Kelsea Ballerini Mourns Loss Of Beloved Dog After Cancer Battle

Kelsea Ballerini is mourning the loss of her beloved dog, Dibs, who “went to doggy heaven” on Wednesday (January 7) after a battle with cancer that lasted more than a year.

Ballerini, 32, shared memories with Dibs, named after her 2015 hit single, on Instagram on Thursday evening (January 8). She wrote in her caption that “my sweet Dibs went to doggy heaven yesterday. He spent his last few days in his backyard looking at the sunshine and surrounded and visited by his forever people. There are no words to articulate his role in my life, but I couldn’t have done the last ten years without him, and he will always be my soul dog…and I pray and believe we’ll find each other in every life. His love and reach can’t be captured in an Instagram photo dump, or in a caption, but here’s a look at some happy from Dibs. Thank you for loving him so loudly with me. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world that I got to be his dog mom, greatest gift of my life.”

The country star said she’s “going to share every good ounce of Dibby’s existence” on an Instagram account — @adognameddibs —dedicated to her dog. A post on the account on Thursday evening reads: “I’m cancer free now, and my last days were so happy. My mom and my aunts and dad and grandma are going to show you a lot of my life on this page because I have so many pictures and videos that we all wanna share. Also, love you and thank you.”

Ballerini opened up about Dibs’ cancer diagnosis — “inoperable cancer in his heart” — for the first time in August 2024. She said at that time that he was “not in pain, and luckily it hasn’t spread further. …It’s a complex and emotional time. He’s been my baby and my steady for the last 9 years and very much alongside this whole journey with us all.” Months later, in December 2024, Ballerini responded to a few questions on her Instagram story. One Instagram user asked for an update on Dibs, and the singer-songwriter replied that “his original prognosis was 4 months. That was 4 months ago, but he’s still steady and happy, so every day is a gift and I’m a little extra grateful we get the holidays together this year. 🤍” Ballerini shared a photo with Dibs on her Instagram story on New Year's Eve, and wrote, “they gave him a four months prognosis August 2024. And he's bringing in 2026 with me tonight. My greatest gift, my little ride or die forever.”

Ballerini has since shared some health updates, including last month, when she was getting ready to leave for a run of shows in Australia. Ballerini said “baby boy is hanging tough. …he’s steady, he’s still fighting the cancer, and has incredible doctors and care (and grandma who is going to give him extra treats while I’m gone). All of the good, healing energy you can send his way is appreciated, as always.”

“You’re my best friend forever and I’m so grateful we get to celebrate double digits of life together,” Ballerini wrote in a birthday tribute when Dibs turned 10 years old in June 2025. “You’re kicking cancer’s a** 🤍😭” She added: “the biggest thank you to everyone who has been keeping Dibby in your prayers and sending him well wishes. He loves you and we’re so grateful. 🤍”