Why Isn’t Chase Stokes at the CMA Awards With Kelsea Ballerini? His Absence Explained

Alyssa Norwin November 19, 2025, 7:21 pm

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Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini attend the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey — Catherine Powell/Getty Images

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Since Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes started dating in early 2023, he’s been by her side at many major music award shows and other public events. The couple reportedly broke up for two months earlier this year and have since reconciled, but he still wasn’t on the red carpet with Ballerini at the 2025 CMA Awards on November 19.

Ballerini is a nominee and performer at the show, but she didn’t have her boyfriend on her arm as she posed for photos on the red carpet before heading into the event. However, Stokes seems to have a good reason for missing the ceremony.

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