History of Chris Stapleton in Timeline
Christopher Alvin Stapleton, an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist, hails from Lexington, Kentucky, and spent his formative years in Staffordsville. Relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1996 with aspirations of pursuing an engineering degree at Vanderbilt University, he ultimately opted to leave academia behind to fully dedicate himself to his musical pursuits. Subsequently, Stapleton inked a deal with Sea Gayle Music, marking the beginning of his journey as a songwriter and music publisher.
1946: Birth of Herbert Joseph Stapleton Jr.
Chris Stapleton's father, Herbert Joseph Stapleton Jr., was born in 1946. Herbert worked as a coal mine engineer.
April 15, 1978: Chris Stapleton was born
Christopher Alvin Stapleton was born on April 15, 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky.
1979: Stapleton Receives a Meaningful Gift
Stapleton received a thoughtful gift from his wife: a 1979 Jeep. This gift held special significance as it was purchased after his father's passing in 2013.
1996: Stapleton moved to Nashville
In 1996, Chris Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue an engineering degree at Vanderbilt University. However, he later dropped out to focus on his music career.
2001: Move to Nashville and Songwriting Deal
In 2001, Stapleton made a significant move to Nashville, Tennessee, fully dedicating himself to his music career. Shortly after his arrival, his songwriting talents were recognized, leading to a deal with the renowned publishing house Sea Gayle Music.
2007: Marriage to Morgane Stapleton
Chris Stapleton married singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton in 2007. The couple met while working at neighboring publishing houses in Nashville.
2007: Stapleton Becomes Frontman for the SteelDrivers
Stapleton's musical journey took a significant turn in 2007 when he became the frontman for the bluegrass group, the SteelDrivers.
2008: Stapleton Joins Bluegrass Band
Stapleton's musical journey led him to become the lead vocalist for the bluegrass group, the SteelDrivers, in 2008.
2009: Birth of First Child
Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, welcomed their first child, a son, in 2009.
November 2010: The Jompson Brothers Release Debut Album
In November 2010, the Jompson Brothers, Stapleton's Southern rock band, independently released their self-titled debut album. This marked a significant step for the band, allowing them to share their music with a wider audience.
2010: Departure from the SteelDrivers
After a successful run with the SteelDrivers, Stapleton left the band in 2010 to pursue other musical endeavors.
2010: Stapleton Leaves the SteelDrivers
After achieving success with the SteelDrivers, Stapleton made the decision to leave the band in 2010, marking another turning point in his career.
2010: Birth of Second Child
Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, welcomed their second child, a daughter, in 2010.
October 2013: Stapleton's Debut Solo Single Release
In October 2013, Stapleton embarked on his solo career with the release of his debut single, "What Are You Listening To?" under Mercury Nashville.
2013: Stapleton Performs with Luke Bryan
Stapleton joined Luke Bryan on stage during Bryan's 2013 CMA Awards performance, showcasing their musical camaraderie.
2013: The Jompson Brothers Disband
The Jompson Brothers disbanded in 2013, marking the end of an era for the Southern rock band.
2013: Stapleton Performs at the Grand Ole Opry
Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, graced the stage of the iconic Grand Ole Opry in 2013. They delivered a memorable performance of Waylon Jennings' classic song, "Amanda."
2013: Death of Herbert Joseph Stapleton Jr.
Chris Stapleton's father, Herbert Joseph Stapleton Jr., passed away in 2013.
2013: Stapleton's Father Passes Away
Chris Stapleton faced a significant personal loss with the passing of his father in 2013.
2014: Stapleton Performs at CMT Artist of the Year Event
In a poignant tribute at the 2014 CMT Artist of the Year event, Stapleton performed alongside Lady A. They delivered a heartfelt rendition of Stapleton's song, "Drink a Beer," originally recorded by Luke Bryan. The performance was dedicated to Bryan, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to a loss in his family.
May 5, 2015: Release of "Traveller"
Stapleton's debut solo album, "Traveller," was released on May 5, 2015. The album, recorded at Nashville's renowned RCA Studio A, was co-produced with Dave Cobb and featured a talented lineup of musicians.
November 2015: Stapleton's NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton performed an intimate NPR Tiny Desk Concert in November 2015, captivating the audience with their raw talent and heartfelt performance.
December 2015: Stapleton Receives CMT Award
Stapleton's exceptional talent was recognized at the 2015 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony, where he was honored with the Breakout Artist of the Year award.
2015: Release of Debut Solo Album "Traveller"
Marking a pivotal moment in his career, Stapleton released his debut solo album, "Traveller," in 2015. The album achieved remarkable success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 and earning four-times platinum certification from the RIAA.
January 2016: Stapleton Performs "Either Way" at Country Radio Seminar
In January 2016, Chris Stapleton performed "Either Way" at the Country Radio Hall of Fame's Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. The song, which he co-wrote, was later included in his album "From A Room: Volume 1."
January 16, 2016: Stapleton Performs on Saturday Night Live
Stapleton's rising stardom was showcased on January 16, 2016, when he appeared as the musical guest on the renowned television show Saturday Night Live. Performing alongside host Adam Driver, Stapleton delivered captivating performances of "Parachute" and "Nobody to Blame" from his acclaimed album "Traveller."
2016: "Traveller" Becomes Top-Selling Country Album
"Traveller" achieved a remarkable feat in 2016 by becoming the top-selling country album of the year.
May 5, 2017: Release of "From A Room: Volume 1" and Start of All-American Road Show Tour
On May 5, 2017, Chris Stapleton released his second studio album, "From A Room: Volume 1," named after Nashville's RCA Studio A where it was recorded. The same month, he also embarked on his All-American Road Show Tour.
May 2017: Release of "From a Room: Volume 1"
In May 2017, Stapleton released 'From a Room: Volume 1', which garnered him critical acclaim, including a CMA Award for Album of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
July 2017: "Traveller" Sales Milestone
By July 2017, "Traveller" had sold over two million copies domestically, solidifying its status as a major commercial success and a testament to Stapleton's widespread appeal.
December 1, 2017: Release of "From A Room: Volume 2"
Chris Stapleton released his third studio album, "From A Room: Volume 2," on December 1, 2017. Both "Volume 1" and "Volume 2" debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 charts.
December 2017: Release of "From a Room: Volume 2"
Stapleton continued his successful 'From a Room' series with the release of 'Volume 2' in December 2017, further solidifying his presence in the country music scene.
January 27, 2018: Stapleton's Second Appearance on Saturday Night Live
Chris Stapleton was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live for the second time on January 27, 2018. He performed songs from "From a Room: Volume 2" with Sturgill Simpson.
2018: Stapleton's Songwriting Success
By 2018, Stapleton had established himself as a prominent songwriter with over 170 songs written or co-written. His work, including six number-one country hits, has been featured on albums by renowned artists like Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, George Strait, and Luke Bryan.
2018: Birth of Twin Sons
Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton expanded their family in 2018 with the birth of twin sons.
April 28, 2019: Stapleton Appears in Game of Thrones
On April 28, 2019, Chris Stapleton made a cameo appearance as an extra in "The Long Night," the third episode of the final season of Game of Thrones.
July 5, 2019: Release of "Blow" with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran
Chris Stapleton collaborated with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran on the song "Blow," released on July 5, 2019. Stapleton contributed to the songwriting and vocals for the track.
August 6, 2019: Stapleton Performs with John Mayer
Chris Stapleton joined John Mayer onstage at his concert on August 6, 2019, to perform their co-written song "I Just Remembered That I Didn't Care." Stapleton also participated in a performance of Mayer's "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room."
2019: Birth of Fifth Child
Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton welcomed their fifth child, a son, in 2019.
August 28, 2020: Release of Single "Starting Over"
Chris Stapleton released "Starting Over" on August 28, 2020, his first single since 2018. The song also served as the title track for his upcoming album.
September 25, 2020: Release of Single "Cold"
Chris Stapleton released "Cold" on September 25, 2020, as the second single from his album "Starting Over."
2020: Release of "Starting Over"
Stapleton released his fourth studio album, "Starting Over," in 2020. The album's title track served as its lead single and the album itself earned Stapleton his third Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
August 5, 2021: Stapleton Featured on Taylor Swift's "Red (Taylor's Version)"
It was announced on August 5, 2021, that Chris Stapleton would be a featured artist on Taylor Swift's re-recorded album, "Red (Taylor's Version)." He collaborated on the track "I Bet You Think About Me."
September 2021: Stapleton Contributes to "The Metallica Blacklist" and Adele's "30"
Chris Stapleton recorded a cover of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" for the tribute album "The Metallica Blacklist," released in September 2021. He also provided vocals for an alternate version of "Easy on Me" on Adele's album "30."
February 12, 2023: Stapleton Performs National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII
Chris Stapleton performed the United States national anthem at Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2023: Rolling Stone Recognition
In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine recognized Stapleton's vocal prowess by ranking him number 170 on its prestigious list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.