The news was confirmed by TMZ on Sunday. A source close to Ballerini told PEOPLE, “They’re two adults who gave it their all and tried everything to make it work, but ultimately couldn’t. It happens.”

The breakup seems especially sudden given that Stokes, star of the hit series Outer Banks, posted a carousel of photos celebrating Ballerini’s 32nd birthday only two days prior. The photos captured sweet moments from their time together, and Stokes wrote in the caption: “although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32, id say I’m lookin forward to more of this. happy birthday my love.”

Fans quickly flocked to the comments section of that post after news of the split broke, expressing confusion and seeking answers.

“How did they go from this to breaking up? News just broke,” wrote one follower. Another commented, “Guys I need answers. Who else is here looking for ANSWERS!?” A third added, “You posted this two days ago and People says you broke up today? I’m not following. Confused! Hoping it’s not true.”

Rumors of Stokes and the country singer’s relationship first began in January 2023, when Stokes posted a cozy picture of the two at a college football game. They made their official debut as a couple that April on the red carpet at the CMT Awards.

In a September 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Stokes opened up about how they maintained their connection despite busy schedules. He emphasized making time for each other, saying they tried to “never go more than three weeks” without seeing one another.

“If we need to make the effort to show up when one’s across the country, we do it,” he explained. “The amount of effort that we put into our careers, we should be doubling that in our personal lives.” He added, “It’s not always easy and it’s not always convenient, but having a big, beautiful life didn’t come from convenience or ease.”

Before dating Stokes, Ballerini was married to musician Morgan Evans. Reflecting on her past relationship and her time with Stokes, Ballerini noted how her perspective on love had evolved.

“I didn’t really have an example of what a solid relationship looked like in my developmental years. I learned the hard way,” she shared. “Now my version of love that I’ve found, it’s steady and it’s human, and we work on it. That, to me, honestly, is the sexiest thing—like, ‘Hey, you want to go to therapy? Let’s go to therapy.’ Being so down with your person to put in the work for each other and individually, it’s a very new kind of love for me.”