Pure raw talent. Chris Stapleton is a fountain of country blues gold. He’s a no-gimmicks singer-songwriter that lets his music speak for itself. In 2001, Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and was signed to a publishing company solely to be a songwriter. A lot of popular country songs have been written by Stapleton: “Your Man” by Josh Turner, “Drink a Beer” by Luke Bryan, and Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More.” Stapleton’s individual success began in 2015 with the release of his debut album, Traveller, for which he earned two Grammys and five Country Music Association Awards. He has since released four albums, From a Room Vol. 1 & 2, in 2017, Starting Over, in 2020, and Higher, in 2023.  

Last year, Stapleton was invited to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at the LVII Super Bowl. He tackled it alone with his guitar and delivered one of the best renditions of the National Anthem ever, putting himself alongside Whitney Houston’s performance in 1991. His guitar was his twangy sidekick as his gruff voice poured honey over the lyrics and his inflection changes were powerful enough to make the head coach of the Eagles, Nick Sirianni, cry.  

My first introduction to Chris Stapleton came last year when my dad, a big fan of the Traveller singer, took me to Stapleton’s concert in Gilford, NH. Knowing very little about his music, I decided to listen to some of his most popular songs before attending so I wouldn’t seem entirely like an uninformed goose. Of course, I found his famous cover of “Tennessee Whiskey,” then his songs “Broken Halos,” “You Should Probably Leave,” “Starting Over,” “Fire Away,” and “Millionaire.” I was immediately hooked.  

At the concert, talented country folk husband and wife duo, The War and Treaty, opened for Stapleton. When Stapleton’s set began, he was joined by his band and his wife Morgane. She does Stapleton’s backup vocals and is also a songwriter. The pair of them operate a no-nonsense concert. I remember that a couple of rows in front of me, on the opposite side of the crowd, there was some rowdy behavior for which Morgane called out on stage and gave them a proper mama-bird-type scolding.  

Chris Stapleton commands attention when he begins to sing. The crowd swells with a good time while singing along, knowing every word. Stapleton said in an interview with NBC’s Today, “It’s a really humbling and addictive experience.” Since attending that concert, I have listened to all his albums, and he is now one of my favorite artists. When he sang “Maggie’s Song,” written about his dog that died, I started to tear up, his moving vocals and lyrics reminded me of my own first dog.  

“Outlaw State of Mind” off Traveller, is a twangy bouncing romp that contemplates a lawless, cowboy-like lifestyle. It makes references to his road trip after his father’s death, temptation, and being “higher than a Georgia pine.”  

“Nobody to Blame” also from Traveller, tells the story of a stereotypical country song come to life. The man in the song takes his wife for granted, and in return, she pulls a “Carrie Underwood” and destroys his prized possessions. Stapleton’s textured voice gives this song soul power. It’s a head-bobbing tune, and one can almost see a tumbleweed rolling past as the tambourine shakes on.  

The sixth song on Starting Over, “Joy of My Life”, is rustic and sweet. This song was originally written by John Fogerty in 1997 for his album Blue Moon Swamp. Fogerty’s version, while twangy as ever, lacks the raw, powerful vocals that Stapleton introduces to everything he touches. Joy of My Life is brighter, a casual toe-tapping ballad that feels like a hug. This is a simple song, done very well by Stapleton. 

Those being just a few of his many hits, Chris Stapleton has a wealth of talent. There’s a sort of indescribable quality about him that feels different from other artists I have known. The way he uses his guitar in a way that sings its own melody, drums that make it impossible not to dance, and his deep and rich vocals in a way that moves you every single time. He can belt and sing softly, and he never misses. Stapleton is a unique storyteller, putting meanings of love, self-doubt, temptation, and the struggles of just being human into his lyrics.  

Some others of my favorite songs of his that weren’t previously mentioned are: “Nashville, TN”, “Cold”, “More of You”, “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice”, “Old Friends”, “Parachute”, “Sometimes I Cry”, “Scarecrow in the Garden”, “A Simple Song”, “Them Stems”, and “Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore.”