Chris Stapleton is one of the world’s best singers. Indeed, the Lexington, Kentucky-born songwriter and performer boasts perhaps the Platonic ideal of a country singing voice. Between his rasp, crystalline clarity and swell, Stapleton is one of those artists who could sing the phone book and bring people to tears.
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It’s for this reason above all else the country star’s music will live forever—not to mention he has released some pretty great songs that can stand on their own, too. Here below, we wanted to explore a trio of tracks from Stapleton that have and will stand the test of time. These are three eternal Chris Stapleton country songs.
[RELATED: Chris Stapleton Reveals How His Daughter Changed a Major Part of His Songwriting Process]
“Tennessee Whiskey” from Traveller (2015)
Originally written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove and recorded by David Allan Coe in 1981, this song got new life when Chris Stapleton sung it live and then released it on his 2015 LP Traveller. Accomplished producer Dave Cobb heard him perform it live and pushed Stapleton to cut the track, and it’s been made his in many ways ever since. Stapleton’s version has hit No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and been certified Platinum 14 times. On the offering, the country star sings,
Used to spend my nights out in a barroom
Liquor was the only love I’d known
But you rescued me from reachin’ for the bottom
And brought me back from being too far gone
You’re as smooth as Tennessee whiskey
You’re as sweet as strawberry wine
You’re as warm as a glass of brandy
And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time
“Broken Halos” from From A Room: Volume 1 (2017)
Winner of the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Country Song, this tune proves there is little better than hearing Stapleton sing about heaven, angels and hardship. Redemption off his tongue is a sweet sounding word and this track from his 2017 LP From A Room: Volume 1 is Exhibit A. On the heartfelt offering, Stapleton sings,
Seen my share of
Broken halos
Folded wings that used to fly
They’ve all gone
Wherever they go
Broken halos that used to shine
“You Should Probably Leave” from Starting Over (2020)
Love is hard. Attraction is real, even when it shouldn’t exist. This song highlights the back and forth, on again-off again dynamic that happens to so many people. The title of the song “You Should Probably Leave” points directly to the problem: making an affirmed choice in the matters of love can be difficult. After all, the song is not called “You Should Leave.” There is that room left in there for maybe. And on the track, Stapleton sings,
I know it ain’t all that late
But you should probably leave
And I recognize that look in your eyes
Yeah, you should probably leave
‘Cause I know you and you know me
And we both know where this is gonna lead
You want me to say that I want you to stay
So you should probably leave
Yeah, you should probably leave
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Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images
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