Chris Stapleton
The Grammy-winning songwriter and former SteelDriver who topped charts with Traveller and From A Room: Volume 1.
Christopher Alvin Stapleton is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born on April 15, 1978, in Lexington, Kentucky. After moving to Nashville in 2001 to work at a publishing company and briefly attending Vanderbilt University studying pre-med, he dropped out to pursue music, signing with Sea Gayle Music shortly after. Before emerging as a solo act, he served as the vocalist for the bluegrass ensemble the SteelDrivers and the rock band the Jompson Brothers. His debut solo album, Traveller (2015), peaked atop the US Billboard 200 and received 4x Platinum certification by the RIAA.
- Role
- Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist
- Affiliation
- Mercury Nashville / Sea Gayle Music
- First Major Collaboration
- SteelDrivers (Bluegrass) and Jompson Brothers (Rock)
- Status
- Active
- Signature Style
- Country, Bluegrass, Southern Rock
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Stapleton's path to stardom began in the songwriting trenches of Nashville, where he penned six number-one singles on the Hot Country Songs chart for artists like Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, George Strait, and Luke Bryan. He also co-wrote the song 'Tell Me When It's Over' with Sheryl Crow on her album. His solo breakthrough came in 2015 when Traveller was recorded at RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb. The title track was composed during a road trip to New Mexico in a 1979 Jeep his wife Morgane bought him. That year, he performed a career-defining duet of 'Tennessee Whiskey' with Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards, and at the same ceremony he won Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and New Artist of the Year. His cover of 'Tennessee Whiskey' later achieved diamond certification.
In Their Own Story
In January 2016, Stapleton appeared on Saturday Night Live with host Adam Driver, performing "Parachute" and "Nobody to Blame." By May 5, 2017, he released From A Room: Volume 1, named after the studio where it was recorded during the winter of 2016–17. The album earned him a second CMA Award for Album of the Year and became the best-selling country album of 2017. His follow-up, From A Room: Volume 2, arrived on December 1, 2017, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 alongside its predecessor. In March 2018, his song "Broken Halos" from Volume 1 reached the top of the Country Airplay chart and won Song and Single of the Year at the 52nd CMAs. Later, on August 28, 2020, he released the single "Starting Over," which served as the lead for his fourth studio album of the same name.
Reader's Guide
Stapleton's accolades include 11 Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, and 15 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. In September 2019, he was named the ACM's Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. His third Grammy for Best Country Album came with Starting Over in 2020. He also collaborated with Jake Owen on "If He Ain't Gonna Love You" and contributed to Justin Timberlake's Man of the Woods album in 2018, co-writing three songs including "Say Something," which reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him number 170 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Did You Know?
- Stapleton graduated as class valedictorian from Johnson Central High School in Paintsville, Kentucky.
- He played football against future NFL draft number one pick Tim Couch three times in high school.
- His wife Morgane helped him sift through 15 years of songs to select the nine tracks for his debut album, Traveller.
- He performed a Tiny Desk Concert with his wife in November 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chris Stapleton?
Chris Stapleton is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Lexington, Kentucky, who rose to fame after his 2015 debut album Traveller topped the charts. Before launching his solo career, he gained experience as a vocalist for the bluegrass group the SteelDrivers and the rock band the Jompson Brothers.
What is Chris Stapleton's musical role?
He serves primarily as a singer-songwriter and guitarist known for blending country, bluegrass, and southern rock styles. His songwriting prowess earned him Grammy awards before he became a solo recording artist signed to Mercury Nashville.
How did Chris Stapleton start his career?
After moving to Nashville in 1996 to study engineering at Vanderbilt University, he dropped out to pursue music full-time and soon joined the publishing house Sea Gayle Music. He initially built his reputation performing with other bands before releasing his own platinum-certified solo work.
Why is Chris Stapleton important to Luke Combs?
As a respected peer in the industry, Stapleton represents the authentic blend of traditional country and rock that aligns closely with Luke Combs' own musical values. Their shared background in songwriting and live performance makes their collaborations highly anticipated by fans.
What are Chris Stapleton's biggest achievements?
His debut solo album Traveller reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and achieved septuple platinum certification from the RIAA. He continued this success with his second major release, From A Room: Volume 1, solidifying his status as a modern country icon.
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