Catch of the Day – Chris Stapleton – “Broken Halos” [AUDIO]

Today we turn our attention to an artist who was already a star songwriter in Nashville long before his debut album took music city by storm, having written #1 hits for artists like Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker and George Strait. His debut album surprised the music world by sweeping not only the CMA awards in 2015, but the Grammys in 2016, transforming him from "who's that" to a household name.

Born and raised in a middle class, hard-working household in Staffordshire, KY, Chris Stapleton definitely knows the value of hard work. His father and many members of his family are coal miners, a life that Stapleton knew early on that wasn't for him. He was his class valedictorian at Johnson Central High School, and then attended Vanderbilt University after graduating in 1996 where he studied engineering, but lasted just a year. He went home and began concentrating on his first love, music.

Stapleton moved to Nashville in 2001, signing with Sea Gayle Music Publishing, a company run by Chris DuBois and Brad Paisley, soon after arriving in Nashville. While he worked on several projects that included bands like Grammy winning Bluegrass band the Steeldrivers and the Southern Rock Jompson Brothers, Stapleton's primary love was songwriting. He wrote #1 hits including "Never Wanted Nothing More" for Kenny Chesney, "Love's Gonna Make It Alright" for George Strait and "Comeback Song" for Darius Rucker and 4 other #1 hits, as well as songs for Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Adele and others.

In 2013, Stapleton signed with Mercury Records Nashville, and began work on his debut solo album. He released a single "What Are You Listening To" in October of that year, but the song did not receive the reception that Stapleton or the label had been hoping for. It was intended as part of what was to be Stapleton's debut album, but at that point, all plans were scrapped and he went back to the drawing board.

It was at about this same time that Stapleton's father died and Chris and his wife went on a road trip from Phoenix to Nashville. Stapleton wrote what would become the title track of his debut album Traveler during this road trip, on which he decided to go back through a library of songs he had written over his 15 years of writing and picked 9 to add to the one he wrote to make the album. The result has sold more than 2 million copies to date and in 2015 was named ACM and CMA Album of the Year and also won the Grammy for Country Album of the Year in 2016.

His follow up to that album, From A Room, Volume 1, was released on May 5th, with the lead single "Either Way" peaking at #17 on the country charts. The second single from the album is in our spotlight today. Brought to you by All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, Chris Stapleton and "Broken Halos" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

Text today’s key word to 580 353-1013 and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card from All American Super Car Wash of Lawton, bringing you  the Catch of the Day on Oklahoma’s Best Country, KLAW101.

Today’s Key Word: “HALOS”