Kelsea Ballerini Gives Peek into Chase Stokes Romance with Emotional Lyrics: 'You’ll Never Know How Much I Needed You'

Kelsea Ballerini is giving thanks with her “Heartfirst.” 

On Thanksgiving the country crooner, 30, posted an Instagram carousel of meaningful moments alongside a wholesome caption.

“I’ve got a heart with gratitude that is spilling over this year,” Ballerini began. Her post greeted followers with a radiant first slide, a photo of the singer herself looking romantic in a red dress with matching lipstick.

The following picture featured a shadow silhouette of her and her boyfriend, Outer Banks star Chase Stokes.

The Tennessee native’s Instagram upload also included footage of a crowd waving their hands, cheering and singing along as she performed her song “Yeah Boy.”

Another video sees Ballerini and her pals celebrate her birthday poolside, holding up with number-shaped balloons for three and zero.

Ballerini’s caption continued, “Sending yummy love and light your way. happy thanksgiving friends.”

For her final slide, the Grammy nominee teased a moving new love song seemingly inspired by Stokes, 31, whom she started dating after her divorce from Morgan Evans in 2022. 

Backed by a guitar, Ballerini can be heard singing, “To the man that loved this woman after heartbreak, thanks for all you didn’t have to do/When I met you I was jaded, sad and complicated/You’ll never know how much I needed you.”

In the comments, Stokes wrote a simple but heartfelt reply: “Thankful for you ❤️."

Since confirming their romance in early 2023, both Ballerini and Stokes have been open about their love for each other, which was sparked when the songwriter slid into Stokes’ Instagram DMs to introduce herself.

At this year’s CFDA Fashion Awards, the actor told PEOPLE what it was like to see his girlfriend perform in her native Knoxville, Tennessee on her Heartfirst Tour. 

“For her to go back to her hometown and to sell out an arena, like that stage — it was the coolest thing. I cried the whole time,” he said.

Recently, Ballerini posted a TikTok montage clipping together their cutest couple moments, from silly selfies to sweet kisses.

Her single “How Do I Do This” soundtracks the look-back at their relationship, which she captioned, “Favorite human 🫠 🤍 .”