Country music star Kelsea Ballerini and Bravo's "Southern Charm" personality Craig Conover are not dating, despite recent social media speculation that went viral.
Sources with direct knowledge of the situation have confirmed to TMZ that there is "absolutely no truth" to claims circulating online that the two celebrities are romantically involved. The rumor appears to have originated from an Instagram post that claimed with "good authority" that Ballerini and Conover were an item.
"The viral claim sparked confusion fast, especially as old clips of the two began circulating again," according to the report.
The renewed interest appears to stem from a resurfaced clip from 2014, when a young Ballerini made a brief appearance on "Southern Charm" during its second season. In the scene, she participated in a charity auction that involved bidding on a date with Conover—a moment she has since joked still "haunts" her.
Ballerini has previously explained that she didn't even know she was being filmed at the time, as she was on a Radio Tour performing at an event on a boat when producers worked her into the scene. The date with Conover was ultimately auctioned off and won by a fan, not Ballerini herself.
Both celebrities have notable relationship histories in the public eye. Ballerini previously dated "Outer Banks" star Chase Stokes starting in 2023, while Conover was previously linked to his former co-star Paige DeSorbo.
Representatives for both parties have been contacted for comment, but no official statements have been released at this time.