Chris Stapleton is at the top of the iTunes and country, and pop charts today, as his second album, “From a Room,” is establishing its footing as a must-have collection for 2017. The toughest thing for any artist to do is to follow up after a mammoth success, but for Chris Stapleton, the size of his crowds changed, but his shows are the same, with no plans to change. He talked with Anthony Mason of “CBS This Morning” today about his abiding love for songwriting, and for his partner in music and life.
No matter the size of the stage or the price of the ticket, Chris Stapleton plans to keep his roots well-planted in solid and soulful ground.
Sophomore stigmas
Chris Stapleton was only surpassed in sales by Beyoncé, Drake, and Adele last year. His album, “Traveller” took him to the top, across pop and country charts, selling 2 million copies, and plugging traditional sounds of “outlaw country” into ears of millennials. That surge sent the man who was content just to be paid for “sitting around writing songs” into a high-demand trek of touring that he still can’t keep up with or comprehend. Chris Stapleton wants to be held up to expectations.
He wants to be reaching for high standards set by his Country Music heroes. That's the reason he returned to RCA Studio A for “From a Room: Volume 1.” In the walls, through the wiring and the microphones, sounds echo of early Elvis and Dolly Parton. He thrives on the urge to “feel responsible to it,” regarding their artistic legacy, and has devoted himself to forging his own.
Mason teased that “you needed a truck to leave that night” from last year's ACM awards, with the songwriter’s armload of trophies, not to mention the two Grammys, for his first collection. That hardware is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame. “It’s weird, man,” Chris Stapleton reflects, seeing the trophies behind glass windows.
He can't deny that it's also gratifying, to know he is now among the inspiring creators who fueled his dreams. Chris Stapleton has written 150 songs for artists from Adele to Tim McGraw, and despite the time constraints of the road, he insists, “I love it that much, still,” speaking of the days when he wrote day and night. His eyes illuminate from beneath the brim of his cap when he mentions the wonder of “plucking something out of the air” as being the most satisfying of all sensations.
Forever partners
Anyone who sees Chris Stapleton sees his wife, Morgane, standing just feet beside him, giving an affirming smile, and lending harmonies to every line. “She's my partner—in life, and in business, and onstage-- in every way, shape, and form,” says husband Chris succinctly.
“She believes in me more than I do,” and that faith flows in every shared note. The artistic couple came together when each was working for a different music publisher, and their first night certainly sparked combustion, but not the kind in verse on a page. “We've written since then,” coyly nods Stapleton.
No artist realizes within his or her own lifetime the footprint left on mankind for eternity. Chris Stapleton knows that one night is a time, he draws listeners into the “living room” of his heart, even within a huge stadium, and they leave feeling lifted. He won't say “never” to using any lasers, as he looks up with a grin. Chris Stapleton is still getting used to the luxury of someone tuning his guitars, so don't expect any glitz anytime soon. He will be holding onto his guitar, playing and sharing songs from a genuine heart.