In March 2026, tattoo artist Daniel Winter, known as Winterstone, shared a new tattoo across Chase Stokes’s upper back: “They will judge us by our fruit.” Winterstone said Stokes wanted a phrase that could serve as a personal reminder.

The timing drew attention because Stokes had recently split from Kelsea Ballerini, but the tattoo should not be treated as a message to her. Its words are broader, pointing to character and the results of a person’s actions.

Other documented pieces include “Dear me” on his hand, a small bird, a matchstick, a rose and a heart-and-arrow design. Some appear in older photos without a public explanation, so the guide distinguishes what is known from what is only visible.

The new upper-back tattoo quotes scripture

The new design is a line of fine script high across Stokes’s back, just below the neck. It reads “They will judge us by our fruit.” The narrow lettering gives the phrase room to stretch across the skin without becoming a heavy block.

The wording echoes the biblical idea that a person’s character can be judged by the results of their actions. Stokes’s phrasing is slightly different from the familiar wording, but the central idea is similar.

The line can have a spiritual meaning, or work as a reminder to focus on what one’s choices produce. Winterstone’s comments described it as a “moving forward” tattoo. Although it appeared after Stokes and Ballerini ended their relationship, neither the artist nor Stokes said it was aimed at her.

The upper back is easy to cover and visible in an open shirt or shirtless photo. It can stay personal until Stokes chooses to show it.

Winterstone shared the work and is credited as the tattoo artist. His photos established the wording and placement before entertainment coverage repeated the details. The artist’s credit does not, by itself, establish every reason Stokes chose the phrase.

Chase Stokes’s Dear Me hand tattoo

The new back piece joins one of Stokes’s most openly explained tattoos: “Dear me” on his hand. He has described it as a reminder to be kinder to himself and quiet his inner critic. It reads like a short note addressed to the person wearing it.

Stokes has discussed the hand tattoo in connection with imposter syndrome and being too hard on himself. The phrase is for his own everyday use, rather than a slogan aimed at fans.

The two tattoos work in different directions. “Dear me” turns inward and encourages self-kindness; “They will judge us by our fruit” looks outward to actions and their results. For another example of personal phrases in ink, see our Bobby Green tattoo guide.

The bird tattoo and his smaller pieces

A small bird tattoo is visible on Stokes’s shoulder or upper arm in older editorial photos, including a VMAN portrait. The image does not show enough detail to identify the species or its meaning.

Other photographs show smaller tattoos on his arms and hands. A matchstick, a rose and a “Mom” heart-and-arrow design are also visible. Stokes has not publicly explained each piece.

The available images do not add up to a complete catalogue. “Dear me” has a public explanation, and Winterstone identified the new scripture tattoo. The bird and other small designs can be described by appearance, but their stories should remain open unless Stokes shares more.

What the tattoo says about his approach to ink

Stokes has said that tattoos should carry specific meaning for the person wearing them. The designs he has discussed fit that view: short phrases tied to self-talk, belief and personal reminders.

The new back tattoo is not a name or date tying it to one moment. Its message can continue to matter through different jobs, relationships and stages of life. The timing after his split with Ballerini was noted in coverage, but it does not establish that the words were about her.

That leaves room for the tattoo to mean something different to Stokes over time, while its central idea remains the same: pay attention to what your actions produce.

What is confirmed and what is still unclear

The clearest details are the back tattoo’s wording, placement and artist credit, and Stokes’s explanation of “Dear me.” Older photos show a bird and other small designs, but no complete official tattoo count has been established.

The breakup connection should be treated as context from the timing and media coverage, not a direct statement from Stokes. The scripture phrasing is clear, but the exact Bible translation or verse number has not been confirmed.

It is possible to describe what the photos show without claiming to know more than the sources do.

Chase Stokes tattoo checklist

• Upper back: “They will judge us by our fruit,” fine-line script credited to Daniel Winter, or Winterstone.
• Hand: “Dear me,” a self-kindness reminder Stokes has discussed in relation to self-criticism and imposter syndrome.
• Shoulder or upper arm: a small bird visible in older editorial photos.
• Other small pieces: a matchstick, rose and “Mom” heart-and-arrow design appear in photos, but the meanings are not fully documented.
• Public total: no complete official count has been confirmed.

Stokes’s tattoos are easy to describe and harder to reduce to one explanation. The new back phrase is about actions and character; “Dear me” is about how he talks to himself. Other marks add visual detail without needing invented meanings. His best-known tattoos read like reminders, not announcements.

Watch the new tattoo reveal

This E! News video covers Stokes’s upper-back tattoo and the context around its March 2026 reveal.