Country Music Crowns a New Superstar

Justin Timberlake, left, and Chris Stapleton perform at the 49th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn.

There were two big winners at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards: one country music vet and one newcomer.

Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan weren’t the only ones praising Chris Stapleton during the 2015 Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, November 4.

The big victor of the night was singer Chris Stapleton, who won three awards; male vocalist of the year, new artist of the year and album of the year. And even though people who aren’t country music fans might still be getting to know Chris Stapleton, looks like Justin Timberlake was already well acquainted with both his music and Stapleton personally. Timberlake’s falsetto mixed with Stapleton’s strong vocals as they performed George Jones’ “Tennessee Whiskey” and the former’s “Drink You Away” is what you’d call a musical delight.

Little Big Town, who also earned applause for their performance of the ballad “Girl Crush”, won vocal group and single of the year for the No. 1 hit.

Stapleton’s wins surprised many in the country industry.

They rehearsed with their bands, a few of them Stapleton’s, a few of them Timberlake’s, over the weekend, and also ran through the set on show-day. In 2013, he went solo, but didn’t release an album until 2015.

Before going country, Stapleton made a name for himself as lead singer of The SteelDrivers, a bluegrass band nominated for three Grammys back in 2010.

Timberlake and Stapleton couldn’t have voices that are farther apart; one sugary-sweet (Timberlake), the other hickory-rough (Stapleton).

“This is an unbelievable thing for me”, Stapleton, 37, said on stage beneath his giant cowboy hat, almost in tears as he picked up his third award. For the past several years, artists like Blake Shelton, Lambert, and Bryan have dominated the prizes.

Carrie Underwood, who hosted the show, should be a big seller as well, according to Billboard.

Duets were a focal point of the night, from Eric Church and Hank Williams, Jr.’s “Are You Ready for the Country”, and John Mellencamp and Keith Urban with “Pink Houses”.