History of Sturgill Simpson in Timeline

John Sturgill Simpson is an acclaimed American country music singer-songwriter and actor known for his outlaw country style. With eight solo albums to his name as of June 2024, he has garnered significant critical acclaim for his distinctive musical approach.

June 8, 1978: Birth of Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson was born on June 8, 1978.

1981: Release of "An American Werewolf in London"

The film "An American Werewolf in London," which Sturgill Simpson later expressed interest in rebooting, was released in 1981.

2004: Formation of Sunday Valley

Sturgill Simpson formed the country rock band Sunday Valley in 2004.

2011: Simpson Makes Acting Debut in "Orca Park"

Sturgill Simpson ventured into acting with a cameo appearance in the 2011 indie film "Orca Park," marking his entry into the world of film.

2012: Sunday Valley Disbands

Sturgill Simpson's band, Sunday Valley, disbanded in 2012.

2013: Release of Debut Album "High Top Mountain"

Sturgill Simpson self-funded, self-released, and recorded his debut album, "High Top Mountain," in 2013 in Nashville.

2013: Independent Release of Debut Albums

Sturgill Simpson's first two albums, "High Top Mountain" and "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music," were independently released in 2013 in the US.

July 14, 2014: US Network Television Debut

Sturgill Simpson made his US network television debut on July 14, 2014, on the "Late Show with David Letterman," performing "Life of Sin."

2014: Release of "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music"

Sturgill Simpson released his second album, "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music," in 2014.

2014: Independent Release of Debut Albums in Europe

Sturgill Simpson's first two albums, "High Top Mountain" and "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music," were independently released in 2014 in Europe.

July 2015: Partnership with Downtown Music Publishing

As of July 2015, Sturgill Simpson's songs are represented by Downtown Music Publishing.

November 2015: "The Promise" Featured in "The Leftovers"

Sturgill Simpson's cover of "The Promise" was featured in Season 2, Episode 9 of the HBO series "The Leftovers" in November 2015.

2015: Simpson's Response to Atheism Speculation

In 2015, Sturgill Simpson addressed media speculation regarding his religious beliefs, specifically denying that he was an atheist. He pointed out that he has a tattoo bearing the name of Jesus as a testament to his faith.

2015: Notable Performances and Opening Acts

In 2015, Sturgill Simpson played at the Grand Ole Opry, opened for Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits, and served as the opening act for Merle Haggard.

March 2016: Release of "Brace For Impact (Live a Little)"

In March 2016, Sturgill Simpson released "Brace For Impact (Live a Little)", the first single from his album "A Sailor's Guide To Earth."

April 2016: Release of "A Sailor's Guide to Earth"

In April 2016, Sturgill Simpson released his third album, "A Sailor's Guide to Earth," his first on a major label.

January 2017: Performance on "Saturday Night Live"

Sturgill Simpson performed on the Felicity Jones-hosted episode of "Saturday Night Live" in January 2017.

May 2017: Return to Touring

Sturgill Simpson resumed touring in May 2017 with a show at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama, alongside Margo Price.

November 8, 2017: Busking During the CMAs

On November 8, 2017, Sturgill Simpson livestreamed himself busking and interacting with fans outside the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville during the Country Music Association Awards ceremony.

2017: Simpson Produces Tyler Childers' Album "Purgatory"

In 2017, Sturgill Simpson delved into music production, lending his expertise to fellow Kentucky artist Tyler Childers' album "Purgatory." This marked the beginning of their collaborative relationship.

2017: Simpson Experiences Burnout During Tours

Sturgill Simpson faced significant burnout during his 2017 tours, contributing to his disillusionment with the music industry and influencing the direction of his album "Sound & Fury."

March 5, 2018: Simpson Announces New Album on The Joe Rogan Experience

During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on March 5, 2018, Sturgill Simpson revealed he was working on his fourth studio album, initially hinting at a double album format.

March 20, 2018: Simpson Honored as Kentucky Colonel

Sturgill Simpson received the honor of Kentucky Colonel at the Kentucky State Capitol on March 20, 2018, recognizing his contributions to music and his pride in his home state.

2018: Simpson Appears in "Black Hog Gut" and "One Dollar"

Sturgill Simpson continued to explore acting in 2018, appearing in the short film "Black Hog Gut" and landing a recurring role as Ken Fry in the CBS All Access series "One Dollar."

July 21, 2019: Simpson Announces "Sound & Fury" at San Diego Comic-Con

At San Diego Comic-Con on July 21, 2019, Sturgill Simpson officially announced his fourth studio album, "Sound & Fury," describing it as a departure from his previous work with a "sleazy, steamy rock'n'roll" sound. He also revealed a companion anime film.

August 2019: Simpson's Planned Woodstock 50 Performance Canceled

Sturgill Simpson was scheduled to perform at the Woodstock 50 music festival in August 2019, but the festival was ultimately canceled.

August 20, 2019: "Sound & Fury" Available for Pre-Order and "Sing Along" Release

On August 20, 2019, Sturgill Simpson's album "Sound & Fury" was made available for pre-order, accompanied by the release of the track "Sing Along."

September 27, 2019: Release of "Sound & Fury"

Sturgill Simpson released his fourth album, "Sound & Fury," on September 27, 2019.

November 2019: "Turtles All The Way Down" Featured in "Watchmen"

The song "Turtles All The Way Down" by Sturgill Simpson was featured in Season 1, Episode 5 of HBO's "Watchmen" in November 2019.

2019: Simpson Produces Tyler Childers' Album "Country Squire"

Sturgill Simpson continued his successful collaboration with Tyler Childers in 2019, producing his album "Country Squire." This production further solidified Simpson's reputation as a skilled producer within the industry.

2019: Simpson Contributes to "The Dead Don't Die"

Sturgill Simpson's musical and acting talents converged in 2019 when he wrote and performed the theme song for Jim Jarmusch's film "The Dead Don't Die," also making a cameo appearance as "Sturgill Zombie."

October 16, 2020: Simpson Releases Bluegrass Album "Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions"

Sturgill Simpson embraced a bluegrass sound with the release of "Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions" on October 16, 2020. The album marked his first collaboration with Thirty Tigers and a return to independent music.

December 11, 2020: Simpson Releases "Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 2"

Sturgill Simpson followed up on the success of his first bluegrass album with "Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 2" on December 11, 2020, further showcasing his versatility as a musician.

2020: Simpson's Self-Care and Political Views in 2020

In 2020, Sturgill Simpson openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues. He highlighted his self-care practices, such as cutting sugar from his diet, racing rally cars, participating in shooting ranges, and ignoring news about the 2020 presidential election. Simpson shared his political stance, describing himself as an anarchist without leaning towards a particular political side. Additionally, he took up horseback riding as preparation for a film role.

2020: Simpson Discusses Screenwriting Aspirations

In a 2020 interview, Sturgill Simpson expressed his interest in screenwriting, revealing he was working on a "punk rock" reboot of the 1981 film "An American Werewolf in London" and a script inspired by his Navy experiences.

2020: Simpson Discusses "Sound & Fury" and Music Industry Disillusionment

In a revealing 2020 interview, Sturgill Simpson opened up about the creative process behind "Sound & Fury," attributing it to burnout from touring and disillusionment with the music industry. He criticized record labels and expressed feeling manipulated.

2020: Release of "Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2"

Sturgill Simpson released two albums in 2020: "Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2," featuring bluegrass versions of songs from his previous albums.

2020: Simpson Appears in "Queen & Slim," "The Hunt," and "Materna"

Sturgill Simpson's acting career gained momentum in 2020 with appearances in the films "Queen & Slim," "The Hunt," and "Materna," demonstrating his range and willingness to take on diverse roles.

April 6, 2021: Simpson Cast in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

On April 6, 2021, it was announced that Sturgill Simpson had been cast in Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated Western crime drama "Killers of the Flower Moon." He was set to play the role of bootlegger Henry Grammer.

August 2021: Release of "The Ballad of Dood and Juanita"

Sturgill Simpson released his seventh studio album, "The Ballad of Dood and Juanita," in August 2021

August 20, 2021: Simpson Releases Concept Album "The Ballad of Dood and Juanita"

On August 20, 2021, Sturgill Simpson released "The Ballad of Dood and Juanita," a concept album rooted in traditional country, bluegrass, and mountain music. The album was written and recorded in less than a week.

September 2021: Simpson Cancels Tour Due to Vocal Cord Hemorrhage

Sturgill Simpson was forced to cancel his remaining tour dates in September 2021 after suffering a vocal cord hemorrhage. This marked a temporary setback in his career but highlighted his commitment to his health.

2023: "Killers of the Flower Moon" Released

"Killers of the Flower Moon," the Martin Scorsese film featuring Sturgill Simpson, was released in 2023.

2023: Simpson Joins "The Righteous Gemstones" Cast

In 2023, Sturgill Simpson joined the cast of the HBO crime comedy series "The Righteous Gemstones" for its third season, playing the character of Marshall, a militia member.

June 2024: Eight Albums Released

As of June 2024, Sturgill Simpson has released eight albums as a solo artist.

July 12, 2024: Simpson, as "Johnny Blue Skies," Releases "Passage du Desir"

On July 12, 2024, Sturgill Simpson, using the moniker "Johnny Blue Skies," released the album "Passage du Desir." The album reflected his travels and experiences following his vocal cord injury.