Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes make red carpet debut at 2023 CMT Music Awards
Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes appeared together at the 2023 CMT Music Awards Sunday night.
The couple's red carpet debut comes after the "Heartfirst" singer confirmed her romance with the "Outer Banks" actor earlier this year.
Speaking to red carpet host Cody Alan during her arrival at the awards show, Ballerini, 29, said, "I have a really hot date tonight."
"I'm really, really happy … this is our first outing, so I'm like, 'Come on into my world and then bring me into Charleston [where "Outer Banks" films] and I'll be in yours, it'll be fun,'" she continued.
Opening up about where she is at in her life, Ballerini added, "I feel really good, I am happy to be here and the show is amazing and I love being able to be part of it and I'm happy."
During her appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast in February, Ballerini revealed she and Stokes, 30, began dating in December.
Ballerini said she "slid into [Stokes'] DMs" on Instagram initially, adding that she was having "fun" and "just vibing."
"I've never seen his show, but I just knew of him, and I just swan dove right on in," she said at the time.
Last month, the couple stepped out for a date night in New York City, where they watched the New York Rangers face off against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden.
Ballerini was previously married to fellow country singer Morgan Evans for nearly five years. The couple announced they were divorcing in August 2022, and the divorce was finalized in November that year.
Ballerini released a six-song EP titled "Rolling Up the Welcome Mat" in February in which she recounts her side of the story in the split. Evans shared his side of the break-up in a song titled "Over for You" which was released in October 2022.
The Australian singer also dropped a five-part docuseries about the making of "Over for You" in March.
