Chase Stokes Reveals When He Got His 2024 Met Gala Invite — Spoiler Kelsea Ballerini Was There! (Exclusive)  

Scoring an exclusive invite to the Met Gala is a rite of passage for many stars. The Super Bowl of style hosts the hottest celebrities from across all industries, and many spend months planning what they will wear for their moment in the spotlight on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's iconic steps.

When actor Chase Stokes found out he was going to be on this year's exclusive guest list, he was on a wholesome date with his girlfriend, country star Kelsea Ballerini.

“This is actually a crazy story,” the Outer Banks star, 31, tells PEOPLE exclusively ahead of his big debut at the 2024 Met Gala on May 6. 

“I had just flown from Morocco to Atlanta to do re-shoots for a movie with Netflix. It was a 26-hour travel day. I worked all day and then I had the next morning to do something. I was on the way to the aquarium with my girlfriend and we got the call. I was like, ‘Oh my God, we're going to the Met.’” 

He adds that receiving the news was a “very wild moment, but nonetheless, one that I will never, ever forget.” 

Speaking of the “Heartfirst” singer, Stokes says he and Ballerini, who confirmed her Met Gala debut on Instagram Monday morning, have “f---king awesome looks” that are “very individual,” represent both their personalities and overall mesh well together. “I think what we like to do is just complement versus coordinate,” he says. 

As for his look, Stokes can’t say too much before the red carpet reveal, which he’s doing in partnership with Motorola and its Flip the Script campaign.

However, he does tell PEOPLE that he will be wearing Michael Kors. “We had our final fitting last night. We hung out with Michael for a little while,” Stokes says of spending time with the legendary designer.

This year’s Met Gala dress code is “The Garden of Time” while the theme is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” 

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Stokes admits that he’s a tad “nervous” about the night ahead, but he’s keeping an open mind going in. “It's one of those events where you just got to let the night take it and run with it. There's just this inevitability to it. I'm staying open and trying to see where it's going to go.”

For the rest of the day, Stokes is making sure he has a “good vibe” going on. He's prepping with “style tips, good music, good people and good experiences” — and lots of SZA’s songs on his getting-ready playlist. (P.S. Stokes says if ever runs into the “Snooze” singer, he promises he’ll have a major fan moment. “If I pass out and you hear that, just know, that's real.")