Ten years since the release of the monumental record, Traveller.
In May 2015, Chris Stapleton released his debut record, Traveller, which would redefine the genre of country music as we know it today. It initially charted at #2 on the country charts, but only managed to sell 27,000 copies… not exactly a smashing debut for someone as talented as Chris. However, once November rolled around, and Stapleton took the stage alongside Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton became a 10 year, overnight sensation.
One that would single-handedly change the course of country music forever.
Chris Stapleton took the stage with Justin Timberlake at the 49th Annual CMA Awards, and that moment started a drastic shift in country music. Many fans will argue that the minutes it took Stapleton and Timberlake to perform “Tennessee Whiskey” was the start of bro-country’s demise. Until this moment, country artists across the board were playing the radio game, each falling into the cookie-cutter mold, and it felt like the genre had significantly moved away from the roots of country’s sound.
This performance put Stapleton’s traditional sound on the map and proved that mainstream success can be achieved with this sound. The proof was also in the numbers: Traveller’s sales shot up over 6,000% after this performance, and Stapleton has been a prominent figure in country music since.
But it was not sunshine and rainbows getting to this moment that was a catapult for Stapleton’s career. Of course, some fans knew him for being the songwriting powerhouse on Music Row or his work as a member of the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers or the Jompson Brothers. But when it came to launching his solo career, it was a bumpy road.
Stapleton once shared on Lance Armstrong’s (yes, that Lance Armstrong) The Forward Podcast that he recorded an entirely different record before he was sat down the man who ran the label he was with came in and told him he was leaving, which usually mean it’s a clean slate for whoever comes in after to manage the label. After nine months of radio silence, Stapleton decided it was time to make a change. He recalled pushing the new label management to trust him with making a record.
“Here’s what I’d like to do, and here’s what I understand about how I function. Can I just make a record, and then put it out, and then go tour on it, and we’ll see what happens? That’s what ‘Traveller’ is. They didn’t even agree to the whole record at that point…
We sold the 20,000 or 25,000 that I had hoped to up to the CMAs in November. And then I had made friends with Justin Timberlake through a mutual friend, and they had asked me to come play because I had some nominations on this record. My wife said, ‘If there’s ever a time to call in a favor, just call him and see if he’d be willing to come do this.’”
Stapleton trusted his gut when creating this record, and it paid off. Not only did it shine a deserved spotlight on his sound, but it also served as a bridge between mainstream and independent country music fans. Sure, some might argue that more transformative records were released around this time, but there’s no denying that this album was eye-opening for some country fans, proving there is more out there than the Florida Georgia Lines and the Sam Hunts of the world. Traveller was a major turning point for the genre, and granted there were still a ton of copycats, but they started copying Chris… not Luke Bryan anymore.
Ask country music singer/songwriter Hardy. During an appearance on the Ten Year Town podcast with songwriter Troy Cartwright, HARDY spoke on the performance and how it brought an end to the bro country era:
“Bro country was like a professional wrestler era, and every song was their – every single was their theme song walking out to the…you know what I mean? And everybody was fit and good looking, and like, that was your thing. And then the moment to me that it changed was when Chris Stapleton sang on stage with Justin Timberlake.”
“It immediately broke the mold of what you have to look like. And then, two or three years later Combs came out, and then it just busted wide open with a bunch of normal looking dudes, you know what I mean? And all of us were like, ‘I can get a record deal now.’”
See what I’m saying… Chris paved the way. And now we have artists like Cody Johnson winning major awards. Red Clay Strays and Zach Top are snagging Best New Artist trophies, Tyler Childers and Cody Jinks are selling out MASSIVE venues… it’s a great time to be a country music fan.
But this brilliant record turns 10 years old TODAY. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
To celebrate the record’s tenth anniversary, Stapleton is releasing limited-edition vinyl records over the summer, which are available for pre-order now.
“‘Traveller’ Exclusive Vinyl. Available for pre-order at your favorite Indie Store, the Official Chris Stapleton Store, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.”
The hit songs on this record are still highly loved among country music fans, and I don’t think the love for this record is going away anytime soon. Fire up a few tunes before you go.
“Fire Away”
“Parachute”
TRAVELLER TRACKLIST:
- Traveller (Chris Stapleton)
- Fire Away (Chris Stapleton and Danny Green)
- Tennessee Whiskey (Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove)
- Parachute (Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers)
- Whiskey And You (Chris Stapleton and Lee Thomas Miller)
- Nobody To Blame (Chris Stapleton, Barry Bales and Ronnie Bowman)
- More Of You (Chris Stapleton and Ronnie Bowman)
- When The Stars Come Out (Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson)
- Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore (Chris Stapleton)
- Might As Well Get Stoned (Chris Stapleton and Jimmy Stewart)
- Was It 26 (Don Sampson)
- The Devil Named Music (Chris Stapleton)
- Outlaw State Of Mind (Chris Stapleton, Ronnie Bowman and Jerry Salley)
- Sometimes I Cry (Chris Stapleton and Clint Ingersoll)
CHRIS STAPLETON 2025 TOUR DATES
May 10—Philadelphia, PA—Lincoln Financial Field*
May 31—Pittsburgh, PA—Acrisure Stadium*
June 4—Greenville, SC—Bon Secours Wellness Arena† (SOLD OUT)
June 6—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena†
June 7—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena‡ (SOLD OUT)
June 12—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena+ (SOLD OUT)
June 13—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena+ (SOLD OUT)
June 14—Buffalo, NY—Highmark Stadium*
June 18—Greensboro, NC—First Horizon Coliseum^ (SOLD OUT)
June 20—Albany, NY—MVP Arena^ (SOLD OUT)
June 21—Foxborough, MA—Gillette Stadium*
June 27—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre# (SOLD OUT)
June 28—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre#
July 11—St. Louis, MO—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre‡ (SOLD OUT)
July 12—Milwaukee, WI—Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival
July 19—Los Angeles, CA—Sofi Stadium*
July 23—Belmont Park, NY—UBS Arena~ (SOLD OUT)
July 25—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden~
July 26—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden~
August 1—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center** (SOLD OUT)
August 2—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center** (SOLD OUT)
August 8—Phoenix, AZ—Desert Diamond Arena‡‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 9—Phoenix, AZ—Desert Diamond Arena‡‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 15—Salt Lake City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre* (SOLD OUT)
August 16—Salt Lake City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre*
August 22—Denver, CO—Ball Arena** (SOLD OUT)
August 23—Denver, CO—Ball Arena**
September 19—Ashland, KY—Healing Appalachia
October 10—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live
October 11—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live
*with George Strait and Parker McCollum
†with special guest Nikki Lane
‡with special guest Brittney Spencer
+with special guest Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
^with special guest Maggie Rose
#with special guest The War & Treaty
~with special guest Grace Potter
**with special guest Allen Stone
‡‡with special guest Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
