Chris Stapleton 2015 Hit Cover Song 'Tennessee Whiskey' Happened by Accident

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Stapleton has been on the music scene for decades. Serving as a vocalist for two bands -- the four-piece rock group The Jompson Brothers and the bluegrass outfit The SteelDrivers -- Stapleton has proven his mettle as a musician. He also co-wrote No. 1 singles for George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, and Josh Turner, and has been credited on albums from Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, and more. In short, Stapleton is a multitalented artist in his own right.

In 2015, Stapleton rose through the ranks as a solo artist, releasing his debut album, Traveller, on May 5, 2015. It smashed records, climbing to the top of weekly charts like the US Billboard 200 and US Top Country Albums.

However, Stapleton's biggest hit from his first record was never released as a single. It's also a cover, having been recorded by two other artists before him. To top it all off, its meteoric rise was seemingly by accident.

"Tennessee Whiskey" was written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove in 1981. Funnily enough, the songwriting duo initially offered it to George Strait, who turned it down. Then, singer-songwriter David Allan Coe recorded it for his 1981 album of the same name. The track peaked at No. 77 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

Then, country artist George Jones recorded his version of "Tennessee Whiskey," which was released as a single in August 1983 to promote his 48th studio album (talk about prolific). His cover reached No. 2 on the Hot Country Singles chart.

Thirty-two years later, Stapleton sang "Tennessee Whiskey" on the fly during a soundcheck before a show. Stapleton and his band decided to play it for every concert from then on. Producer Dave Cobb suggested that Stapleton record the tune for his solo album, and while he never released it as a single, it debuted as a "promotional CD single."

Stapleton performed "Tennessee Whiskey" with Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards on Nov. 4, 2015. The live performance was a massive success, with the single skyrocketing to the top of the US Hot Country Songs chart. It became certified Platinum in three countries and Gold in two. The tune also went double Diamond in the US as of Jan. 12, 2026. It's notably the third song to accomplish this.

"Tennessee Whiskey" was well-received by music critics. Rolling Stone ranked Stapleton's version of the song at No. 90 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time."

To be fair, Stapleton's rendition is as soulful, heartfelt, and magical as they come.