Having Chris Stapleton cover your song is… a blessing and a curse.
The 60th Annual ACM’s Awards were underway last night, with Reba McEntire hosting once again. Most of the performances were mediocre at best, but of course, Stapleton, who also took home the “Male Artist of the Year” award, took the stage to honor Keith Urban, who was being recognized for winning the Triple Crown Award. The honor is given to artists who have won three distinct trophies at the ACM Awards, including New Artist of the Year, Male or Female Artist of the Year and the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy.
But Chris stole the show during the tribute to Urban, which also featured Megan Moroney and Brothers Osborne, when he absolutely crushed a performance of Urban’s 2016 hit, “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” It was written by Steven Lee Olsen, Hillary Lindsey and Clint Lagerberg, and released in 2016 as the fourth single from Urban’s 2016 album, Ripcord. It remans his most recent number one song. It also received two Grammy nominations at the 59th Grammy Awards, including Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, and won both the CMA Award for Single of the Year and the American Music Award for Favorite Country Song in 2017.
Of course, Stapleton can sing anyone in that room under the table, and I personally don’t believe he can ever win too many awards… he’s truly one of, if not THE, best mainstream artists country music has ever seen, and he has never wavered from that. He consistently puts out some of the best music in Nashville, and his voice is just second to none, as we all know.
So I am not shocked at all, but this is Chris Stapleton’s song now, and I NEED a studio version of it yesterday. I haven’t listened to “Blue Ain’t Your Color” in years, but I think I love it now? If there was ever a soulful voice to make this song better, it would be Chris Stapleton… it’s SO in his wheelhouse vocally. I almost wish he would’ve let it rip even more, but Chris is know to be pretty calculated in his vocal arrangements… never showing up or overpowering the song when he easily could. That’s why he’s great.
Check it out:
Fans on X seemed to agree, but if I was an artist Stapleton was going to pay tribute to, I think I’d actually think twice, or just sign over the rights before he stepped foot onstage…
Chris Stapleton covering a Keith Urban song feels like a huge moment in country music. Two of the very best playing respect to each other. #ACMawards
— Travis Hodges (@travis_m_hodges) May 9, 2025
Even Keith Urban is thankful that Chris Stapleton is singing his song. That was great.
I love the song better now. #ACMawards
— Kufre Friesenhan (@KufreUsanga) May 9, 2025
If Chris Stapleton sings your song, it’s his song now. Man is incredible. #ACMawards
— William Jake Henson (@Henson_14) May 9, 2025
I love Keith, but only Chris Stapleton can cover a song and make it sound better.😂 #ACMawards
— Amanda Massare (@AmandaMassare) May 9, 2025
And here’s the original:
