ABC/Image Group LAChris Stapleton may well go down in country music history as the biggest surprise of 2015.
When Traveller, the first solo alubm effort by the former lead singer of The Steeldrivers debuted in May, it made a respectable showing on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number 14. Still, with no radio hit to boost its sales, even with his three long-shot CMA nominations, Traveller had fallen off the chart by fall.
Though the singer-songwriter had already penned five number-ones for other artists and long been a critical favorite in Nashville’s music community, it was only days before the CMA Awards that the serious buzz started. Stapleton announced on ABC’s Good Morning America that he’d be joined by none other than pop heavyweight Justin Timberlake on the 49th annual show. Both Justin and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, are fans, so it was as simple as making a phone call for Chris to book Timberlake for Country Music’s Biggest Night.
On November 4, the duo delivered a show-stopping CMA performance of Stapleton’s interpretation of the George Jones’ classic, “Tennessee Whiskey,” combined with JT’s “Drink You Away.” While that alone may’ve been enough to give Chris a career-making boost, the improbable also happened — Stapleton beat out more established artists who’ve sold more records and had more hits, winning every category in which he was nominated. He goes down in history as the only person ever to take home the New Artist, Male Vocalist and Album trophies all in the same night.
Then the roller coaster ride started. Traveller shot to number on both the all-genre Billboard album chart and the county ranking, selling more copies in one week than it had since its spring release. All of Stapleton’s dates immediately sold out, and major television shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon came calling. CMT gave him its Breakout Award during the Artists of the Year special, and he sang alongside legends Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson during AMC’s Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert.
By the time the Grammy nominations were out in early December, Stapleton was up for even more trophies than he won at the CMAs — the all-genre Album of the Year, Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album. He’ll find out if he wins February 15, just days before he performs two sold-out shows at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Chris will cap of his banner year playing Music City’s Bash on Broadway with rock stars Kings of Leon and Kelsea Ballerini.
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