Christopher Alvin Stapleton was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and raised in Staffordsville, Kentucky, which he says comprised mostly houses and a post office.
"The Friday night football game was the big gathering of the week, then it was church on Sundays,"
he told The Guardian. "That was kind of it."
Stapleton grew up singing in church with his brother, who was in a popular regional band. His uncle also played guitar, and it was these family members who taught Stapleton about chords and other musical concepts.
During high school, Stapleton was more known for sports than music. He played football as a linebacker and fullback, and sports took up a lot of his time.
In 1996, Stapleton graduated at the top of his high school class and moved to Nashville to pursue an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University. He planned on becoming a biomedical engineer, but after a year he decided it wasn't the right path for him. Stapleton moved back to Kentucky, where he continued his education and worked odd jobs around the Morehead area.
Stapleton moved into a house with three roommates, where he paid about $80 per month for rent. The house had no air conditioning. "It's since been condemned and torn down," he recalled to
American Songwriter. "But we played bluegrass and I really got heavy into it. It was more of a modern bluegrass – Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott. I loved Tony Rice and New Grass Revival. We listened to John Hartford a bunch. We'd sit around and pick and have a good time every night. That's where the discovery of that kind of music came from. I didn't really grow up with that kind of music."
It was while Stapleton was exploring other career options that he met songwriter Steve Leslie, who wanted to help an aspiring songwriter from that area. Stapleton realized that music was the career he wanted to pursue. He moved back to Nashville and just four days later, signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and publish his music.
Before becoming a solo artist, Stapleton sang lead vocals in two bands: the bluegrass group the SteelDrivers from 2008 to 2010, and The Jompson Brothers from 2007 to 2013. In 2015, he released his debut solo album, Traveller, which received critical acclaim and reached #1 on the US Billboard 200.
A highly successful and prolific songwriter, Stapleton has written many songs that other big-name artists have recorded. They include #1 Country hits for the likes of Kenny Chesney ("Never Wanted Nothing More"), Josh Turner ("
Your Man"), Darius Rucker ("
Come Back Song") and Luke Bryan ("
Drink a Beer").
Stapleton is the recipient of a slew of Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album honors for Traveller, From a Room: Volume 1 and Starting Over.
Chris Stapleton married fellow singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton on October 27, 2007. He met Morgane, who co-wrote Carrie Underwood's 2006 hit single "Don't Forget to Remember Me," while working at publishing houses located near each other. They've had five children together.
Morgane performs background, harmony, and duet vocals in her husband's band and on his records.
Stapleton has a special message engraved on his wedding ring: "You Are My Sunshine." He frequently performs
the song at his concerts, as it holds a special meaning for him and Morgane. In fact, she had the words etched into his ring as a surprise before they got married in 2007.
After breaking out as a solo artist in 2015, Stapleton's Nashville home became a tourist attraction. The country star and his family moved south of Music City to a ranch in Franklin, Tennessee, far removed from his adoring fans.
Chris Stapleton is always up for a challenge when it comes to his performances - he lets the hosts of shows he appears on choose which songs he'll perform. He prefers songs from his own repertoire, but if the request is unique - like a rendition of "
Hava Nagila" - he'll give it serious thought and even learn it if needed! This speaks to his adventurous spirit and love for all things music, making him one of the most versatile artists in country music.
As a native of Kentucky, Stapleton has always had a profound love for the great outdoors. Growing up surrounded by nature, he developed a deep passion for hunting and fishing. For Chris, these aren't merely hobbies; they're a way to connect with the natural world and escape the hectic pace of the entertainment industry.
Before Chris Stapleton became known for his gravel-rich voice and roots-heavy songwriting, he was the valedictorian of his Kentucky high school and he used the platform in a way that foreshadowed his future. Rather than delivering a traditional commencement speech, Stapleton wrote, arranged, and performed an original song titled "Memories" for his graduating class, turning his valedictory address into an early live performance.
