American songwriter, singer, producer, and guitarist Chris Stapleton has had a long journey in the music industry. His work is considered a return to the pure art that country music once was: gritty, soulful, and blues-tinged storytelling in musical form...
...with as many foot-stomping songs as mournful tales of sorrow.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Stapleton would later move to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a degree in engineering. Instead of finishing his degree, he decided to drop out and focus on his true love — music. While Stapleton is known today for his own hit albums, he began as a contracted songwriter. Even after achieving fame as a musician in his own right, his way with words keeps top talent asking for him by name By 2018, Stapleton had written and co-written over 170 songs, including numerous number-one country hits.
Songs attributed to Stapleton’s genius writing skills include Kenny Chesney’s number-one “Never Wanted Nothing More,” Luke Bryan’s “Drink a Beer,” and Josh Turner’s “Your Man.” In addition to working with many of the top names in the country music industry, Stapleton has also written songs for Adele, Taylor Swift, and Kelly Clarkson.
Before taking center stage as a solo artist, Chris Stapleton was the frontman for two different bands. His first band was a bluegrass ensemble called The SteelDrivers, which he performed with from 2008 to 2010. The band won numerous accolades, including Emerging Artist of the Year from the International Bluegrass Music Association and Best Bluegrass Album. Stapleton went on to lead a second band, The Jompson Brothers, before recording his own solo record.
In 2015, Chris Stapleton broke onto the scene with his debut solo studio album Traveller. This album topped the US Billboard 200 charts and earned a number of CMA nominations. With the release of this album, Chris also earned Best Male Vocalist, New Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year.
Next, Chris would go on to release two more studio albums in 2017: From a Room: Volume 1 and Volume 2. These albums would earn him a slew of additional awards, including his second CMA Award for Album of the Year.
Immediately after this dual release, Stapleton began his All-American Road Show tour. Then, in August 2020, he released his most recent award-winning album Starting Over. This album features the soulful and haunting country-meets-folk music for which the artist is known.
In 2021, Stapleton won Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Starting Over” at the Country Music Awards. He also won album of the year for Starting Over, as well as additional awards for his work as a producer on the album. In 2022, he took home three awards at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, earning an award for every category in which he was nominated. He also performed at the event, showcasing his incredible on-stage presence.
For those lucky enough to catch one of Stapleton’s tour dates, the artist delivers a memorable experience. Stapleton’s wife Morgane often accompanies him onstage, adding beautiful, harmonious vocals to his soulful sets. It’s not just Stapleton’s musical talent that draws fans to his shows; it’s the sense of community he creates. The southern-born and raised artist is known for personally checking in on his fans, even going as far as offering water to those dancing along to his tunes.
Stapleton continues to tour in 2023, with shows spanning the US, including tour dates in Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arizona.
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