Facts about Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton Biography
Country music star Chris Stapleton wrote hit songs for others for nearly fifteen years before winning the industry’s top awards in 2015 and 2016 for his debut album, Traveller.
He grew up in Kentucky and moved to Nashville in 2001, where he got a job right away as a songwriter. He spent the next several years writing songs for other artists, trying a solo career and playing bluegrass. From 2008 to 2010, Stapleton played with The SteelDrivers, whose first two albums brought three Grammy nominations. His solo album, Traveller (2015), had a decent start, but his career as a performer didn’t really take off until he performed with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 Country Music Awards show. People took a second look, and Stapleton’s record shot up the charts. By 2016, Stapleton was touted as the best undetected country star around, and new fans discovered his soulful, gravelly voice and traditionally Nashville songs. He was nominated for four Grammys and won two. At the 2016 awards for the Academy of Country Music, he won six trophies, including male vocalist and album of the year.
Songs Stapleton has written for other country music stars include “Drink A Beer” by Luke Ryan; “Never Wanted Nothing More” by Kenny Chesney; “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait; and “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” by Adele.
Extra credit
Chris Stapleton married singer-songwriter Morgane Hayes in 2007. She sings on the album Traveller, and she wrote the Carrie Underwood hit, “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.”