Nearly two years after debuting her romance with Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini gushed on including songs about the Outer Banks star on her new album Patterns.

Kelsea Ballerini wrote Chase Stokes a love song, but not because he asked for it.

Nearly two years after the country singer confirmed she was dating the Outer Banks actor, she shared that her new album, Patterns, released Oct. 25 includes a nod to the onset of their relationship.

“‘First Rodeo’ is the first love song I wrote for Chase,” Kelsea gushed on the Oct. 25 episode of Today. “Really, it’s essentially the first song where it’s kind of like, ‘Okay, I feel a little fragile, I feel a little scared to open myself up to the capacity that I want to, but I love love, and I really love you.’”

Indeed, the lyrics to Kelsea’s new track give a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of her blossoming love story with Chase.

“I fell off babe, but I found you,” Kelsea sings on the song. “Take my heart, but take it slow / ‘Cause this ain’t my first rodeo.’”

But that’s not the only song on her album inspired by their romance. As the singer shared at her listening party hosted by Spotify Oct. 24 in New York City, her track “How Much Do You Love Me?” serves as another heartwarming ballad.

“This song is the softest song on the album,” she shared during the event’s Q&A, “I remember writing it downstairs on guitar and Chase was like ‘What’s that?’ And I was like, ‘This is a love song.’”

And while Kelsea sings of having experience with romance—the country singer was married to Morgan Evans for six years before divorcing in 2022—she goes on to reveal that parts of her relationship with Chase were totally new. In “How Much Do You Love Me,” she notes the natural anxiety that comes with a maturing relationship.

“Do I sound needy and dramatic?” she sings in the song’s bridge. “I know that it’s love, but sue me, for asking how much.”

As Kelsea explained, this entire record stands out about the rest.

Getty Images for Spotify

“I would argue that this is the most love-filled record I’ve ever made,” she noted at her listening party. “I think the presence of love in every song is at the forefront.”

The tributes are certainly romantic, but it’s not the couple’s first rodeo in doing that, either. In fact, when it comes to praising his girlfriend, Chase doesn’t hold back. After all, his social media is full of glimpses into their relationship—and he doesn’t care if anyone has a problem with it.

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images

“Sometimes it feels like maybe it’s an oversharing situation, or maybe there’s a lot of details,” he told E! News in March of his posts with Kelsea. “But I truthfully believe that my personal life is really, really private.”

Meanwhile, Kelsea recently emphasized how good of a place she and Chase have reached in their romance.

“I’m happy,” Kelsea told E! News recently. “And everything is as it should be.”

Keep reading for a full timeline of Kelsea and Chase’s romance.

 —Reporting by Kisha Forde

(E! and Today are part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

December 2022: Shooting Her Shot

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.'”

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

December 2022: Shooting Her Shot

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

Instagram

January 2023: Romance Rumors

The two were photographed looking cozy at a football game.

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Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini

January 2023: First Date Nerves

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?”

February 2023: Instagram Cuteness

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

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

April 2023: Award Show PDA

The two showcased their love on the CMAs red carpet.

Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images

April 2023: Broadway Baby

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

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT

April 2023: Red Carpet Debut

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

Instagram

May 2023: Hometown Visit

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

Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Armani beauty

July 2023: PDA Alert

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

Instagram/Chase Stokes

July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise

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

Photo by Kristy Sparow/Variety via Getty Images

August 2023: Ciao Bella

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

August 2023: NYC Date Night

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.”

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV

September 2023: Red Hot

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

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV

September 2023: VMAs PDA

The two shared a kiss on the red carpet.

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: Couple’s Selfie

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

Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: Birthday Love

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.”

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

September 2023: All Smiles

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

Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

September 2023: A Black Tie Affair

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.

John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA

November 2023: Loving Like They Mean It

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

Leah Puttkammer/FilmMagic

November 2023: Sex Confession

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.”

Instagram / Chase Stokes

January 2024: Chase’s Anniversary Post

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

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Naughty Selfie

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

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Watching the Sunset

Kelsea shared this romantic pic on their first dating anniversary.

Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini

January 2024: Happy Anniversary

The two celebrated the anniversary of their first date.

Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix

September 2024: Red Carpet Date Night

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