BITTERSWEET, Ky. — It’s been nearly a year-and-a-half since I first spoke of Chris Stapleton in this column.

 

He was a relative newbie then, taking the country music world by storm and walking away from the 2015 CMA Awards with some pretty big honors, including New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for his debut solo set entitled Traveller and Male Vocalist of the Year. Since then, this Kentucky-born sensation has been going full-throttle and just released From a Room: Volume 1, his first new music since the release of Traveller, and has been all over the place performing, including many television appearances and several concert venues.

 

For those looking to get tickets to one of his shows, many of them are sold out – a testament to his popularity and a sound that is a mix of country, blues and Southern rock. This new release will be accompanied by a companion album later in the year and is a true showcase of the talent Stapleton possesses as a songwriter.

That’s right – this guy is not just a pretty-faced singer of songs, he has an incredible talent as a writer, having penned many hits before his star rose, for such other artists as George Strait and Kenny Chesney.

What may surprise many Stapleton fans is the fact he has been around the music world for the better part of two decades, getting the most attention as a front man for the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers (we’ll learn more about this band next week) before hitting solo stardom.

But it has only been over the last two years Stapleton has gained the attention a talent like him deserves.

This new release is as good, for me, as Traveller … which, if memory serves me correctly, I said was the best “first album” I had ever heard.

I remember the 1970s and tuning in to the outlaw country music craze with such legends as Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. In 40 years, when someone else is sitting in this chair and writing about outlaw country music from this era, Chris Stapleton will be the legend they speak of – and I hope he is still on the road making great music.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week.

Readers with questions or comments may write to Bluegrass Johnson in care of this publication.