Chase Stokes Is ‘Overjoyed’ About Kelsea Ballerini’s ‘SNL’ Performance: ‘She’s the Best,’ she says

Chase Stokes is already “very, very proud of her” for landing the Saturday Night Live performance in March. During an interview with Extra during the opening of Outer Banks’ third season this week, Stokes, 30, opened out about his suspected girlfriend, 29, and her upcoming performance.

“She’s a fantastic human being,” Stokes remarked. “I admire her to the moon and back. This is a watershed moment for her. So I’m simply extremely proud of her.” Stokes expressed the same perspective in an extra interview with Entertainment Tonight during the premiere, adding that he considers Ballerini to be “the finest.”

“I’m very excited for her and what’s going on in her career right now,” he remarked. Since the beginning of January, when they attended a Georgia vs. TCU game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the two have been romantically linked.

The reported couple can be seen standing beside one other among other renowned faces in a group photo from the event released by Todd Graves. Just a few days later, on Jan. 13, Stokes appeared to “soft launch” his relationship with Ballerini by posting a selfie of them cuddling up at another football game with the comment “little review.”

Following Ballerini’s delicately addressed dating allegations on TikTok, the two were caught holding hands in Nashville and were observed engaged in some airport activities at LAX in the days that followed, according to TMZ photographs.

On February 8, Stokes briefly addressed his suspected romance, telling PEOPLE that the two “have just been spending some time together” and that “Kelsea is a great, lovely person.” Later that day, Ballerini posted a TikTok video of Stokes in her bed.

While the couple hasn’t formally acknowledged their relationship, one thing is certain: Ballerini’s SNL appearance in less than a month. The concert takes place on the same day that Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning tight end, will host the NBC show.

Kelce, 33, announced his new hosting role during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Growing up, I was a great [Chris] Farley, [Will] Ferrell, [Jimmy] Fallon fan, and I used to watch Saturday Night Live with my mother, and it’s an amazing honor and a joy to be hosting SNL March 4,” Kelce added.

“I am very terrified for that, oh my gosh,” he swiftly added. Ballerini announced her appearance on Instagram, where she also conveyed her own excitement. “It’s not 7 a.m., and I’m not on a mountain with a view, but I’m shouting, crying, and throwing up in my living room. See you on @nbcsnl on March 4th! “She penned a letter.