Kelsea Ballerini is making waves again, this time with a heartwarming new music video for her song “First Rodeo,” which features her real-life boyfriend, Chase Stokes. The video, released on Oct. 16, precedes her upcoming album Patterns, set to drop on Oct. 25.
The visual journey opens with Ballerini lying on the beach in a pale pink satin dress, gazing toward the ocean as she sings the first verse, reflecting on rediscovering love after hardship. The country star, 31, explained the meaning behind the song in a statement to PEOPLE, touching on the struggles of healing post-breakup. Ballerini filed for divorce from fellow country singer Morgan Evans in 2022 after nearly five years of marriage.
“After a public breakup, you can feel like you’ve lost your way when it comes to love,” Ballerini said. “But choosing love again, asking for patience and vulnerability, is powerful. ‘First Rodeo’ represents that inner conversation and the hope of opening yourself up once more.”
As Ballerini sings the chorus, she runs into Stokes’ arms in a touching embrace. Scenes of their connection are intertwined with visuals of Ballerini riding a carousel and walking along the beach, all while delivering poignant lyrics like, “Take my heart, but take it slow / ’Cause this ain’t my first rodeo.”
The video ends with a powerful image of Ballerini running on a boardwalk, riding a boat, and later sipping a martini while watching a rodeo on a large screen.
“The visuals are meant to evoke the emotions, duality, and landscape of this record,” Ballerini added. “It’s personal, but it’s also a shared experience, where the meaning becomes unique to each viewer.”
Chase Stokes, 32, has been romantically linked to Ballerini since early 2023, and his presence in the video adds a personal touch to the narrative of love, loss, and new beginnings.
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