Kelsea Ballerini Reveals What She Finds ‘Sexiest’ About New Boyfriend After Painful Divorce
When country-pop sensation Kelsea Ballerini walks into a room, she brings with her a blend of grace, Southern sparkle, and hard-earned confidence. At just 31, she’s already a multi-platinum-selling artist, Grammy nominee, and a voice for young women navigating love, heartbreak, and healing in the public eye.
But behind the platinum records and award show glitz is a woman who’s weathered real storms — most notably, a deeply emotional divorce from fellow country singer Morgan Evans. Now, two years after the heartbreak, Kelsea is letting love back in — and she’s not holding back about what makes her new relationship feel different.
In a recent candid interview, Kelsea opened up about the healing journey that followed her divorce, how she found love again, and, in her own words, what she finds “sexiest” about her new boyfriend.
It’s not his looks (though fans agree he’s easy on the eyes). It’s not his style (though he’s effortlessly cool). It’s something deeper, something that speaks to Kelsea’s own transformation: emotional intelligence.
The Heartbreak That Shaped Her
To understand the magnitude of Kelsea Ballerini’s current happiness, we first have to look back.
In 2020, Kelsea seemed to be living a fairytale. Married to Australian singer-songwriter Morgan Evans, she was riding high off the success of her album kelsea, which included hits like “homecoming queen?” and “the other girl.” But behind the scenes, things were unraveling.
By August 2022, the couple announced their divorce after nearly five years of marriage. It came as a shock to fans, but Kelsea later revealed that the relationship had been quietly struggling for some time.
“I didn’t want to admit that we were just coexisting, not really living,” she said in a 2023 Call Her Daddy podcast episode. “I kept trying to fix something that wasn’t fixable.”
The divorce was messy — not in a tabloid sense, but emotionally. Ballerini was transparent about the grief, confusion, and therapy that followed. Her 2023 EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat was a raw, unfiltered account of the heartbreak. Tracks like “Blindsided” and “Leave Me Again” painted a picture of a woman grappling with the pieces of a love story that didn’t end the way she planned.
The Quiet Rebuild: Finding Herself Again
Post-divorce, Kelsea didn’t rush into another relationship. Instead, she focused on rebuilding — her confidence, her mental health, and her sense of self.
“I had to ask myself who I was without him, without the marriage, without the mask,” she said in an Elle magazine interview. “And I had to like that person before I could even think about loving someone else again.”
Kelsea began doing things for her again — from spontaneous solo travel to late-night songwriting sessions and even rethinking her career on her own terms. She opened up more about therapy, meditation, and learning to embrace stillness.
And then, in the midst of her healing — as it often happens — love found her.
A Surprising New Chapter: Enter Chase Stokes
In early 2023, rumors began swirling about a possible romance between Kelsea and actor Chase Stokes, best known for his role as John B. in Netflix’s Outer Banks. The speculation turned into confirmation after both shared cozy photos and began appearing together more frequently in public.
Initially, fans were skeptical — was it a rebound? Was it real? But Kelsea made it clear: this wasn’t a fling. It was something different.
“He’s not just a pretty face,” she said, grinning. “There’s substance. There’s stillness. There’s safety.”
She described how their bond developed quietly, away from social media and prying eyes. “We started as friends. There was no pressure. We got to know each other’s brains before anything else.”
And then, she dropped the line that had the internet buzzing.
“The Sexiest Thing About Him Is His Emotional Intelligence”
In an interview with Glamour, Kelsea was asked what she found most attractive about Chase.
Without missing a beat, she replied:
“The sexiest thing about him is his emotional intelligence. Hands down.”
She elaborated:
“He listens — really listens. He doesn’t try to fix everything, he just holds space. After going through a relationship where I often felt unheard or like I was too much, to be with someone who can meet me emotionally? That’s a whole new level of intimacy.”
It’s a sentiment that resonated with many women — especially those who have come out of emotionally imbalanced relationships.
In a culture where “sexy” is so often equated with abs, money, or status, Kelsea’s statement felt revolutionary. Emotional intelligence — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others — is rarely celebrated in the mainstream as a “hot” quality. But for someone like Kelsea, who’s been through the emotional wringer, it means everything.
What Is Emotional Intelligence, Anyway?
Let’s take a moment to unpack what Kelsea is really praising here.
Psychologists define emotional intelligence (EQ) as a person’s ability to:
- Recognize their own emotions
- Understand the emotions of others
- Communicate feelings effectively
- Handle interpersonal relationships with empathy
It’s about presence — being tuned in, aware, and responsive without being reactive or controlling.
For many women, especially those in high-pressure careers or emotionally draining relationships, a partner with high EQ can feel like oxygen.
Dr. Lindsay Metzger, a Nashville-based therapist who works with couples and musicians, says, “When someone like Kelsea Ballerini says emotional intelligence is sexy, she’s speaking for a lot of women who are tired of doing all the emotional labor in a relationship.”
Rewriting the Love Story
In Kelsea’s case, Chase’s emotional intelligence didn’t just help her feel seen — it helped her trust again.
“He doesn’t make me feel like I need to earn love,” she shared. “There’s no performance. I don’t have to wear a brave face or have it all figured out. He sees me messy, vulnerable, unsure — and he doesn’t flinch.”
The couple has kept much of their relationship private, but the glimpses we’ve gotten show a natural chemistry and deep comfort. Whether it’s vacation selfies, low-key coffee runs, or hand-in-hand award show moments, they seem to be enjoying love on their own terms.
“He brings out the goofy side of me,” Kelsea said. “And he makes me feel safe enough to let it out.”
Love After Divorce: A Whole New Lens
Kelsea’s openness about finding love after divorce has inspired countless fans, many of whom are navigating similar life transitions.
“Divorce doesn’t make you broken,” she said in a heartfelt Instagram post. “It makes you brave. It means you were willing to choose yourself, even when it was hard.”
And now, with her new relationship, she’s showing that healing isn’t just possible — it can be beautiful.
“There’s this lie that after a failed marriage, your best romantic years are behind you,” she said. “I don’t believe that. I think we love better when we’ve been broken. We love wiser.”
What’s Next for Kelsea and Chase?
Though fans are eager to know what the future holds — engagement? Marriage? A duet? — Kelsea says they’re taking it slow and savoring the present.
“We’re not planning anything major. We’re just living,” she said. “There’s something really romantic about not rushing.”
Professionally, Kelsea is gearing up for another headlining tour and is reportedly working on a new album that explores themes of rebirth, boundaries, and yes — new love.
“There are definitely songs about Chase,” she said, smiling. “But they’re not fairy tales. They’re real. That’s what makes them romantic.”
Final Thoughts: A New Kind of Love Story
Kelsea Ballerini’s journey is more than a celebrity love story — it’s a blueprint for healing, rediscovery, and redefining what love looks like.
She’s not the same woman who walked down the aisle five years ago. She’s wiser now. Softer in some ways, sharper in others. And she’s using her platform not just to sell albums, but to normalize conversations around heartbreak, therapy, boundaries, and emotional maturity.
When she says that emotional intelligence is the sexiest thing about her boyfriend, she’s flipping the script on what we value in a partner. It’s not about flash. It’s not about fame. It’s about connection.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real fairytale.
