Chris Stapleton is one of the many juggernauts in country music these days, and with his upcoming album, Higher, less than a month out, it is a great time to reflect on his magnificent career thus far.
Chris is singlehandedly one of the most talented musicians in the world. There is a reason artists’ such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Morgan Wallen have all done collaborations with the 45 year-old singer. He was even given the honor of performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII this past February.
Between his vocals, songwriting, and instrumentation, he fires on all fronts and provides wonderful music that defies genres.
Stapleton debuted his first solo studio album, Traveller, in 2015, and it went on to earn him two of his eight total career Grammy Awards. Much of the success of Traveller was due to the smash hit, Tennessee Whiskey, which I have chosen to leave off this list. Don’t get me wrong, however, the song is absolutely incredible and is one of the most recognizable Stapleton songs to date.
In fact, It wasn’t even a radio single, yet is now certified 14x platinum, which is just absolutely remarkable. The smash hit was originally written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove and originally recorded by David Allen Coe. It was made popular in 1984 when George Jones released it on his Shine On album, but neither reached anything close to the popularity of Stapleton’s version. However, I left it off due to the fact that I personally wanted to let other songs shine.
Lets dive into Chris Stapleton’s top 10 greatest songs:
- Joy Of My Life
Starting off the top 10 is a calm, slow tune coming off 2020’s Starting Over. As a songwriter, Stapleton has the ability to make simple ideas, like loving a significant other, and making it feel deeper and more complex. Stapleton’s captivating voice flows through the song alongside a smooth acoustic melody, Joy Of My Life is a relaxing tune and a real sleeper off of this album.
- What Are You Listening To
Stapleton’s first release as a solo artist is an absolute gem. It’s much quieter and more graceful than many of his bigger hits, but it’s delightful nonetheless. Constantly covered by other artists such as Luke Combs and most recently, Megan Moroney, this song simply seems to resonate with a large audience- much of this in part to Stapleton’s flawless delivery.
- Fire Away
I’m not sure why the slower songs in his discography hit so hard, but I know for sure a big part of it is because they allow Stapleton’s one-of-a-kind vocals to shine. Fire Away, from 2015’s Traveller, is a perfect example of this as he’s able to burst out this heartbreaking ballad. It’s a truly powerful song with an incredible background electric guitar track.
- Nobody To Blame
Here we are with a gritty country tune about taking the blame for a nasty breakup. The guitar riffs are as magnificent as ever and the lyrical creativeness is through the roof. This song is fun, funny, and sad all in one. This tune is just simply a jam and is a great addition to a more somber grouping of songs in the Traveller collection.
- Simple Song
The title is not wrong here, this is truly a simple song about hard work, family, and love off of 2017’s From A Room: Volume 2. You get a beautiful life story of a working class individual who is very appreciative for what he has. Like many on this list, it’s a slower tune, but man when he sings the chorus, it hits you right in the heart. Something about it is so relatable and he delivers the tune in such a captivating way.
- Starting Over
The title track to his 2020 album, Starting Over is a subtle, acoustic tune about leaning into your partner in tough times. His love for his wife is a common theme in his music and somehow he never fails to impress when diving into that part of his life. The way he mixes the power of his voice with his wife’s more subtle background notes is really soothing. This track never gets old and while some may think it was overplayed in its prime or that it’s not different from his other stuff, I think it is one of his most powerful entries to this date.
- White Horse
This feels a little unfair to include on the list given we have another month until the full new album, Higher, drops, but screw it, White Horse is an absolute jam. The wild opening guitar riff that meshes into the verse-chrous, Stapleton’s entrance into the lyrics, the story- all phenomenal. A master of mixing multiple genres and styles into one, Stapleton takes a more rock centered direction with this one and it is sensational. If this is any indicator of what we are going to get on the new record, we are in for a treat.
Broken Halos may be one of the more prettier country songs ever written and recorded. Coming from the likes of 2017’s From A Room: Volume 1, everything about it is so balanced- from the acoustic guitar to the flow of the lyrics. It’s one of those songs that is hard to pick apart because there’s really nothing wrong with it. It’s a perfect fire pit song, driving song, or even a perfect walking song. When you mix gorgeous instrumentation with the soul of Chris Stapleton’s voice, you can’t go wrong.
- You Should Probably Leave
A flawless mix of blues, country, and soul, You Should Probably Leave is a true testament to Stapleton’s talent. He meshes genres and creates a catchy, rootsy, and powerful tune about a messy relationship. Nobody else in country music consistently shows the ability to do this quite like Chris Stapleton. Despite the sad subject matter of the song, we get a fun, western-style electric guitar solo in the middle that hits hard every single time. If I’m not getting the full on, Nobody To Blame country-style track by Stapleton, this is exactly what I want to hear instead.
- Whiskey And You
I can see where some people may think this song is too upsetting or depressing, but that’s exactly what makes it so incredible- the depth of emotion. This is a breathtaking, heartbreaking piece of music. It’s just him, a guitar, and a microphone. You can tell Stapleton puts his heart and soul into every word here and the story he is telling, a haunting tale of the complexities addiction, pulls at the heart strings with every listen. Whiskey and You is one of the most atmospheric country songs you’ll every hear and it’s a pretty perfect representation of Stapleton’s storytelling and sheer talent as a vocalist.
Honorable Mentions:
- Parachute (Traveller)
- Either Way (From A Room: Volume 1)
- Millionaire (From A Room: Volume 2)
- Hard Livin’ (From A Room: Volume 2)
- Nashville TN (Starting Over)
Chris Stapleton has an absolutely loaded discography and I could’ve easily picked ten more incredible songs to include. His talent goes beyond just singing and he is a true gem in Nashville. His new record, Higher, releases on November 10th and there is no reason to doubt Stapleton will be successful in providing us great new songs to dive into.