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Why Chris Stapleton Had His Biggest Year Yet
Besides basically sweeping at the CMA Awards this past November, taking home Song of the Year and Single of the Year for “Starting Over”, as well as Album of The Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year, Chris Stapleton was featured on the biggest releases of 2021.
Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album
Although controversy may have clouded Morgan Wallen’s 2021 year, there is no denying the power of his album Dangerous: The Double Album. Stapleton lends his voice to “Only Thing That’s Gone”, one of only two duets on the entire 30 song project.
“Bartender pour me one more / make it quick and make it strong / cause buddy my last drink, yeah, ain’t the only thing that’s gone“
When his distinctive growl makes an appearance in the second verse of the breakup track, it adds a specific richness that carries throughout the rest of the song as Wallen laments about his broken heart and the girl and the alcohol that is now gone. The album spent a total of ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.
Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version)
One of the biggest releases, not technically in the country space this year was Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version).
Along with the original tracks featured on her 2012 version, Swift gave fans additional songs ‘from the vault’ which feature collaborations. Stapleton, who sings background vocals on “I Bet You Think About Me” only adds to the depth of this incredible revenge-fueled breakup song.
“But now that we’re done and it’s over / I bet you couldn’t believe / when you realized I’m harder to forget than I was to leave, and I bet you think about me”
Although he doesn’t have any solo lines in the song, his depth and signature vocals add to the thoroughly countrified offering.
Adele 30
Closing our 2021 with a bang, Adele released her highly anticipated ‘divorce’ album chronicling the difficult years she has had deciding to divorce her husband and explaining the ordeal to her son.
The first track that fans got to hear, “Easy On Me” immediately transported fans to her sorrowful journey, and once the full album dropped in November, the Target exclusive album featured the single as a duet with Stapleton.
He harmonizes Adele’s entire vocal on this special track, which adds a subtle yet important element. Her powerful lyrics are only elevated by the collaboration and landed Adele on the country charts for the first time in her career.
To hear more of country music’s best new releases, head to our Playlists Page and follow The Nash New Releases playlist on Spotify. For the latest in country music news follow The Nash News on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, and don’t miss our brand new newsletter!
