Update: 8/28/24, 12:23 p.m. ET — After reaching out to her fans for support, Kelsea Ballerini shared the sad news that her dog, Dibs, has been diagnosed with cancer.
“In the past few days, we learned that Dibs has inoperable cancer in his heart,” she posted on her Instagram Story on August 28. “He isn’t in pain, and thankfully, it hasn’t spread further.”
Ballerini mentioned that Dibs will start taking “big” medications to ensure he has as many comfortable and joyful days left as possible, expressing her gratitude for her veterinarians who have been “amazing.”
She added, “My mom is here (he loves his grandma), and Chase is the best dog dad ever. He’s receiving extra cuddles and treats from his little family.”
Ballerini described managing Dibs’ health as a “complex and emotional time,” reflecting on how Dibs has been her loyal companion for the past nine years, accompanying her throughout her journey.
She wrapped up her update by thanking fans for their prayers. “He’s wagging his tail right now, undoubtedly saying thank you as well,” she noted.
Original story:
Kelsea Ballerini is seeking support from her fans as her dog Dibs faces a challenging time.
“My sweet Dibs needs big prayers and healing energy sent his way,” the country star, 30, wrote in an Instagram Story on August 25, sharing a photo of her beloved pet. “Please send our boy some love.”
Although she didn’t provide details about Dibs’ condition, her heartfelt request resonated with fans.
Ballerini adopted Dibs in 2015, and he has been a constant presence on her Instagram, often appearing in photos featuring their walks and playful moments like swimming in the pool, as seen in a slideshow on August 20, where she captioned, “Some 🐂 for your Tuesday.”
Alongside her music career, many country stars are known for their love for their pets. For example, Taylor Swift, who celebrated her song “I Bet You Think About Me” at the April 2022 CMT Awards with a nomination for Video of the Year, is also a proud cat mom to three furry friends: Meredith […]
Dibs was featured in a celebratory Instagram post last month along with Chase Stokes’ dog, Milo. Ballerini, who has been dating Stokes since 2023, celebrated with a caption that read, “Happy 4th of July!!!! makes me wanna hot dog reallll badddd,” showcasing a festive poolside image.
Kelsea also manages Dibs’ own Instagram account. The last post, shared on January 15, showed Dibs playing in the snow, complete with a humorous caption: “Fact: only 1 out of every 2 snow bunnies has hops. also fact: I’m a model.”
The Grammy-winning artist adopted Dibs — named after her song from 2015 — during the early phase of her career. “Having grown up with dogs, I was on tour and feeling homesick for the first time. I really wanted a dog,” Ballerini shared in a 2020 Pedigree commercial.
She went on to say, “Dibs came into my life when I got my first tour bus. Dogs have a way of making any place feel like home, and for me, he’s always brought that sense of comfort.”
One year earlier, Ballerini opened up about Dibs’ initial hesitation toward her then-husband, Morgan Evans. “It took Dibs two years to be like, ‘Okay, I guess you’re here to stay.’ But now they’re the best of pals,” she mentioned during a 2019 interview with Country 97/1 HANK FM. “If Morgan is sitting on the floor, Dibs is right there in his lap. Honestly, I’m a little jealous because I wanted to be his favorite.”
The couple was married from 2017 to 2022. Ballerini has even referenced Dibs in her song “Penthouse,” featuring on her post-divorce EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat.
“I bought the house with a fence/ Enough room for some kids, a backyard for Dibs,” she sings. “And I thought that would make it all better / And maybe forever wouldn’t feel like the walls closing in / Because how does that even make sense? / Now that I think about it, it never did.”
