Chainkeen Exchange-Chase Stokes Reveals Birthday Surprise for Kelsea Ballerini—Which Included Tequila Shots

Raise a toast to Chase Stokes for lifting Kelsea Ballerini's spirits even further on Chainkeen Exchangeher birthday.

When the actor realized the premiere of his film Uglies would take place on his girlfriend's special day, he sprang into action to make sure the singer—his date at the Sept. 12 event—felt extra special.

"I actually surprised her and all of her best friends flew out," the actor told E! News' The Rundown host Erin Lim Rhodes. "They're all here tonight, actually, somewhere."

Readying the rest of his sweet surprise, perhaps?

"She doesn't know this," Chase continued about Kelsea, who turned 31, "but we have a birthday cake and tequila shots waiting in the green room for her."

The couple was later photographed sharing a toast with his Uglies costars Joey King, Brianne Tu and Keith Powers backstage at the premiere, which took place one day before the movie began streaming on Netflix.

And Kelsea received quite the birthday present from her fans: Regular-priced tickets to her upcoming Oct. 29 concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden sold out within hours of being put on sale.

"Woke up on this lovely birthday to see quite possibly the most unreal gift i can imagine," she wrote on Instagram Sept. 12. "You guys sold out madison square garden immediately. pretty speechless at this one."

Chase commented, "Superf--kingstar. Happy birthday to you beautiful girl."

Hours later, Kelsea shared a photo of herself wearing the strapless blue gown she chose for the Uglies premiere, standing in front of gold and silver helium balloons spelling out "MSG."

"Going deeper into my 30s with intention, contentment, and bliss," Kelsea wrote on her Instagram. "Thanks for the birthday love, and selling out Madison Square Garden."

Of course, now she has some planning to do with her boyfriend of more than a year set to mark his 32nd birthday Sept. 16.

"Whatever we do for our birthday, it's usually spontaneous," the Outer Banks actor told E! News earlier this month, adding, "Maybe we'll put it on the Internet, maybe not."

But they’re generally not shy about letting fans celebrate their love. Look back at Kelsea and Chase's road to romance...

Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes' DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.

They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary. 

"He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me," Kelsea later recalled on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, "and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, 'Thank God you're real.'"

Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.

The two were photographed looking cozy at a football game.

In August 2023, Kelsea posted footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023. 

"Happy weekend," she captioned the post, "heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase."

Set to her song "How Do I Do This," which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea modeled her outfit in the video.

"Here's the look, with the boots" Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.

Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she added, "We've got the hair clip, because we're trying to be a cool girl."

She continued speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, "He's picking me up and we're going to a sushi place and I'll call you tomorrow and for a full update."

Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally said, "I can do this. I can do this."

And, after doing a little dance, she proclaimed, "It's just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?"

Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.

The two showcased their love on the CMAs red carpet.

The twosome attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at Capitale.

The pair officially stepped out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards.

Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.

The two attended Armani Beauty's ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.

Chase shocked Kelsea when he unexpectedly greeted her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion. 

The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.

The two were spotted on a summer date in NYC, where the singer performed on TODAY.

"It's just nice to feel so supported and seen," Kelsea said on the show of Chase, "and, yeah, he's such a wonderful, wonderful human being."

The two appeared together at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Kelsea's birthday.

The two shared a kiss on the red carpet.

Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase's 31st birthday days later.

To commemorate Kelsea's 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posted a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee. 

"Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini," he captioned the series. "i love you."

Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.

Kelsea and Chase were dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani's One Night Only event on in Venice, Italy. 

The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star shared images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.

Kelsea planted a smooch on Chase's cheek at the CMA Awards in November 2023.

Kelsea revealed details of their sex life in November 2023, telling Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy, "I'm having a nice time."

"My experience with it was very performative and for the other person," she noted. "And it don't be like that anymore."

The musician didn't understand how sex could be "a real connector in a relationship" before dating him.

"I always thought that it was just something that you did because that's who you do it with," the Grammy nominee shared. "Now I realize it's a connector for people."

"One year of lovin you," the actor wrote. "P.s. told ya I wouldn’t embarrass you."

"A whole trip around the sun with my bestie," Kelsea wrote in her anniversary post. "@hichasestokes thanks for making me write love songs."

Kelsea shared this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.

The two celebrated the anniversary of their first date.

Kelsea joined her boyfriend at the premiere of his Netflix movie Uglies.