Kelsea Ballerini Admits Feeling 'Jealous' and 'Insecure' Over Ex's Ex

On November 14, 2025, country singer Kelsea Ballerini released her new EP Mount Pleasant, which has sparked speculation among fans about her personal life. In the track "Emerald City," Ballerini, 32, appears to reference her feelings of jealousy and insecurity over her ex-boyfriend Chase Stokes' past relationship with actress Madelyn Cline, 27.

Ballerini sings about feeling "green" with envy, admitting she "always liked the color of [her] eyes 'til [she] knew she had brown." She also expresses her discomfort with Cline's "around" reputation, hinting at the actress' star-studded dating history. Ballerini further laments, "If I got you, why does she still get me? / I hate to say it, but damn, she's pretty."

Fans have been quick to connect the dots, with many speculating that the song is about Ballerini's struggles with Stokes' continued friendship with Cline, his former Outer Banks co-star. The two actors dated from 2019 to 2020 but have maintained an amicable working relationship since their split.

Ballerini and Stokes briefly called it quits earlier this year but have since reconciled, with a source revealing they "never really stopped being in touch" and "worked through some of their 'issues.'" The insider added that Stokes "always felt there was something between them and believed they just needed time to cool off and figure things out."

Despite the apparent challenges, Ballerini has expressed that she doesn't feel "insecure" about Stokes' friendship with Cline, stating she finds the actress "lovely" and "wildly talented." However, the lyrics of "Emerald City" suggest the singer has grappled with feelings of jealousy and insecurity in the past.