After the CMAs, that statement seems especially amusing. “Country radio, thanks for having the guts to play it and for all the gatekeepers for not getting in the way of following our gut and our heart (sic), because the fans want to hear it. They want to hear it”.
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Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton teamed up for an epic performance at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards. He snapped Blake Shelton’s five-year male vocalist winning streak.
Foursome Little Big Town picked up half of their six nominations, including their fourth win for Vocal Group of the Year.
So how did he do it?
Married to singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton, Chris lives with his wife and two sons in Nashville and enjoys a net worth of $1 million. They lost music video of the year to Maddie & Tae’s “Girl in a Country Song” and musical event of the year to Church and Urban.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say”.
Earlier this decade, Stapleton was a Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist with his band The Steel Drivers before he went solo.
“Though the cause of death was not made available to the press, singles in his album entitled “Whiskey and You”, Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore”, and Tennessee Whiskey”, all mad hints on the issues Stapleton and his father faced, prior and post-death. And clearly there were plenty of artists, and CMA voters, who felt his recognition was overdue. The country newcomer – who released his debut solo LP Traveller in May – received an overwhelming amount of support via social media, and massive applause after his downright incredible performance with Justin Timberlake. “I’m going to go home and practice”.
Chris Stapleton has written songs for so many folks in Nashville that it shouldn’t be surprising that most of the CMA members voted for him.
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The top award at the three-hour, performance-heavy ceremony broadcast live on ABC television from the Bridgestone Arena went to Luke Bryan, who kicked off his acceptance speech on a religious note, saying “Thank you lord, thank you Jesus, thank you everyone in heaven looking out for me”.
