Career Timeline of Chris Stapleton: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Chris Stapleton built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Chris Stapleton is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his powerful vocals and blend of country, blues, and rock. He moved to Nashville to pursue music. He secured a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1979: Jeep Acquisition

In 1979, Chris Stapleton's wife bought him a Jeep, which later inspired him to write the title track of his album, Traveller.

1996: Moved to Nashville and Initial Music Career Steps

In 1996, Chris Stapleton moved to Nashville to study at Vanderbilt University before pursuing songwriting, eventually signing with Sea Gayle Music.

1996: Moved to Nashville

In 1996, Stapleton moved to Nashville to pursue an engineering degree at Vanderbilt University, but later dropped out to pursue music.

2007: Formation of The SteelDrivers

In 2007, Chris Stapleton formed the bluegrass group, The SteelDrivers, to perform his original songs.

2008: Womack releases Call Me Crazy Album

In 2008, Lee Ann Womack released Call Me Crazy album where the track "Either Way" was featured.

November 2010: Jompson Brothers Album Release

In November 2010, the Jompson Brothers, featuring Chris Stapleton on vocals, independently released their self-titled album.

October 2013: Release of First Single

In October 2013, Chris Stapleton released his first solo single, "What Are You Listening To?", after signing with Mercury Nashville.

2013: Grand Ole Opry Performance

In 2013, Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane performed Waylon Jennings' "Amanda" live at the Grand Ole Opry.

2013: Touring with Jompson Brothers and Inspiration for "Traveller"

In 2013, The Jompson Brothers toured regionally, even opening for the Zac Brown Band. Also in 2013, Stapleton and his wife embarked on a road trip to New Mexico where Stapleton was inspired to write the title track of his album, "Traveller".

2014: CMT Artist of the Year Performance

In 2014, at the CMT Artist of the Year event, Chris Stapleton performed with Lady A to honor Luke Bryan, who could not attend, by playing Stapleton's song "Drink a Beer".

May 5, 2015: Traveller Album Release

On May 5, 2015, Chris Stapleton's debut solo album, Traveller, was released, co-produced with Dave Cobb and recorded in Nashville's RCA Studio A.

November 2015: NPR Tiny Desk Concert

In November 2015, Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane played an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, showcasing their musical talent in an intimate setting.

December 2015: CMT Artists of the Year Breakout Award

In December 2015, Chris Stapleton received the 2015 CMT Artists of the Year Breakout award during a live performance at the annual CMT Artists of the Year show.

2015: Debut Solo Album Release

In 2015, Chris Stapleton released his debut solo album, Traveller, which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 chart and achieved septuple platinum certification. His cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" also received diamond certification in 2015.

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January 2016: Country Radio Hall of Fame Performance

In January 2016, Chris Stapleton performed "Either Way" at the Country Radio Hall of Fame's Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Lee Ann Womack had previously recorded it.

January 16, 2016: Saturday Night Live Appearance

On January 16, 2016, Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live alongside host Adam Driver. He performed "Parachute" and "Nobody to Blame" from his album Traveller.

2016: Top Selling Country Album

In 2016, Chris Stapleton's album, Traveller, was the top selling country album.

May 5, 2017: From A Room: Volume 1 Release

On May 5, 2017, Chris Stapleton released his second studio album, From A Room: Volume 1, which was recorded at Nashville's RCA Studio A.

July 2017: Traveller Sales Milestone

By July 2017, Chris Stapleton's album, Traveller, had sold a total of 2 million copies in the US.

December 1, 2017: From A Room: Volume 2 Release

On December 1, 2017, Chris Stapleton released his third studio album, From A Room: Volume 2, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 charts.

2017: From A Room: Volume 1 Release

In 2017, Stapleton released his second studio album, From A Room: Volume 1, which won a CMA Award for Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Country Album.

January 27, 2018: Second Saturday Night Live Appearance

On January 27, 2018, Chris Stapleton made his second appearance as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing songs from From A Room: Volume 2 with Sturgill Simpson.

2018: Collaboration on Justin Timberlake's Album

In 2018, Chris Stapleton co-wrote three songs for Justin Timberlake's album Man of the Woods, including "Say Something", which reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Stapleton also recorded a cover of "I Want Love" for Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

2018: Millionaire Single Release

In 2018, Chris Stapleton released Millionaire single.

July 5, 2019: Blow Song Release

On July 5, 2019, Chris Stapleton, along with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, released the song "Blow", on which Stapleton contributed songwriting and vocals.

August 6, 2019: Performance with John Mayer

On August 6, 2019, Chris Stapleton joined John Mayer on stage at his concert, performing "I Just Remembered That I Didn't Care", a song they had written the day before, and Mayer's "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room".

September 2019: ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade

In September 2019, Chris Stapleton was honored as the ACM's Artist-Songwriter of the Decade, recognizing his significant contributions to country music as both a performer and a songwriter.

2019: ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade

In 2019, Chris Stapleton was recognized as the inaugural ACM artist-songwriter of the decade by the Academy of Country Music. Also, Traveller was Billboard's Top Country Album of the decade.

2019: Songwriting and Recording with Mike Campbell

Over the course of 2019 and 2020, Chris Stapleton recorded and wrote songs with Mike Campbell, formerly the guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

August 28, 2020: Starting Over Single Release

On August 28, 2020, Chris Stapleton released "Starting Over" as the lead single from his album of the same name, marking his first single release since 2018.

September 25, 2020: Cold Single Release

On September 25, 2020, Chris Stapleton released "Cold" as a single.

2020: Starting Over Album Release

In 2020, Chris Stapleton released his fourth studio album, Starting Over, which included the title track as its lead single and later won a Grammy for Best Country Album.

2020: Songwriting and Recording with Mike Campbell

Over the course of 2019 and 2020, Chris Stapleton recorded and wrote songs with Mike Campbell, formerly the guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

August 5, 2021: Featured on Taylor Swift's Re-recorded Album

On August 5, 2021, Chris Stapleton was featured on Taylor Swift's second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), on the track "I Bet You Think About Me".

September 2021: Charity Tribute Album Contribution

In September 2021, Chris Stapleton contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist.

2021: Collaboration with Tom Morello

In 2021, Chris Stapleton collaborated with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello in the writing and performance of the track "The War Inside" on Morello's album The Atlas Underground Fire.

2021: CMA Male Vocalist of the Year

In 2021, Chris Stapleton was named Male Vocalist of the Year for the fourth time at the Country Music Association Awards.

2022: ACM Male Artist of the Year

In 2022, Chris Stapleton was named Male Artist of the Year for the third time at the Academy of Country Music Awards, where he performed "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" with Patty Loveless.

February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII National Anthem Performance

On February 12, 2023, Chris Stapleton sang the United States' national anthem at Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

2023: Monday Night Football Theme Song

In 2023, Chris Stapleton, Cindy Blackman Santana, and Snoop Dogg recorded a cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" as the opening theme song for Monday Night Football.