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 American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Kentucky. He relocated to Nashville in 1996, initially planning to pursue an engineering degree at Vanderbilt University. However, he left his studies to dedicate himself to a music career. Shortly after, Stapleton secured a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music, marking the beginning of his professional journey as a songwriter and performer.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1996: Moved to Nashville and Pursued Songwriting

In 1996, Chris Stapleton moved to Nashville to study biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University. He later switched to business school, but ultimately pursued songwriting, signing with Sea Gayle Music.

1996: Moved to Nashville

In 1996, Chris Stapleton moved to Nashville to study engineering at Vanderbilt University, but later dropped out to pursue a career in music.

2007: Formation of The SteelDrivers

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

2008: Lee Ann Womack's 'Call Me Crazy' Album

In 2008, Lee Ann Womack recorded "Either Way" for her album, Call Me Crazy, a song written by Chris Stapleton, Kendall Marvel, and Tim James.

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November 2010: Release of Self-Titled Album

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

October 2013: Release of 'What Are You Listening To?'

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

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2013: Performance at the Grand Ole Opry

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

2013: Road Trip to New Mexico

In 2013, Chris Stapleton and his wife took a road trip to New Mexico, during which he composed the title track of his first 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, who played Stapleton's song, "Drink a Beer".

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May 5, 2015: Release of 'Traveller' Album

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

November 2015: NPR Tiny Desk Concert

In November 2015, Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane played a NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

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: Traveller Album Release and Success

In 2015, Chris Stapleton's debut solo album, Traveller, was released, reaching the top of the US Billboard 200 and receiving septuple platinum certification. His cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" also received diamond certification.

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January 2016: Performance at Country Radio Seminar

In January 2016, Chris Stapleton performed "Either Way", a song he had written with Kendall Marvel and Tim James, at the Country Radio Hall of Fame's Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.

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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. Stapleton performed "Parachute" and "Nobody to Blame" from Traveller.

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2016: Top Selling Country Album of the Year

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

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

On May 5, 2017, Chris Stapleton released his second studio album, From A Room: Volume 1.

July 2017: Traveller Album Sales

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

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

On December 1, 2017, Chris Stapleton's third studio album, From A Room: Volume 2, was released.

2017: From A Room: Volume 1 Album Release

In 2017, Chris Stapleton released his second studio album, From A Room: Volume 1, which earned him a second 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 was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live for a second time, performing songs from From A Room: Volume 2 with Sturgill Simpson.

2018: Collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Elton John Tribute

In 2018, Chris Stapleton co-wrote three songs for Justin Timberlake's album Man of the Woods, including "Say Something." He also covered "I Want Love" for an Elton John tribute album.

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2018: Previous Single Release

In 2018, Chris Stapleton's previous single release was "Millionaire".

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July 5, 2019: Release of 'Blow' with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran

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, John Mayer invited Chris Stapleton on stage at his concert to perform a song they had written the day before, titled "I Just Remembered That I Didn't Care".

2019: ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade

In 2019, Chris Stapleton was honored by the Academy of Country Music as the inaugural ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. His album, Traveller, was named 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: Release of 'Starting Over' Single

On August 28, 2020, Chris Stapleton released the single "Starting Over", the lead single from his album of the same name.

2020: Starting Over Album Release

In 2020, Chris Stapleton released his fourth album, Starting Over, which won his third Grammy for Best Country Album. The title track was issued as its lead single.

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. Campbell and Benmont Tench played on Stapleton's album Starting Over, and Stapleton featured on the Dirty Knobs' album Wreckless Abandon.

August 5, 2021: Featured on Taylor Swift's 'Red (Taylor's Version)'

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: Contribution to The Metallica Blacklist

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 2021 album The Atlas Underground Fire.

February 12, 2023: National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII

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, along with 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.