Here’s something I never thought I’d have to write…
When Chris Stapleton exploded in part thanks to his iconic “Tennessee Whiskey” performance with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards he set mainstream country music on a better path that leads us to today, where Zach Top is up for New Artist of the Year and The Red Clay Strays are up for Vocal Group of the Year.
There’s still plenty of work to do, proved by Old Dominion taking home their 7th straight Vocal Group of the Year award, but undoubtedly just the fact that artists like Zach Top and The Red Clay Strays are part of the conversation can be traced back to Chris Stapleton, who has continued to be the flagbearer for authentic country music and real songwriting, having dominated both the charts and award shows since being introduced to the general public.
His cover of “Tennessee Whiskey,” originally a David Allen Coe cut, is one of just a few country songs with a billion Spotify streams and his debut album, Traveller, has been on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart for a whopping 479 weeks after hitting number one for two weeks back in late 2015.
This year, Stapleton was nominated for 5 CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year. He’s coming off 3 straight Male Vocalist of the Year wins and took home Entertainer of the Year in 2021
So far, Stapleton has taken home three CMA’s. His hit single “White Horse”, which was released on his 2023 album Higher, won both the Song and Single of the Year, beating out Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “I Had Some Help” and Cody Johnson’s “Dirt Cheap” in both categories.
He also just won his 4th consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year award and eighth overall, which got a hilarious reaction from Luke Combs.
Obviously, this is awesome. Stapleton deserves everything he’s had come to him over the past decade and continues to put out some of, if not the best music of anyone in the mainstream. I was under the assumption that everyone felt like me, but alas, that is not the case.
Scrolling through Twitter/X, I was stunned to see the number of fans complaining about Stapleton continuing to win CMA Awards (he now has 17 in his career), some outright saying that they hate seeing him take home the hardware and have never been a fan.
Me annoyed Chris Stapleton is winning all of the #CMAawards again this year. pic.twitter.com/SKxjhFhqaX
— Jenna Coco (@JennaCocorullo) November 21, 2024
I just have one question why in the hell does Chris Stapleton win every award at the CMA’s the ACMs he had one good performance with Justin Timberlake one time that’s it. Cody Johnson blows him out of the water 1000 times every time.
— Cody Vinson (@CodyVinson19) November 21, 2024
Can someone please explain the hype with Chris Stapleton? I don’t get it. Never been a fan of his. #CMAawards
— Joey Giarmo (@joeysg81) November 21, 2024
I don’t know why I watch the CMAs anymore, they just give Chris Stapleton everything
— Nate (@sides_tep) November 21, 2024
Once again the #CMAawards showing favoritism to Chris Stapleton! Shaboozey has spent 17 weeks at #1, Post Malone/Morgan Wallen literally had the best song, and let us not forget Cody Johnson! I’m over this! Just hand Chris all the awards and save us from watching this garbage!
— Olivia Julian (@liv_on_air) November 21, 2024
Why do they invite anyone else when they just give every trash Chris Stapleton song every fucking award #CMAawards
— J-Mar (@jmar0416) November 21, 2024
Fucking horse shit. #CMAawards are so rigged. Chris Stapleton sucks ass. Another award @codyjohnson should have won. Song of the year. He had 2 songs in that category.
— Texas Redemption (@Michaeljp2424) November 21, 2024
Y’all I’m sorry Chris Stapleton is a great singer and a great performer, but him sweeping country music award shows every year does not make sense. Especially after Luke Combs did the concert for Carolina, he deserved male artist of the year
— Nikole🤍🩶Miami N1 (@_nikkie36_) November 21, 2024
Am I the only one who’s shocked by this blowback?
Of course there were also people supporting him and defending the wins but it really seems like, at least on X (and who knows how much of the real world that represents) the majority of the commentary on Chris Stapleton tonight is negative… I don’t even know if I’ll want to look if Chris brings home Entertainer of the Year later tonight…
Chris opened the show with a duet of “California Sober” with Post Malone and then delivered another stellar performance of “What Am I Gonna Do?” alongside his wife Morgane. But guys, it’s Chris freaking Stapleton, a once in a lifetime vocal talent that we so fortunately get to live in the same era of.
Let’s enjoy it, alright?
