‘Catch of the Day’ – Chris Stapleton – “Parachute” [AUDIO]

Today our spotlight falls on an artist who a year ago was one of the best kept secrets in country music. Today, well, let's just say, the secret is out.

Chris Stapleton was well known around Nashville as one of, if not the best, songwriters in country music. Having written #1 singles for Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, George Strait, Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Josh Turner and Trace Adkins, Stapleton was well known around Nashville as a songwriter and session guitarist and vocalist. Over 150 of Stapleton's songs have been recorded, leading to his record company, Mercury Records, releasing a boxed set of his songs to celebrate the success of his debut solo album, the multi-award winning Traveller.

Stapleton was an over-night success, almost 15 years in the making. He grew up in the  small Kentucky town of Staffordsville, growing up as middle child in a family of three kids. He comes from a long line of coal miners, but wanted something more. After graduating high school, he was off to college to study engineering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He soon found the college life wasn't for him and left VU after only a year, but the call of Nashville wasn't too far behind. In 2001, 3 years after returning home, he left for Nashville for good.

Stapleton did not kick around Nashville for very long. Soon after his arrival, he signed his first publishing deal, with Sea Gayle Music. Surviving on his song writing and session work, Stapleton became one of the most sought-after musicians in Nashville. In 2007, he formed the Blue Grass group The Steeldrivers, releasing two albums with the group, before leaving. The group would receive three Grammy nominations during Stapleton's tenure: in 2009 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their song "Blue Side of the Mountain", and in 2010 for both Best Bluegrass Album, for the album Reckless, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Where Rainbows Never Die".

Stapleton announced his departure from the group in 2010, citing the desire to focus on raising his family. Later that year he formed the southern-rock band the Jompson Brothers; curiously there was no one in the band named Jompson. The band would tour regionally in support of their independently produced 2010 self-titled album. In 2013 Stapleton would leave the group and sign a solo record contract with Mercury Records Nashville, releasing the single "What Are You Listening Too" in October. The release did not perform as both Stapleton and Mercury expected, and the album that was to follow the single was shelved.

Stapleton went through the the death of his father in 2013, and in his own tradition, used his songwriting as therapy. He wrote to put words to ideas and feelings he was trying to comprehend, and with the help of his wife Morgane, Chris sifted through 15 years of songs and was able to find 9 songs that fit the emotions he was going through. He also wrote a new song while on a road trip through Phoenix, AZ, and pulled it together with the other nine songs to become the foundation for his next project. The song, "Traveller", became the title track to what became the award-winning, feel good story of 2015.

Stapleton entered the 2015 CMA Awards as a dark-horse's long shot in the average country music fan's eyes. Most people still responded with "Chris who?" when he was announced as a nominee for the New Artist, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year. But soon after winning all three awards, he was celebrated as the 'savior of country music' by the press and social media. Stapleton would follow his CMA success with a CMT Breakout Artist of the Year Award, 2 Grammy Awards (for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance), and 5 ACM Awards (Album, Song, Songwriter, New Male Vocalist and Male Vocalist of the Year).

The third single from his debut solo album is in our spotlight today. Chris Stapleton and "Parachute" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but your going to want to hear it again.