It's hard to imagine a world where Chris Stapleton doesn't take over the world in late 2015. His debut album Traveller remains a stone cold classic, the kind of record even the sternest critics had to applaud. The folks who prefer traditional country like myself adore it and new fans couldn't knock the authenticity. However, it didn't immediately light the genre on fire. It wasn't until his "Tennessee Whiskey" duet with Justin Timberlake at the 49th Annual CMA Awards where people took notice.
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That performance from Stapleton turned him into a household name. "Tennessee Whiskey" is now one of the most iconic country songs of all time. It's been covered endlessly at this point, a staple for every singing competition on TV. It's the kind of record to convert people who aren't typically a fan of the genre to give it a fair shake. I can't sing its praises enough. Apparently, Billboard can't either.
Recently, they named the debut outing from Stapleton as the best country album of the 21st century. You probably couldn't choose a better pick for that crown. Amidst all the critical acclaim, he can also rest assured that his old man is proud of him too.
Chris Stapleton Shares How He Just Wanted to Make His Dad Proud With His Debut Album
In a 2015 interview with Billboard promoting Traveller, he reveals how losing his father in 2013 radically changed his life. Consequently, he needed to find himself again. So begins one long journey of "soul searching" that inspired the classic album we know and love today. "I lost my dad in October 2013 and did a little bit of soul-searching. My wife was kind enough to buy me an old Jeep. We flew out to Phoenix and drove it all the way back to Nashville through the desert," Stapleton says.
"I thought a lot about music and my dad, and the things that he would have liked that I should be doing. Out of that, I actually wrote the song 'Traveller' driving down Interstate 40 through New Mexico. That became the cornerstone for the record and wound up being the title track," he adds.
Now, in another conversation with Billboard, with an assist from Josh Brolin, his wife remembers how Stapleton said "he needed to do something with meaning." "He had already written all the songs. Brian Wright and him. You know, a close-knit team. And he said, 'I would like to make a record that would make my dad proud.' And that's the root. I think he's been chasing that ever since," she recalls
