘believes in him’ and ‘believes in breaking patterns.’
She shared a photo of her and Stokes standing in silhouette while they appeared to be kissing in front of the sunset.
She conceded that she has had a ‘messy year for the heart’ and ‘messy year for the outside coming in, messy year for the way it became an out-of-our-hands portrayal of it.’
Ballerini added: ‘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,’ she concluded alongside a kissy face emoji. ‘Now go kiss your person and stop speculating.’
Stokes and Ballerini met in late 2022, just months after the country crooner announced she had filed for divorce from her then-husband, Australian country singer Morgan Evans. The divorce was finalized in November 2022.
The couple were first romantically linked in January 2023 when they were spotted together at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Los Angeles; pictured in 2025
They broke up in September 2025 amid reports of jealousy, got back together in November, broke up again, then got back together in time for the holidays
The couple were first romantically linked in January 2023 when they were spotted together at the College Football Playoff National Championship in Los Angeles.
After soft launching their relationship on social media, Stokes and Ballerini went public with their romance as they walked the red carpet together at the 2023 CMAs. But they broke up in September 2025 amid reports of jealousy.
They briefly reunited but split up again in November before reconciling again in December.
During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Kelsea described the amazing chemistry she felt when she met Stokes.
‘He came to this party that I was playing, and I had just gotten done playing.Â
‘And I was … “Guys – I’m sweating just thinking about this. I thought I was gonna pass out.’
She added: ‘You can have chemistry over the phone but when you see each other you’re like, what’s the height difference, are we … are you … I didn’t know what to do.
‘And so I walked out to his car, and he got out of his Bronco – hot.’
